Ice Diving

February 18 and 19.

We will be going to NH for a weekend of Ice Diving. Please contact the shop and talk to Tom about this exciting Specialty. We need to have at least 4 people to go.

January 7 – 21  Costa Rica  

How would you like to spend one of the coldest months of the year someplace warm and exciting?  If you’d like to fantasize about a dream vacation, how would it compare to this:

Just imagine a two week vacation to Costa Rica.  Included in this trip are six days of diving, trips to Poas Volcano National Park, Tabacon Hot Springs, and Hacienda Guaichipelin, a kayaking/snorkeling excursion in Isla Ballena, horseback riding to Nauyaca,  waterfall and a quetzal tour.

Tabacon Hot springs is an incredible experience. Rio Tabacon flows from the slopes of Arenal volcano at 104 degrees.  The Tabacon Hot springs are natural geothermal pools that are fed by the Tabacon River, which begins deep in the Arenal volcano.  The volcano heats the water to 104 degrees, after which it flows 3 quarters of a mile to the natural pools of the Tabacon Hot Springs. A garden has been built around the river which has been diverted into three different streams with waterfalls for you to enjoy.

Then there is Guanacaste, the northern part of the Pacific coast around Playas Del Coco or Flamingo.  The best diving in the area is the Catalina Islands is only a short trip from Flamingo.  The local dive center, Costa Rica Diving, is run by Harald and Barbara, a unique German couple who are very good to their customers.

How does a day of zip lines and white water tubing in Hacienda Guaichipelin on Rincon De La Vieja volcano sound?  The white water tubing is one of the most fun things there is to do in Costa Rica.

Then there’s the Osa area down south.  There we would stay at Club Fred.  Club Fred is reasonably priced and in a nice spot with a great view out over the Pacific.  This is where we schedule the kayaking, snorkeling and horseback riding adventures. From the Club Fred area, it is a 40 mile boat trip to Isla Del Cano. There, we will experience the best diving in Costa Rica, doingt two days of three tank dives.

From there we would go back to San Jose over the mountains in the center of the country. The drive over Cerro De La Muerta is spectacular. For about five miles you are literally travelling on the continental divide.  On our way over the mountains, we will stop at San Gerardo De Dota, a little village in a valley about 8000 feet up. This is one of the few places you can see a quetzal.  They also grow a lot of things there that will surprise you, like apples, peaches, plums, pears, blackberries, avocados, some other tropical fruits that you probably never heard of.  It is an amazing drive into the valley.

Jan 7         Arrive SJO, drive to Poas Volcano Lodge

Jan 8         Drive to Poas Volcano National Park, view the active crater, hike up to the lake in the extinct crater, then drive to Arenal Observatory Lodge, settle in then head for Tabacon             Hot springs for dinner and an evening playing in the 104 degree flowing hot tub under your own waterfall.

Jan 9         Drive to Bahia Del Sol in Potrero.

Jan 10-13   Dive Catalina Islands; side trip to Rincon De La Viejas National Park for zip lines, white water tubing; spa at Hacienda Guaichipelin.

Jan 14       Drive From Potrero to Ojochal and Club Fred

Jan15–19   Dive Isla Del Cano; ocean kayak to Isla Ballena; snorkel; horseback ride into Nauyaca waterfalls.

Jan 19       Drive Ojochal to Trogon Lodge in San Gerardo de Dota

Jan 20       get up early to view quetzals, then drive to Poas Volcano Lodge with an optional tour of the Doka Estate, the largest coffee plantation in the country

Jan 21       Depart for home.

Lodging, diving and ground transportation $2500/diver, $1800/non-diver based on double occupancy. Currently, airfair from PWM is $577/person.  Food is additional.  All tours ground transportation and diving are include in the price.

For more information, please contact:

Earl Bunting at dolesorchard@gmail.com