Scuba Diving Costa Rica's Wild Side

Tanya Burnett-Palmer

Caño Island

This is the main beach on Caño Island, which was a pleasant 12-mile boat ride off the coast from Drake Bay. Nobody actually lives on the island, except for a few park rangers, who seemed to be in perpetual siesta mode while we were there. In pre-Columbian times, the area's indigenous people considered the island to be sacred and would boat in from the mainland to bury their dead here. Besides the interesting history, Caño is also noteworthy as a rest stop for migrating birds, so on any visit, you should keep your eyes skyward for wayward feathered travelers.

The Story Behind the Images

Sport Diver Editor Eric Michael traveled to Costa Rica looking to experience one of the country's most feral regions — the Osa Peninsula. Based at the Aguila de Osa Inn in the remote village of Drake Bay, Eric and his team explored the surrounding jungles of the Corcovado National Park, along with diving the teeming depths off nearby Caño Island. The vast abundance, intensity and diversity of the wildlife they discovered — both above and below the surface — was astonishing. In the above photo gallery, Eric shares some behind-the-scenes stories about the trip's top photos.

For furthur information on the Aguila de Osa Inn, visit www.aguiladeosa.com

To book dive trips in the Osa region, visit Adventure Dive Tours and Travel at www.diveguide.com/p1731.htm

Through the Lens: Shark Diving for Beginners

"Never," "you can go with a friend," "we do have children" ... these are just some of my excuses to never go shark diving on a designated shark trip. No misunderstanding: I absolutely love sharks during an unexpected encounter. I always hope to capture the classic shark silhouette on a sandy patch close to the Cayman wall — a big treat, and an even bigger one if a Caribbean reef shark comes close and hangs around for some minutes before its shyness takes over and it disappears into the mysterious depths! Here's what happened when my husband encouraged me to book an oceanic white-tip shark expedition.

PADI Diving Society Departs for the Philippines

From 15-22 February 2014, PADI Diving Society members are headed for an adventure in the Philippines to experience and explore the warm water, white sandy beaches and a rich and diverse culture and history.

PADI News: Learning to Dive at Kids Sea Camp

Want to learn how to dive with your kids? Find out how you can connect with your family underwater at Sea Camp. Visit familydivers.com for Kids Sea Camp 2013 dates and locations.

How To Dive Honduras

If you’re looking for a destination packed with adventure, history, superior diving and a vibrant natural heritage, then set your sights on Honduras and the Bay Islands.

Behind the Image: Walking on the Moon

Franco Banfi photographs a scuba diver walking on ice underwater.

Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas Top 5 Experiences: Shark Feeding Video

Stuart Cove’s shark-feeding experience is the most famous dive in the Bahamas and with good reason. It’s controlled chaos — a frenzy of action that’s nearly impossible to keep up with. In this video, experience this iconic dive alongside Sport Diver editor David Espinosa.