Imagine waking up to the sound of waves in Santa Teresa. Julia had heard stories of humpback whales migrating past the Nicoya Peninsula. She had even saved the dive center’s number (+506 8771 1994), and she was thrilled at the chance to see them for herself. On her first morning, she joined a boat tour with Ananda. Dive N’ Flow, laughing with other tourists as they headed into the open ocean. Whale-watching Santa Teresa was on the itinerary, but Julia also planned to snorkel and try freediving during her stay. The boat motor hummed as they reached deeper waters, and soon the captain pointed out a blow on the horizon. Julia saw a tall spout of water rise into the air a whale was surfacing! The boat lurched gently as the humpback rolled back into the sea with a splash.
Whale Watching Adventures in Santa Teresa
Santa Teresa’s Pacific waters are teeming with marine life. From humpback whales to playful dolphins, visitors are in for a treat. The captain anchored the boat and passengers peered out for signs of whales. Julia learned that whale sightings here are common from December through April and again from July to October. Ananda. Dive N’ Flow offers guided whale-watching tours during these months, so travelers can experience whale-watching Santa Teresa in full swing. As a bonus, Ananda notes that northern humpbacks arrive December-April and southern ones July–October, so whales grace these waters about nine months a year.
Freediving Santa Teresa
After the whale tour, Julia wanted to try something even closer to the water. Freediving Santa Teresa allows divers to glide below the surface on a single breath and truly immerse in the ocean. She joined a freediving session with Ananda and felt the cool water close above her. Even if whales rarely glide with freedivers, just floating beneath the boat gave a new perspective. Her instructor explained how to equalize and relax, and Julia practiced diving down to see a school of sergeant major fish. These brief dives into the turquoise water gave her a peaceful, meditative feeling.
In the meantime, Julia enjoyed snorkel and freedive tours around nearby coves. Freediving Costa Rica courses here often involve a breathing lesson before plunging into warm water. Every dip felt like a little adventure; she floated near an octopus hiding in the reef and waved to her guide above. Freediving Santa Teresa had opened her eyes to the ocean’s serenity, and she was already thinking about going even deeper. If freediving Costa Rica’s Pacific depths or scuba diving Costa Rica adventures interest you, just ask our team.
Snorkeling Santa Teresa
On another day, Julia grabbed her gear and headed to the reef. Snorkeling Santa Teresa was especially fun at Punta Cahuita, known for its clear water. She and a small group from Ananda paddled off in calm seas and took turns staring down at the underwater scene. Parrotfish nibbled at coral and bright tangs swished by. Above them, a giant eagle ray glided like a living cloud, reminding Julia of all the whales she saw from the boat. Back on deck, she took selfies with fellow snorkelers and recorded videos for her travel diary. Their day of snorkeling felt like drifting through a giant aquarium.
The guide was careful to keep them near shallow coral gardens, perfect for beginners and kids. In fact, the boat’s route included a stop at Isla Tortuga, where snorkeling Santa Teresa’s reefs is easy and the meals on the island are delicious. Julia snorkeled over volcanic rock gardens home to angelfish, needlefish, and even spotted eagle rays, making her list of favorite marine animals grow.
Scuba Diving Costa Rica
For an even deeper experience, Julia signed up for scuba diving the next day. Scuba diving Costa Rica requires certification, but Ananda’s PADI instructors guided her through the process. As she slid under the waves with a tank, she remembered the whales beneath though scuba gear makes a lot of bubbles, the connection to the ocean stays strong. At a site called Cadena, she and her buddy were led along a gentle slope of coral and sand. With each few breaths she drifted past schools of snapper, a shy sea turtle gliding by, and a leopard moray eel peeking from a crevice. Their guide even pointed out a small white-tip reef shark lurking in a nearby canyon.
Julia’s dive ended and she felt triumphant. She had tried freediving Costa Rica’s warm Pacific, snorkeled with colorful fish, and even thrown a few whale stories into her travel journal. As the boat backtracked to Santa Teresa, playful dolphins raced alongside and she waved goodbye to the ocean giants.
Ready to plan your own adventure? Contact Ananda. Dive N’ Flow at +506 8771 1994 (our number!) to book whale-watching, snorkeling Santa Teresa, or scuba diving Costa Rica trips. Learn more on Ananda. Dive N’ Flow’s website or view our location on Google Maps. The Pacific, whales, and vibrant reefs are waiting. Are you ready to spot a humpback whale and explore beneath the waves?
