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Isla de Caņo Biological Reserve is a small island in the Bahia de Coronado (Bay of Coronado) in Costa Rica located on the Pacific side of Costa Rica, west of the Peninsula de Osa (Osa Peninsula). It has been established as a protected national park, with a permanent ranger station on the island. Nonetheless, it is a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors for its beaches, coral beds, and sea life. Researchers currently use the coral beds to study the factors surrounding coral death and recolonization. Marine life includes manta rays, dolphins, sea turtles, whales, and a wide variety of fish. The limited diversity of terrestrial fauna, however, is noticeable, with the island having less than one percent of the insect diversity of the peninsula and an absence of numerous animals native to the nearby mainland. Evidence of pre-Colombian human activity on the island is substantial, with some of the most interesting artifacts being almost perfect stone spheres evidently carved by early civilizations.

Caņo is also the site of great archeological interest as it was once used as a pre-Columbian cemetery by cultures with a clear South American influence. Each year, Caņo is struck by lightning more than any other part of Central America, this is believed to be the reason why native indian cultures considered this place sacred.

The island is an extinct volcano rising 90m above sea level to a wide plateau and covered with a tall evergreen forest. It is surrounded by five platforms of low coral reefs where 15 species of stony coral have been identified.

It is possible to see some of the perfectly round stone spheres made by the former native indians, and today they continue to pose one of the major puzzles of the pre-Columbian cultures in Central America.

Willdlife is scarce, perhaps as a result of the disappearance of the natural forest, but a few birds can still be seen.

Caņo diving is as unique as most any dive destination, just more remote than most. About an hour by boat from Drake Bay Wilderness Camp, Caņo looms out of the Pacific due to the grinding of tetonic plates, as most dive sites around it bottom out to lava strewn canyons and rolling hills at a respectable 60-130'.

Water temps at the surface can range between 77-82 F and drop to 70-72 F at max depths. I wore a 3mm full-length one-piece wetsuit and was quite comfortable. Water salinity is noticebly less than Caribbean sites, offering an opportunity to make small adjustments in diver weights.

Currents around the island differ depending on depth, with bottom currents often taking a different course than the one above. Typically, the deeper current is also noticebly cooler, due to it's origin from deeper waters farther out, welling up around the island and channeling in the bottom valleys.

Overall visibility is often 80+ ft, but can suddenly and briefly drop to less than 30+ as a nutrient-rich subwave passes by. It is these times when mantas can be spotted cruising in the distance. Whitetip sharks, puffers, and moray eels abound in surprising numbers, and are easily spotted among the volcaninc boulders. Schools of barracuda are often near the surface and are welcome company during a safety stop.

Extended surface intervals include a restful picnic at a small beach area on the north side of the island after signing a visitor log at the nearby ranger station. Time (and energy) permitting, one can enjoy a midday hike on a well marked trail to the top of the island, camera is a must. Also available at the beachside picnic are hundreds of land crabs constantly scavenging for fruit rinds often provided by lunching divers. Lizards can also seen in the nearby surface brush, and they too welcome leftover scraps.

There is a small underwater cave just offshore, and if the surface isn't too choppy, a short swim inside may turn up another whitetip or two.

Oh, by the way, be certain to bring your C-card, the DM will ask. As well they should, the nearest chamber is eight hours away in Panama City.