The Bat Islands
One of the few places on Earth with regular bull shark encounters
The Bat Islands (Islas Murciélago) sit off Santa Rosa National Park, within the Marine Sector of SINAC's Área de Conservación Guanacaste, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A study published in the Revista de Biología Tropical documented a high residency index for bull sharks at the San Pedrillo Islet dive site here, confirming it as an important aggregation site for the species.
Unbaited, natural, and closely supervised
Encounters here are completely unbaited. The bull sharks gather naturally at a cleaning station, where smaller fish remove parasites and dead skin from their bodies. It's a behavior you get to watch play out at close range. Diving with large sharks always calls for caution and strict safety procedures, but no shark-related incidents have been recorded at this dive site.
Reserved for Advanced Open Water divers
The depth and current conditions at the Bat Islands put this dive a step beyond our other sites, which is why it's reserved for certified Advanced Open Water divers. Not there yet? The Catalina Islands suit a wider range of levels, and our PADI Advanced Open Water course can get you ready for the Bat Islands on the same trip.
Good to know
Season
Bat Islands trips generally run from May to November.
Certification
Advanced Open Water Diver required, given the depth and currents at this site.
Location
Off Santa Rosa National Park, within the Marine Sector of SINAC's Área de Conservación Guanacaste, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Safety record
Unbaited, respectful encounters at a natural cleaning station. No shark-related incidents recorded at this dive site.
Frequently asked questions
Bat Islands trips generally run from May to November.
Yes. This site is reserved for certified Advanced Open Water divers, given the depth and current conditions.
Encounters are completely unbaited, and the sharks naturally gather at a cleaning station where smaller fish remove parasites from their bodies. Diving with large sharks always calls for caution and strict safety procedures, but no shark-related incidents have been recorded at this site.
The Bat Islands (Islas Murciélago) sit off Santa Rosa National Park in Guanacaste, within the Marine Sector of SINAC's Área de Conservación Guanacaste, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Yes. The Catalina Islands suit a wide range of levels, and our PADI Advanced Open Water course can get you ready for the Bat Islands on the same trip.
Dive the Bat Islands
Three privately guided dives, certified Advanced Open Water divers only. Not certified yet? See our PADI courses.