Story by Justin Haring
Photos by Fidel Lopez
As if the pristine and deserted beaches of Nicaragua’s Pacific coast were not beautiful enough on the surface, many travelers are finding that the natural splendor of the terrestrial environment is reflected in the undersea realm as well. With both freshwater and ocean dive sites, western Nicaragua has a limited but interesting variety of locations, each offering an unique experience that is definitely worth checking out. Off the coast on the rocky seafloor, a diver can see a large variety of species, including puffer fish, yellow jackfish, eagle rays, and groupers. At different times of the year, sea turtles come to deposit their eggs on a beach and even dolphins and whales frequent the waters. In the freshwater lagoons, you can see the unique species of cichlid fish that have evolved in their particular isolated enclave. Like the Galapagos animal species discovered by Charles Darwin, they can only be seen here.
San Juan del Sur is the base for most diving trips in western Nicaragua. From there, you can get to all the great sites off the southwest coast and it’s only about an hour and a half drive to the closest volcanic crater lake, Laguna de Apoyo. You can also find guide, rent equipment, get certified, or even advance your current certification at either of the two full-service dive shops in town.