Roca Sucia, Dirty Rock
Dirty Rock, located on the way from Potrero Flamingo to Catalinas, approximately 8km from the coast in Provincia Guanacaste, Costa Rica, is a dive site that offers year-round diving opportunities. While the current can be strong at times, there is a shallow part near the pinnacle for beginners to explore. However, more experienced divers can venture to the north and reach a depth of 35m or head south and reach a depth of 27m.
One of the highlights of diving at Dirty Rock is the diverse marine life that can be found here. On the east side, you can observe the fascinating behavior of the barber fish and king angel fish. Additionally, sightings of sharks, rays, and turtles are common. If you're lucky, you might even spot different types of turtles at depths of 20-25 meters. The sandy bottom area is home to stingrays, with the possibility of encountering eagle rays, mobula or devil rays, manta rays, and white tip sharks.
When the visibility is good and the current is calm, Dirty Rock truly becomes a magical place. Divers of all levels, from beginners to experts, can enjoy exploring this famous dive site. So, if you're looking for an unforgettable diving experience in Costa Rica, don't miss the opportunity to dive at Dirty Rock.
One of the highlights of diving at Dirty Rock is the diverse marine life that can be found here. On the east side, you can observe the fascinating behavior of the barber fish and king angel fish. Additionally, sightings of sharks, rays, and turtles are common. If you're lucky, you might even spot different types of turtles at depths of 20-25 meters. The sandy bottom area is home to stingrays, with the possibility of encountering eagle rays, mobula or devil rays, manta rays, and white tip sharks.
When the visibility is good and the current is calm, Dirty Rock truly becomes a magical place. Divers of all levels, from beginners to experts, can enjoy exploring this famous dive site. So, if you're looking for an unforgettable diving experience in Costa Rica, don't miss the opportunity to dive at Dirty Rock.
Diving Conditions Score for Roca Sucia, Dirty Rock
6.9
Above AverageDecent conditions, proceed with caution.
The score is based on a calculation of the current weather and sea conditions.
Dive Site Overview for Roca Sucia, Dirty Rock
Depth
21m
Visibility
10m
Experience Level
beginner
advanced
expert
Weather Conditions for Roca Sucia, Dirty Rock
Wave Height
1.04m
Wind Speed
8.6 m/s
Water Temp
29.9°C
Visibility
6.18km
Cloud Cover
98%
Wave Period
12.25s
Air Temperature
24.9°C
Precipitation
2.4 mm
Detailed 7-Day Diving Forecast for Roca Sucia, Dirty Rock
Alpha
Dive Score Chart for Roca Sucia, Dirty Rock
Best time to dive: 15:00 with score 8.004730578512397/10. Water conditions: Waves 1.04m, Wind 6.2 m/s.Best night dive time: 19:00 with score 7.583133613445379/10.
Chart showing hourly dive conditions including wave height, wind speed, water temperature, and visibility throughout the day.
Sunrise at Roca Sucia, Dirty Rock: 06:00
Sunset at Roca Sucia, Dirty Rock: 18:00
Optimal diving conditions at Roca Sucia, Dirty Rock are affected by daylight hours. Sunrise occurs at 06:00 and sunset at 18:00, which impacts visibility and water temperature for scuba diving and snorkeling.
Best Overall
15:00Score: 8.0/10
Waves: 1.04m (12.1s), Wind: 6.2 m/s
Best Night
19:00Score: 7.6/10
Waves: 1.04m, Wind: 3.9 m/s
Seasonal Analysis for Roca Sucia, Dirty RockAlpha
Historical patterns and best seasons for diving at Roca Sucia, Dirty Rock
The dive score combines all factors to rate overall diving conditions throughout the year. Higher scores indicate better diving conditions.
Monthly Dive Score Analysis - Seasonal Diving Conditions
Higher values indicate better diving conditions
Seasonal DiveScore Chart
This chart displays monthly diveScore data throughout the year, showing seasonal patterns. The data is presented as a bar chart with an overlaid line graph.Dive scores range from 1 to 10, with 10 being optimal conditions.
Higher values indicate better diving conditions
Best Season for Roca Sucia, Dirty Rock
Winter
Avg. Score: 9.5/10
Winter offers the best overall diving conditions with calmer seas and better visibility, despite cooler temperatures.
Best Months for Roca Sucia, Dirty Rock
January
Score: 9.6
February
Score: 9.6
March
Score: 9.5
Ideal Conditions for Roca Sucia, Dirty Rock
Water Temp
26.9°C / 80.4°F
March
Visibility
11.1m / 36.4ft
December
Wave Height
1.4m / 4.6ft
November
Wave Period
8.0s
January
Seasonal Insights for Roca Sucia, Dirty Rock
Roca Sucia, Dirty Rock shows typical northern hemisphere patterns with April being the warmest month (27.1°C) and November the coldest (21.8°C). The calmest conditions typically occur in November with average wave heights of 1.4m and wave periods of 8.0s. The most comfortable wave conditions are in November with a low wave steepness ratio, creating gentler swells. January offers the longest wave periods (8.0s), creating more comfortable and predictable conditions for boat entries and exits. Ocean currents are slowest in January (0.5m/s) and strongest in January (0.5m/s). January is usually the driest month with 0.0mm of precipitation. For beginners, the best time to visit would be during November to January, when ocean conditions are calmer with long-period waves and currents are typically weaker. Experienced divers might enjoy the challenges and potentially better visibility during the shoulder seasons, with moderate currents that can improve marine life encounters.
Last updated: 1 min. ago - Jun 22, 2026
Note: This dive site is not a verified dive site. Please dive with caution. This dive site might have incorrect information by the community.
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