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The Backyard

The Backyard

Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica

Depth
Depth Icon

30m

Visibility
Visibility Icon

6m - 18m

Entry
Boat Entry Icon

Boat

Experience Level

Advanced

The Backyard

Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica

The Backyard
Depth
Depth Icon

30m

Visibility
Visibility Icon

6m - 18m

Entry
Boat Entry Icon

Boat

Experience Level

Advanced


About The Backyard

An underwater pinnacle that starts at 50 feet and drops down to 90 feet is the ideal site for our Deep Dive specialties.

The Backyard Dive Info

Terrain & Features

Deep, Wall, Rock, Drift, Shark

Entry Type

Boat

Max Depth

30m

Visibility Range

6m 18m

Experience Level

Advanced

Best Gas Mix

21% – 35%

O2

16% at 28m / 36%

O2
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Marine Life

  • Angel Fish
  • Giant Manta Rays
  • Grunt
  • Moray Eels
  • Scorpion Fish
  • Snapper
  • Surgeon Fish
  • Trigger Fish
  • Turtles
  • Various
  • Whale
  • White Tip Sharks
Weather Conditions

Water Temperature
Dive Operators near The Backyard

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Location

Dive Site Hazards

  • Gradual Narcosis Onset — Narcosis may develop slowly, making self-assessment unreliable.

  • Task Fixation at Depth — Cognitive narrowing at depth can reduce awareness of time and ascent rate.

  • Increased Gas Density Breathing Load — Higher gas density at depth increases work of breathing.

  • Unstable Visual Ascents — Relying on wall visuals can destabilise ascents.

  • Gradual Depth Creep — Lack of visual bottom reference can cause unnoticed descent.

  • Unsignalled Downcurrents — Downcurrents can form without visible indicators.

  • Bubble Trapping Under Overhangs — Rock overhangs can trap exhaled bubbles, reducing visibility and causing disorientation.

  • Reflected Surge Patterns — Surge reflecting off rock faces can create irregular and unpredictable water movement.

  • Current Funnel Effect — Narrow gaps between rocks can accelerate water flow unexpectedly.

  • Eddy Pull-Off Zones — Eddies behind structures can pull divers away from the main drift line.

  • Delayed Surface Pickup — Strong current can exceed surface tracking assumptions, delaying boat pickup.

  • Vertical Current Shear — Currents may vary by depth, causing vertical separation even when divers stay together.

  • Situational Awareness Loss — Divers may fixate on sharks and lose depth or position awareness.

  • Subtle Behavioural Shifts — Changes in shark behaviour may be missed without active observation.

  • Blue-Water Reference Loss — Lack of visual references increases ascent and descent instability.

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