July 25-29, 2023
Diving in the Bat Islands 
Bahia Santa Elena, Costa Rica

Day 1 (Jul 25, 2023)

• 1:00 pm           Arriving to Costa Rica

• 3:00 pm           Arriving to Cuajiniqul

• 4:30 pm           Organizing field gear at hotel

• 7:00 pm           Dinner at Ivannia’s / Restaurant

• Optional          Beach Exploration or Mangrove Kayaking

 

Day 2 (July 26, 2023) – Monitoring sharks & rays with BRUVS

• 5:30 am           Breakfast at Ivannia’s house

• 6:00 am           Leaving to Bat Island

• 8:15 am           First deployment of Baited Underwater Video Stations (BRUVS)

• 8:30 am           First dive at Bajo Negro, Bat Island

• 10:00 am         Second deployment of BRUVS

• 10:45 am         Second dive at El Gran Susto, Bat Island

• 12:30 pm         Lunch

• 1:15 pm           Return trip to Cuajiniquil

• 3:15 pm           Arriving to Cuajiniquil

• 4:00 pm           Rinse and organize all field equipment at the hotel

• 5:00 pm           Data entry from field activities

• 7:00 pm           Dinner at the Restaurant / Ivannia’s house

• Optional          Beach Exploration or Mangrove Kayaking

 

Note: For these activities you need to take snorkel/diving gear, sunscreen, water bottles to refill, hat and proper clothing for swimming / snorkeling, rain jackets.

 

Day 3 (July 27, 2023) – Monitoring sharks & rays with BRUVS

• 5:30 am           Breakfast at Ivannia’s house

• 6:00 am           Leaving to Bat Island

• 8:15 am           First deployment of BRUVS

• 8:40 am           First dive at Pochote, Bat Island

• 10:00 am         Second deployment of BRUVS

• 10:35 am         Second dive at El Gran Susto, Bat Island

• 12:00 pm         Lunch

• 1:15 pm           Return trip to Cuajiniquil

• 3:15 pm           Arriving to Cuajiniquil

• 4:00 pm           Rinse and organize all field equipment at the hotel

• 5:00 pm           Data entry from field activities

• 7:00 pm           Dinner at the Restaurant / Ivannia’s house

• Optional          Beach Exploration or Mangrove Kayaking

 

Note: For these activities you need to take snorkel/diving gear, sunscreen, water bottles to refill, hat and proper clothing for swimming / snorkeling, rain jackets.

 

Day 4 (July 28, 2023) – Monitoring of sharks & rays with fishing methods

• 6:00 am           Breakfast at Ivannia’s house

• 6:30 am           Leaving to Santa Elena Bay

• 7:15 am           Arriving to Santa Elena Bay

• 7:30 am           Deployment of bottom long-lines

• 7:40 am           Snorkel to catch rays with hand nets

• 8:45 am           Measuring and tagging sharks and rays captured

• 9:45 am           Deployment of bottom long-lines

• 10:00 am         Snorkel to catch rays with hand nets

• 11:15 am         Measuring and tagging sharks and rays captured

• 12:00 pm         Lunch at Pintadero

• 1:15 pm           Fun snorkel at El Hachal

• 2:45 pm           Rinse and organize all field equipment at Minor’s house

• 4:00 pm           Pizza fun activity at the ranch for early dinner

• Optional          Beach Exploration or Mangrove Kayaking

 

Note: For these activities you need to take your snorkel and diving gear (mask and fins), sunscreen, hat and proper clothing for swimming / snorkeling, rain jackets.

 

Day 5 (July 29) – Return trip to USA

• 7:30 am           Breakfast at the Restaurant

• 9:00 am           Leaving to Liberia airport