What YOU Can See Snorkeling at Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica!

Epic snorkeling highlights from right off the beach (Jobo Bay) at Dreams Las Mareas Resort, Costa Rica. Includes stingrays, locals swimming with their pulpo (octopus) catch, FREAKY alien-looking sea urchins, tiger snake eels, pufferfish, and more. I've also provided a map of where you can snorkel inside the bay (toward the rocks on either side of the bay).
Before our stay at Dreams Las Mareas in October 2021, I couldn't find any real footage of the snorkeling at the resort, and the Trip Advisor forums I read had myths and false information saying no one swam there because the bay was filled with snakes. I knew this wasn't true, and when I got there, I wasn't disappointed.
If you're considering a visit or already booked a visit to Dreams Las Mareas, then this video will show you the great snorkeling you can enjoy right outside the resort.

[@Grzegorz_D]

great vacation! we really enjoyed ours 1 year ago! we stayed in a room next to yours:-)

[@vony5676]

We’re going to be there this summer, end of June. Our family loves snorkeling and cannot wait! Thank you!!

[@scubapsalmwell]

You’re very welcome 😊 I love nature from the bottom of my heart and I’ve never been bored exploring the underwater world. Everything is different and beautiful. Happy to hear you and your family can appreciate too ❤️

[@karenh2044]

That's when I'll be there as well! Going for a family wedding, might see you in the water!

[@jacquelinek6432]

Great video, will be there in a couple weeks and looking forward to do some snorkeling!

[@scubapsalmwell]

Awesome! You're gonna love it! The bay is full of life. Even saw a spotted eagle ray further out at high tide but wasn't able to catch it on camera :)

[@averygardner5901]

Thanks for the information! Did the resort provide snorkeling gear or did you bring your own?

[@scubapsalmwell]

We brought our own but there was gear to buy in the resort stores and I'm pretty sure there was some to rent. However, I would recommend buying your own before you go. A comfortable mask that fits your face will provide a much better time. It's a lot more fun when you're not fighting water getting in your mask. And remember glass masks must be scrubbed with something abrasive (regular white toothpaste works) to remove the protective layer. You'll know if you forget! (It'll be completely fogged so much so it's unusable... until you scrub it 😉)

[@froggyrain]

Great video! So, how big is this snorkeling area? And is the water pretty calm (we are brining a 4 year old), that's why. Thanks sir!

[@scubapsalmwell]

Glad you liked it! The snorkeling areas on either side of the beach go out about 250 meters or so. The water is calm in the bay on both sides but visibility can vary with the weather and tide changes, so I recommend exploring a little bit to see what’s best. We had great visibility about 50 meters out on the right side (facing the ocean) in a depth of only about 3 or 4 meters but the next day it wasn’t as good. The left side of the bay is quieter with less people and we had good visibility there as well but fewer fish. There are lots of rocks under the water that reflect the light up on that side so even without fish it’s pretty neat. Hope you enjoy!

[@dusansajic7200]

Are sea urchins on the hotel beach? Worried about one of my kids stepping on one.

[@scubapsalmwell]

None close to shore. If you go out farther, say waist deep for an adult, you‘ll see them mostly around the rocks and ledges over to the right. Be careful around low tide because you’re more likely to cut your feet on rocks than an urchin. In general, I don’t recommend walking barefoot in water deeper than a few feet. Further than that, I always try to swim and wear fins which will protect your feet and help you handle waves and current. Have fun and be safe!

[@ZachAsaD]

I’ve never been snorkelling, what do you recommend to bring with you in the holiday?

[@scubapsalmwell]

Apologies for the delayed response. If you're planning to try snorkeling, I recommend you buy a mask and snorkel before you leave. You'll almost certainly pay less than at the resort and get a higher quality mask that fits your face better than a one size fits all mask. If you'd like to record video and/or take pictures, you can bring something for that, but be careful. You don't want to lose it in the ocean. I use a gopro and already lost one spearfishing. I didn't notice I lost it till I got back to the boat. I would recommend learning to snorkel without a camera before bringing it. And last thing is some reef safe sunscreen. The regular stuff bleaches the coral, and again, you'll save money bringing it with you vs waiting to buy it around the resort. Have fun!

[@heathershively9685]

What camera are you using?

[@scubapsalmwell]

Hey Heather, sorry for the delayed response. I used a GoPro Hero 9 Black for this trip. Most of my footage was 4k resolution and I was really happy with how it all turned out. The pictures turned out great too. Only issue was I had to wait till I got home to edit because my laptop couldn't handle 4k video editing 😅 !

[@briannwo1900]

Any sharks ?

[@scubapsalmwell]

No sharks unfortunately. Was told there weren’t any in the area. We did see guitarfish and stingray scuba diving nearby. You can see these in my scuba video for the same trip.