Cano Island - Advice for the other groups.....

A few tips from those of us who`ve already arrived:

For the journey here, be prepared to get wet. Sandals and shorts are good for the boat (you alight in shallow water). And a waterproof. We hit a really heavy storm on the way and got absolutely drenched.

You don't really need towels as you dry very quickly when diving and the rooms (v. nice!) all have them. Clothing does not dry quickly so several tops (1 long-sleeved) are useful and don't forget a torch.

The underwater cameras are not allowed on the training dives, but you can take them should you add some extra diving on. 9 of us did this today hvaing qualified yesterday. We had already seen dolphins earlier in the week (and a recent law has made swimming with them illegal). Instead of looking for more, we went to the island to complete two more dives, along the way spotting a humpback, which was incredible. Under the ocean surface we got snap happy and fired off 7 cameras worth of fill in quick order!

Rash vests are nice, but not essential as we have full body wetsuits.

Mosquito nets are not needed at all. There is very little in the way of insect problems as there are so many bats and birds and the rooms are well protected. Be prepared for crabs though!

The food is fantastic and the water is bottled mineral water, as is the ice, so that makes life much easier.

They really do look after you here - last night we even had salsa lessons after a fantastic tea, tonight it is a fresh fish bbq - and the instructors are great.

For anybody nervous about the diving where there are sharks(which I can't pretend I wasn't), you start off close to the bay, where there is very little in the way of marine life. When you get to the island and see sharks, they are wonderfully placid, and when you get close (2-3m), they simply glide away. We are all converts and realise how exciting it is to dive with them (they are all white-tip reef sharks) and there is truly nothing to be worried about! In fact, the real adrenalin pumping action is to be found on the 20km high-speed boat ride to the island. I guarantee your heart rates will be raised!

Think that's it for advice - you will, I am sure, have a great time here. Worth the journey to Costa Rica for this stay alone!