Devils Playground

Anthony Grote · Issue 21, Oct/Nov 2004 · pp. 48–49

Products mentioned: Nikon D100, Light&Motion Titan D100, Sea & Sea strobes, Nikon 16mm f2.8 fisheye

Famed as the most exciting dive around Isla del Cano, and I remember Lawson, our divemaster in El Coco (a diving area in the northern part of Costa Rica) saying “Make sure you dive the Bajo del Diablo, you wonʼt be sorry!” As we arrived at the divesite, we were greeted by the most amazing sight I have seen, an aerial display by Lesser Devil Rays, leaping into the air, powered by their large wingspans, somersaulting and landing back in the water with a large splash. One, two, three..eventually I lost count. The show carried on for about 10 minutes when finally we were ready to jump in and hopefully see these animals performing for us beneath the waves. We dropped down and soon found ourselves between the pinnacles, in the mire that belonged to the huge schools of fish that hung on the edges, as if guarding the entrance to a place where only the privileged are allowed. The walls were volca…