Located just south of Mexico, Central America is home to numerous rainforests, lowland jungles, and mountainous areas where monkeys and many different species of birds call home.  The region has an incredible amount of history, not least he Mayan civilisation with numerous tours available to see the ruins and learn about the history of these people.

Covering Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. Spanish is the most common language English is a close second, with the exception of Belize which is primarily English.  There are numerous indigenous dialects spoken throughout Central America depending on your location, although travelers won’t have a problem speaking only English.

Central America lies between the Caribbean Sea on the eastern side and the Pacific Ocean on the western side.  Due to the vast amount of ocean bordering this area of the North American continent, it is a prime location for scuba diving with divers visiting the area from all over the world.  Central America is also home to the second largest barrier reef in the world, the Meso-American Barrier Reef.  This reef stretches from the Yucatan Peninsula all the way down to Honduras resulting in a marine protected area, and only a certain number of divers are allowed each day to help preserve the habitat.

Many of the beaches in Central America have white sand and are full of tourists, a contrast to some of the diving sites which are remote and accessible only by boat. 

Although Central America lies in the tropics, due to its size there is no one overall climate; however there are rarely dramatic fluctuations in temperature.  In the mountainous areas the climate is temperate while the lowlands are primarily subtropical, but occasionally a cold front will come. There isn’t a true winter here but the Caribbean side gets the most rainfall from September to February.  As the rainy season begins to taper off, underwater visibility increases.

Water temperature in Central America tend to be in the 20°C -30°C (69°-88°F) range depending on where you visit.  For most diving here, only a 3mm shorty is needed although some places may require a 7mm full length.

The best time to visit depends on where you’re going diving.  For those going on the Caribbean side, March to September is best because as soon as the rainy season ends, water visibility markedly improves.  On the Pacific side the best time to go is December through May when the oceans are calmer with increased visibility.

Depending on which country you want to visit, you can see a variety of sea life.  Several of the countries are notable for different things.

Costa Rica - The Cocos Islands located southwest of the mainland are known for Hammerheads from June to December.

Honduras - Known for The Bay Islands of Roatan, Utila, Guanaja, and Cayos Cochinos, these islands have plenty of options for live aboard or resort diving.  Expect to see barracuda, octopi, seahorses and dolphins all in abundance here.

Belize - The largest cay in Belize is called Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley.  It can get busy here with many people snorkeling, but divers can go farther out and spot nurse sharks, turtles, and dolphins.

If you’re traveling from the US most flights will go directly to the island where you’re staying.  Traveling from Europe you will have to fly to the largest city and take a connecting flight to the island or resort area.  To reach some of the smaller, less populated islands you will have to take a boat from a larger island.

For those going to Honduras, the Copan Ruins Archaeology Park allows an insight into the history of the Mayans.  There guests can see plazas, courts, tunnels, and ancient texts from the Mayan civilization dating back to 1000 BC.

If you like adventure, Belize has a remote cave which the Mayans used for human sacrifices.  Known in English as the Cave of the Crystal Maiden, this cave still has skeletal remains from 1,000 years ago. 

If you’re traveling to Nicaragua, you can look over the edge of an active volcano in Masaya.

There is still much of Central America that is pristine, but along with that is a lack of facilities many would consider necessary.  Crime is high in most of the larger cities but tourists should pay heed even in diving and resort areas.  Some spots, such as in Honduras, there are political demonstrations in the larger cities.  Near the border of Nicaragua and Honduras there are still active land mines so avoiding this area is advised.  Due to the increasing presence of drug cartels, Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala are all experiencing higher levels of violent crime.