CostaCetacea

Costa Cetacea

The Oldest Cultures of Costa Rica are those of the

Whales and Dolphins- The Cetaceans

These photos were all taken by Cetacean, Blue Water Pelagic and Dive Guide Shawn Larkin.

American Costa Rican Shawn Larkin Strunz began coming to Costa Rica in 1972, became a certified scuba diver in 1981, and first dived Cano Island, the Blue Water Pelagic and Talamanca over 20 years ago. A PADI Diving Instructor for over 18 years and a published marine psychobiologist, he has added new dolphin species to Costa Rica’s list of Cetaceans as well as discovered and documented new, amazing social interactions between species and other unknown Cetacean behaviours and resident locations.

Ranking in the top ten in the 1995 World Surf Kayaking Championships, he has also worked on the biggest sailboat in the world and for the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. He has published over one hundred articles, stories and photos about Costa Rica’s ocean wildlife, and has featured on the Discovery Channel’s Animal Planet and many other TV channels. His underwater video footage has appeared on these channels as well. Shawn has written for The Tico Times, Central America’s largest English language newspaper, since 1998.

Shawn teaches groups ranging from Broad Reach young adult adventures to South Hampton College wild dolphin ecology students. Shawn has helped projects on both coasts run by many individual scientists, as well as educational and conservational organizations from around the globe, as well as Costa Rica’s Ministry of Environment, the Institute of Biodiversity, Mar Viva, the National University of Costa Rica and the University of Costa Rica.

An author of Lonely Planet Costa Rica, and Central America on a Shoestring, Carolyn Hubbard, says that he is among the “Top people to meet in Costa Rica.” Other Lonely Planet authors have also said he is a “wealth of information about marine life”, “highly recommended,” and calls his tour one to “splurge on.”

Shawn was chief Costa Rica spinner dolphin and Osa guide for the new Galatee Productions movie Oceans being produced by Jacques Perrin and due out in IMAX and cinema theatres sometime during spring 2009. Shawn has been “highly recommended” by top BBC Blue Planet underwater cameraman Didier Noirot, who was also cameraman for Jacques Cousteau. The captain of Cousteau’s ship the Calypso, Bernard Deguy also highly recommends Shawn’s guiding services. So does Blue Planets David Reichert, expert on baitballs and Cetaceans.

Shawn lives with his wife Vanessa and their daughter Star near Drake Bay. Shawn’s top class guiding services are available by advance reservation only. If not available he will hand pick a guide for your special needs. A wide variety of accommodations and yachts are available as a platform for your trip to Costa Cetacea.

Quote:

“We must respect and protect the Cetaceans, for how we treat the whales and dolphins will be how we treat ourselves.”

Call 506 8835 6041 or email

shawndive@yahoo.com