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An
Eye-witness Report
I'd like to start with a
short report about the once
in a lifetime dive adventure
we had at Cocos &
Malpelo Islands in
June, 2008. Already long
past for me, but still hot
news for those of you who
haven't had this opportunity
yet!
We were on the new flagship
of the Undersea Hunter
Fleet, the 131 foot
ARGO.
She's an incredible new
liveaboard & offers the
added excitement of the
tantalizing "Deep
See"
submarine on which you can
descend to otherwise
impossible depths.
We had 15 nights at
Cocos & Malpelo, where we
dove amongst large schools
of hammerheads at almost
every site, encountered
whale sharks and huge
silvertips, even some tiger
sharks, rare at
Cocos but seen on several
trips this year.
Night dives were equally as
dramatic with a few
hammerheads and
silkies, along with hoards
of hunting white tips,
almost bumping into you in
the excitement of the
hunt!
In short, I'd have to say
that few dive destinations
seem to get better and
better, but Cocos is
one that keeps
rocking and never fails to
impress, with each
trip better than the last
!
Join us at Cocos in
2010. Check
Availability and
Contact us to reserve a
space. |
Descent
in the Deep See:
The life at 750 feet
was no less intense,
with huge mantas and
mobula rays
approaching the
Plexiglas dome of
the 3-man
submersible Deep
See.
On a 1000 foot dive
we had a close
encounter with a
beaked whale, who
stopped to idly
observe the odd
looking alien
creature that had
invaded its personal
space . . . .
before nimbly diving
deeper & deeper to
find his or her
lunch.
A dive in this $5
million submarine is
just not to be
missed.
Click here for
details >>
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THE BOATS
All three boats have been impeccably
designed for the diver and photographer
- including professional photographers
and film-makers.
The
Sea
Hunter was built as
a dive support boat for the oil
industry. Redesigned specifically with
the recreational scuba diver’s comfort &
convenience in mind, she’s been serving
Cocos Island since 1995. At 115 feet,
her interior is superbly spacious &
luxurious but underneath she’s a
remarkable workhorse.
Click for full details >>
The
Undersea Hunter
began life in Florida in 1968 as a
submarine support vessel, doing much of
her work with the Deep Rover Project of
Dr. Sylvia Earle. A total refit for her
new life taking divers to Cocos Island
was done with all comforts in mind. She
is a luxury yacht within an ocean-going
powerhouse.
Click here for full details >>
The
Argo
is the latest & largest vessel in this
remarkable fleet of dedicated diving
boats.
Carrying 14 divers in incredibly
spacious surroundings, the boat is
bright and warm and inviting.
Click here for full details >> |
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DIVING
&
ITINERARIES
On the way to or from the dive sites
it is very common to find exciting
snorkeling opportunities with
Pacific Mantas, Bottlenose Dolphins
or even a Bait Ball that will keep
the adrenaline flowing all day
long.
Also, between the dives and weather
permitting, there is time for Sea
Kayaking and/or land excursions.
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Sample
Itinerary |
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Day
1 |
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Pickup
from hotel between 8 AM and 1 PM
Transfer by bus to Puntarenas
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Day
2 |
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Travel
day. Steaming toward Cocos.
There are videos and tales of
Captain and crew tget you
excited about your destination.
Also, you can use this time for
a technical diving course,
should you choose. |
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Days
3 - 8 |
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Dive
the
pinnacles around the perimeter
of Cocos Island. Divers usually
average three dives per day at
depths of 60-100 feet or more.
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Day
9 |
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Make the
last 3 dives before the cruise
back to Costa Rica and reality! |
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Day
10 |
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Travel
day. All day to discuss the
diving and to compare your
adventures. |
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Day
11 |
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Arrival at
Puntarenas. After breakfast you
will be transported back to San
Jose. |
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WHAT WILL I SEE?
Of course, every trip is different, but
amongst the possibilities are
hammerheads, white
tips, black tips,
silkies,
whale sharks, marble
rays, eagle rays, mobula rays and manta
rays. In addition, you can expect
turtles, snapper, yellow fin tuna, green
jacks and dolphins. Often there are
sailfish, wahoos,
yellowtail grunts, rainbow runners,
red
lip batfish, frogfish, garden eels
turtles, octopus and
even
black coral.
WHAT ABOUT
THE WEATHER?
Cocos Island offers year-round diving.
Visibility
at Cocos is generally 25-40 metres.
Water temperature are 24-26°C. You
should plan on shorts and t-shirt
weather during the day, but cooler
weather and often showers during the
evening, so be sure to have appropriate
clothing with you.
Photos thanks to Steve Rosenberg |
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WHAT'S INCLUDED?
Transfers from & to your hotel in San
Jose. On the way there will be a stop
for a snack or lunch. The price of this
meal is not included in the price of the
trip.
11-day / 10-night cruise with
all meals and non-alcoholic
drinks
Seven full days of diving with
three to four dives per day
(incl. nitrox fills, tanks and
weights)
National
Park Fee: $245 (subject to
change) |
EXTRAS
Departure tax of $ 26
US & a possible
fuel surcharge
The
Deep See
submersible is scheduled to be
onboard certain trips throughout the
year. The cost of
Deep See
dives are additional. Please see
the Deep See section for further
information about submersible
dives.
Click here >>
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RATES & AVAILABILITY
Visit our
Availability page for dates & spaces
currently open. Rates are listed at the
bottom of the availability page.
GETTING THERE
We recommend that
you fly to San José, Costa Rica. You
need to arrive at least one night prior
to the boat's departure date and we
strongly recommend staying one night
after the return, in case of any
unforeseen delays.
Your transfer
from San Jose to the boat is included in
the boat's rate. |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Costa Rica is unquestionably worth a
visit and we highly recommend that you
extend your trip, if possible, to absorb
a bit of the magic of Costa Rica. Active
volcanoes, white water rafting, mountain
biking, pristine jungles, coffee
plantations, horseback riding, and
fabulous beaches await you. We would be
happy to arrange your tour. |
