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 >>

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 >>

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. Sample Itinerary       Day 1 Pickup from hotel between 8 AM and 1 PM   Transfer by bus to Puntarenas       Day 2 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.       Days 3 - 8 Dive the pinnacles around the perimeter of Cocos Island. Divers usually average three dives per day at depths of 60-100 feet or more.       Day 9 Make the last 3 dives before the cruise back to Costa Rica and reality!       Day 10 Travel day. All day to discuss the diving and to compare your adventures.       Day 11 Arrival at Puntarenas. After breakfast you will be transported back to San Jose.

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

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 >>

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.

Contact us for additional details or to book spaces.