Liveaboards Cocos Expedition, Costa Rica

Cocos makes is a haven for marine life , few other locations can offer the same heady mixture of adrenalin, comfort and jaw dropping encounters !

Cocos is a place that many divers aspire to visit... and one look over a typical week's diving soon reveals why this faraway dot on the horizon calls to divers. If you love big fish encounters and plenty of drift diving, then Cocos is undoubtedly the place for you. Add to this the peaceful exclusion of journeying to a site few other tourists will visit and you have a dream destination that was surely created with diving in mind.

With everyone safely on board and the kit stowed, the overnight sail to Cocos can commence. The island itself is approximately 35 hours steaming from the jetty so you can sit back and enjoy the magnificent vista as Cocos Island creeps into view. Laying anchor, the diving begins in earnest. Bajo Alcyone is one of the area's most famous dives yet this is only one of the hotspots that should not be missed. Dirty Rock and Manuelita are both frequented by hammerheads so there are plenty of chances to catch the daily action. Silverado, Shark Fin Rock and Punta Maria are all unmissable, each promising a different glimpse of Cocos' thriving ecology. As the daily itinerary changes to get you to the real highlights all year round, you are certain to log more than enough sightings to talk about on the return journey to harbour.

And what an ecology there is! The deep volcanic action that created Cocos makes it a haven for marine life throughout the entire region. Sharks, rays, turtles, tuna and barracuda all throng around the island, feeding and cleaning on the steep reef walls. The giant swarms of hammerheads are perhaps the most famous inhabitants of Cocos' waters but there are also white tips, silver tips, Galapagos sharks. Manta, mobula, marble and eagle rays swoop in, feasting on the rich plankton upwelling from the deep. The occasional curious sailfish stops by, often on the safety stop, in between chasing their prey in the blue waters. The reefs of Cocos are lush and healthy, home to a myriad of cleaner and smaller fish, drawing the big stuff ever closer.

Cocos is an advanced itinerary for divers with some experience of drift diving. If you are seeking the next big thrill, this is it. Suited to anyone with an adventurous spirit, after all the excitement of this safari, why not take a few days to enjoy land based tours or some time out in Costa Rica. The island is remote and 2 days sailing from the nearest hyperbaric chamber so divers are asked to be conservative & there is plenty of time to see it all! Photographers are always welcome on board so don't forget your camera.

Cocos ranks as one of the top dive destinations worldwide and needs to be seen to be believed. Few other locations can offer the same heady mixture of adrenalin, comfort and jaw dropping encounters. Accessible only by liveaboard, why not reserve your space on what will be one of the most memorable dive trips undertaken.

0800 072 8221, +44 (0)1483 271 765

Itinerary / Highlights

This is an example itinerary and shows what you can expect to visit on a typical Cocos Expedition itinerary. The schedule is subject to change according to prevailing weather conditions.

Day 1
Arrival in San Jose, Costa Rica and transfer to a hotel for the night.

Day 2
You are picked up in the morning of day 2 and taken to meet the boat. After check in with the dive guides, the boat will set sail for the night to Cocos island. This takes approximately 35 hours.


Day 3
continues the sailing to Cocos island.

Day 4
begins with arrival at Cocos island and the diving commences.

Day 5
kicks off with the northern dive sites such as Manuelita Outside, Manuelita Inside and Silverado.

Day 6
begins focusing on the western dive sites with dives at Dirty Rock, Viking Rock, Punta Maria and Manuelita.

Day 7
is spent looking at the southern dive sites Big Dos Amigos, Small Dos Amigo, Bajo Dos Amigos and Shark Fin Rock.

Day 8
focuses on the eastern dive sites such as Bajo Alcyone, Submerged Rock and Shark Fin Rock.

Day 9
repeats some of the favourites from the trip so far with dives at Big Dos Amigos, Dirty Rock and a night dive at Manuelita.

Day 10
is the last day's diving in Cocos with dives planned at Bajo Alcyone, Silverado and Lobster Rock before commencing the return journey to the mainland.

Day 11
is mainly spent sailing back to the mainland and is the last night on board

Day 12
arrives back to San Jose where you are met and transferred to the UK.

Day 13
is the final day of the trip and return flights to the UK.

The exact dive sites visited will vary depending on weather conditions and seasonality. 3-4 dives a day are planned for the trip.

Other Details

Accommodation Details

The following boats run the Cocos Expedition itinerary.

Argo :-
Argo is the latest offering from the expert Undersea Hunter fleet and a spectacular addition to the stunning shores of Cocos. Packed with all the latest mod cons the Argo is a one of a kind vessel to explore a completely unique region and lives up to the high standards set by the fleet - from safety to comfort, no detail has been overlooked.