Cocos Island Adventure (Puntarenas - Puntarenas)
Cocos Aggressor · Costa Rica · 12 nights
About this route
Embark on an extraordinary diving journey to Cocos Island, a designated UNESCO World Heritage site and a paradise for divers and nature lovers. This itinerary offers comprehensive exploration of the island's renowned dive sites, celebrated for their abundant pelagic encounters and diverse marine ecosystems. Guests will spend multiple days immersed in the vibrant underwater world, experiencing thrilling drift dives and observing large schools of marine life. Beyond diving, the trip also offers opportunities for shore excursions to enjoy the island's lush landscapes and impressive waterfalls.
Regions on this route
Highlights
Alcyone
Alcyone is a prominent seamount rising over 600 feet from the seabed. It is a renowned dive site offering breathtaking encounters with abundant marine life. Divers can expect schooling hammerheads, manta rays, and various reef fish, with occasional sightings of sailfish or marlin.
- 600-foot seamount
- Schooling hammerheads
- Manta rays
- Sailfish and marlin
Bajo Alcyone
Bajo Alcyone is a key dive region around Cocos Island, known for its deep seamount structure and strong currents, which attract significant pelagic activity. It is a prime location for encountering schooling hammerheads, manta rays, and other large marine species.
- Deep seamount
- Strong currents
- Schooling hammerheads
- Pelagic encounters
Big Dos Amigos
This site features a 45-foot-high arch and a 60-foot pinnacle located off the southeast side of the island. Divers frequently observe hammerheads swimming beneath the arch and pinnacle, alongside rainbow runners, yellowtail snapper, bigeye jacks, and lobsters.
- 45-foot arch
- 60-foot pinnacle
- Hammerheads
- Rainbow runners, snappers, jacks
Bird Island, Chatham Bay
Situated northeast of Manuelita, Bird Island in Chatham Bay is a vibrant site known for its frogfish, lobsters, moray eels, and rays. Whitetip sharks are commonly sighted here, along with an active cleaning station that attracts various marine species.
- Frogfish and lobsters
- Moray eels and rays
- Whitetip sharks
- Active cleaning station
Cocos Island
Cocos Island National Park is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site, celebrated for its exceptional diving and natural beauty. It's a paradise for divers and nature lovers alike, offering seven full days of liveaboard scuba diving. The island is characterized by lush jungles, numerous waterfalls, and an incredibly diverse marine environment.
- UNESCO World Heritage Site
- 7 days of liveaboard diving
- Lush jungles and waterfalls
- Exceptional marine diversity
Dirty Rock
Dirty Rock is a large island frequently visited by schools of marble rays and hammerhead sharks. The site offers exciting opportunities for close encounters with these pelagic species, often seen in large numbers.
- Schools of marble rays
- Hammerhead shark encounters
- Large pelagic gatherings
Lone Stone
Lone Stone is a dive site particularly recognized for schooling marble rays and mobula rays. The area's currents and topography create an ideal environment for these graceful creatures to gather in impressive numbers, offering unique viewing experiences.
- Schooling marble rays
- Mobula rays
- Unique pelagic sightings
Manuelita
The northeast corner of Manuelita presents a sheer wall characterized by sightings of whitetip sharks, marble rays, and schools of creole fish. This site's wall provides a dramatic backdrop for observing diverse reef and pelagic marine life.
- Sheer wall diving
- Whitetip sharks
- Marble rays
- Schools of creole fish
Puntarenas
Puntarenas serves as the embarkation and disembarkation port for Cocos Island trips. This coastal city in Costa Rica is the gateway to the Pacific, providing essential logistics and transfers for liveaboard guests.
- Embarkation/disembarkation port
- Coastal city, Costa Rica
- Gateway to the Pacific
Ubing Rock, Wafer Bay
Ubing Rock in Wafer Bay is a prominent site starting at 20 feet and descending to 110 feet, featuring a southwest slope. This location is particularly attractive to schooling hammerhead sharks, which are often observed in large numbers along its slopes.
- Southwest slope
- Schooling hammerhead sharks
- Depth range to 110 feet
Requirements
- CertificationOpen Water
- Minimum logged dives50
- ExperienceDivers require an Open Water certification with a minimum of 50 logged dives.
Shore excursions
- Guests can explore the lush jungles and impressive waterfalls during permitted shore excursions on Cocos Island.
- Enjoy a crocodile safari or canopy tour for guests with later flights on the disembarkation day, depending on schedule availability.
Good to know
- Divers are recommended to wait for 24 hours before flying after the last dive.
- Itinerary details, exact route, and sites are for illustrative purposes and may vary based on local regulations, guest experience, weather, and logistics, at the Captain's discretion.
Day-by-day plan
Day 1: Embarkation – Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Guests will meet in front of the host hotel for transfer to Puntarenas, where they will board the yacht. This day allows for settling into cabins and preparing for the exciting adventure ahead.
Day 2: Travel to Cocos Island – Diving Begins
Today marks the arrival at Cocos Island, signaling the start of the liveaboard scuba diving experience. Divers will commence their first dives around this legendary island, known for its pristine waters and rich marine biodiversity.
Dive sites: Alcyone, Big Dos Amigos, Bird Island, Chatham Bay, Dirty Rock, Lone Stone, Manuelita, Ubing Rock, Wafer Bay
Day 3: Cocos Island – Immersive Underwater Exploration
Days on Cocos Island are dedicated to immersive diving, allowing guests to fully explore the vibrant underwater wonders. The area is renowned for its diverse topography, including seamounts, pinnacles, and walls, often featuring strong currents that attract schooling pelagic species. Visibility is generally excellent, enhancing encounters with large marine life.
Dive sites: Alcyone, Big Dos Amigos, Bird Island, Chatham Bay, Dirty Rock, Lone Stone, Manuelita, Ubing Rock, Wafer Bay
Day 4: Cocos Island – Seamounts and Pinnacles
Diving continues around Cocos Island, focusing on its iconic seamounts and pinnacles. These sites are known for attracting schooling hammerhead sharks, reef manta rays, and other large pelagics. Strong currents are common, creating dynamic drift dives and offering opportunities to observe diverse reef fish and unique macro life.
Dive sites: Alcyone, Big Dos Amigos, Bird Island, Chatham Bay, Dirty Rock, Lone Stone, Manuelita, Ubing Rock, Wafer Bay
Day 5: Cocos Island – Rich Marine Biodiversity
Another day of diving at Cocos Island allows for further exploration of its rich marine biodiversity. The dive sites often feature healthy coral reefs and rocky formations, providing habitat for a wide array of fish species and invertebrates. Expect encounters with various shark species, rays, and tropical reef inhabitants.
Dive sites: Alcyone, Big Dos Amigos, Bird Island, Chatham Bay, Dirty Rock, Lone Stone, Manuelita, Ubing Rock, Wafer Bay
Day 6: Cocos Island – Pelagic Playground
Cocos Island continues to offer exceptional diving experiences, particularly known as a pelagic playground. Divers can anticipate exhilarating encounters with large schools of fish, various shark species, and graceful rays in the open ocean currents. The dramatic underwater landscapes provide a stunning backdrop for these interactions.
Dive sites: Alcyone, Big Dos Amigos, Bird Island, Chatham Bay, Dirty Rock, Lone Stone, Manuelita, Ubing Rock, Wafer Bay
Day 7: Cocos Island – Walls and Drop-Offs
Today's dives may focus on the impressive walls and drop-offs that characterize Cocos Island's underwater terrain. These sites offer opportunities for deep exploration and often reveal a different array of marine life, from vibrant corals clinging to vertical surfaces to pelagic species cruising the blue. Currents can be strong, making for exciting drift dives.
Dive sites: Alcyone, Big Dos Amigos, Bird Island, Chatham Bay, Dirty Rock, Lone Stone, Manuelita, Ubing Rock, Wafer Bay
Day 8: Cocos Island – Last Diving Day
This marks the final day of diving around Cocos Island. Divers will enjoy their last opportunities to explore its famed sites, hoping for memorable encounters before the journey back to mainland Costa Rica. The focus remains on maximizing dive time and experiencing the unique ecosystems.
Dive sites: Alcyone, Big Dos Amigos, Bird Island, Chatham Bay, Dirty Rock, Lone Stone, Manuelita, Ubing Rock, Wafer Bay
Day 9: Return Voyage to Puntarenas
With diving concluded, the vessel begins its return voyage from Cocos Island back to Puntarenas. This day is spent at sea, offering time for relaxation, reviewing dive logs, and enjoying the scenic journey. The crew ensures a comfortable trip back to the mainland.
Day 10: Return Voyage to Puntarenas
With diving concluded, the vessel begins its return voyage from Cocos Island back to Puntarenas. This day is spent at sea, offering time for relaxation, reviewing dive logs, and enjoying the scenic journey. The crew ensures a comfortable trip back to the mainland.
Day 11: Return Voyage to Puntarenas
With diving concluded, the vessel begins its return voyage from Cocos Island back to Puntarenas. This day is spent at sea, offering time for relaxation, reviewing dive logs, and enjoying the scenic journey. The crew ensures a comfortable trip back to the mainland.
Day 12: Return Voyage to Puntarenas
With diving concluded, the vessel begins its return voyage from Cocos Island back to Puntarenas. This day is spent at sea, offering time for relaxation, reviewing dive logs, and enjoying the scenic journey. The crew ensures a comfortable trip back to the mainland.
Day 13: Disembarkation – Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Guests will check out from the liveaboard in Puntarenas. Transfers to the San Jose Airport or host hotels will be provided. m. to account for local traffic, tides, and transfer logistics.
Upcoming departures
- 2027-10-07 – 2027-10-19from 8,299 USDBook
All routes of this liveaboard
About the vessel
Cocos AggressorCosta Rica