Celebrate New Year's diving the world famous Cocos Island with Blue Planet Scuba! We'll be onboard the Okeanos Aggressor II for 10 nights and will make up to 24 dives in the Cocos Island National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for incredible big animal encounters. 

Cocos Island

Cocos is a lush, green uninhabited island resting 342 miles off Costa Rica's Pacific coast. Rocky pinnacles surrounding Cocos are beacons for big animals and big action. Schooling hammerheads, countless white-tip sharks, mantas, tuna and even whale sharks call Cocos home. 

“Isla del Coco”, also known as “Treasure Island”, is the only landmark of the vast submarine Cocos Range. The National Park protects the island's tropical forest plus its diverse marine ecosystems, mostly pelagic, but also the most diverse coral reefs of the entire Eastern Tropical Pacific. Thanks to its remote location and conservation efforts, this biologically highly diverse site constitutes some of the best conserved marine tropical waters. 

Natural population densities of large top predators - such as the endangered Scalloped Hammerhead Shark and the near-threatened Silky Shark and Galapagos Shark - indicate a near pristine conservation status. The oceanic island of volcanic origin is also a point of confluence of marine currents, making it a dispersal center of larvae of marine species from various parts of the Pacific Ocean. On land, you will find three endemic bird species, two endemic freshwater fish and two endemic reptile species. (UNESCO)

The Diving

Minimum dive certification/experience: PADI Advanced Open Water Diver with 50 dives, most of which should be ocean dives from a boat. PADI Enriched Air/Nitrox certification strongly recommended.

You can expect to see large pelagic species like hammerhead sharks, silkies, Galapagos, tiger sharks and maybe even whale sharks if we're lucky. Plus rays like eagle rays, mantas and mobulas, as well as turtles, dolphins and other marine mammals, huge schools of fish and so much more. If you can turn your eyes away from the action in the blue, you can see frogfish, batfish and other cryptic bottom dwellers.

Our itinerary includes 7 days of diving with up to four dives daily. No night diving will be offered and all diving will be done from tenders. Water temperatures range from 72 - 82F (22 - 28C) with cooler thermoclines. Most of the action is between 50-100 feet with visibility in the 80-100 feet range. The crossing to the island takes 36 hours with the return taking 28-32 hours. 

Due to the strenuous nature of the diving and currents, you must be an experienced diver for this trip. If you are interested in going but not sure if you have the experience necessary, just contact us and we can discuss options.

The Okeanos Aggressor II

The Okeanos Aggressor II is a 120’ yacht, built and powered for comfort, safety and stability. She is diesel-powered, cruises at 10 knots and has 110-volt power on board. Comfortable accommodations for 22 guests include 9 deluxe staterooms with double bed lower and twin bed upper, 1 master deluxe stateroom with a queen bed, and 2 suites of which one has two twin beds and the other a king bed. Each stateroom features a private bathroom and shower, and storage space for your luggage.

The Okeanos Aggressor II has a spacious salon, covered and uncovered sun deck area, chaise lounges, deck chairs, bar, grill, and a complete photo center. There is a variety of nightly entertainment, including diving and fish identification presentations, movies, games and more. 

The menu onboard is varied and plentiful, with a variety of American feasts, barbecues and local cuisine. You will awaken to fresh fruits, hot entrees, cereals and juices. Lunches feature hot soups, homemade breads, salads and sandwiches and/or entrees. Dinners include salads, vegetables, seafood, beef or chicken with a fresh homemade dessert. The beverage selection includes fruit juices, soft drinks, iced water, iced tea, coffee, and a limited selection of local beer and wine, which are complimentary. 

Travel

Plan to fly into San Jose on Monday, December 27 and overnight in one of the two host hotels. We will be picked up early Tuesday morning and transferred to Puntarenas, where we will board the yacht. We will checkout at 7 AM on Friday, January 7 and transfer back to the San Jose airport or the host hotels. Please contact the shop before booking any flights or hotels.

Interested in extending your trip? We’re happy to help you plan land-based excursions in Costa Rica before and after the liveaboard.

Upon cancellation of a reservation for any reason, the refund of the deposit and payments made or due will be contingent upon Blue Planet reselling the participant's reservation. Any refund may also be subject to a $300 cancellation fee and payment of any non-refundable fees imposed by the tour company, dive operator or any other contractor associated with the trip. 

Dive accident insurance is required for all divers on this trip. We strongly recommend travel insurance to protect your vacation investment. Contact us if you need more information.