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Probably offers the single finest big animal diving experience in the world. COCOS ISLAND (TREASURE ISLAND) is an ocean oasis lying isolated 300 miles southwest of continental Costa Rica, where it concentrates the marine life from many hundreds of miles around. For centuries the hideout of pirates and adventurers, Cocos is recognized today as the world's largest uninhabited island and, to many, the most beautiful as well as one of the last truly wild places in nature. It has been granted World Heritage status because of the quantity of marine life to be found in its vicinity. According to the February 1996 issue of Scuba Diving Magazine, Isla Del Coco is second in the Americas for the amount of larger animal species inhabiting its waters.
Sharks! Sharks! Sharks!
The waters around the island offer the excitement of diving with schools of Hammerhead Sharks, giant Manta rays, giant Moray eels, bottle nose dolphins, and the occasional whale shark! Additionally, you will see Moorish Idols, large schools of jack and tuna, Creole fish, lobsters, octopus and other various reef life. Silky sharks, silver tips, sailfish, marlin, and green turtles are also abundant in the area. The key word to describe Coco is ACTION!
The best time to dive Cocos Island is the May to December rainy season when you'll find the roughest sea conditions, strongest currents, lowest visibility and have the best chance to see the biggest animals. June, July and August are historically the best months for hammerhead sightings, while March and April are the worst.
The UNDERSEA HUNTER, a 90' luxury dive boat, is dedicated to bringing civilized comfort to delightfully uncivilized gems like Coco Island. The ship is sturdy, capable, and user friendly. Her 5000 mile range allows access to the most isolated corners of the hydrosphere, and she can carry food, water, diving gear, and supplies to keep 14 passengers and 8 crew comfortable for weeks.
The SEA HUNTER, is 115' of live-aboard comfort and convenience. It has accommodations for 18 in six double cabins and two triple cabins. She is a rare hybrid, combining the large working platform and powerful machinery of a functional work boat with the comfortable interior of a yacht.
Cocos Island, 300 nautical miles from Costa Rica
The SEA HUNTER is specifically suited to accommodate two separate parties on board without compromising the freedom or facilities of either. She is equipped with a large deck and separate photography labs, a helicopter landing pad, large lounging area, guest library and an office with a personal computer.
Each ship is a superbly comfortable, stable and spacious vessel offering gourmet dining with its own personal chef, air conditioning throughout, sun deck and lounge chairs, washing machine and dryer, personal dive gear boxes, personal camera lockers, 6 slide processors and much more! Everything a serious dive photographer could wish for.
The "OKEANOS AGGRESSOR" is a spacious, 120' yacht that accommodates 21 divers and offers the amenities of luxurious staterooms, hot freshwater showers, a large dining room and salon, personal dive gear lockers, ample camera set-up and work tables, a ship's mini-boutique and restaurant.
COCOS ISLAND DIVE SITES
MANUELITA ISLAND
Depth: 45 to 150 feet
Skill Level: Advanced
This islet off Cocos's northeast corner features a sheer wall and deep boulders on the west side and shallow orange plate corals on the east. Lazy white-tip sharks and marbled rays are stacked atop each other on the rocks. Hammerheads venture in close for barberfish cleanings. Locate the schools of creoles - they migrate toward big-animal action - settle into the rocks, and don't move.
DIRTY ROCK
Depth: 65 to 150 feet
Skill Level: Advanced
Like diving the Grand Canyon. Half a mile off Cocos's northwest corner, this site has monstrous boulders sloping down the south side and a 100-yard-wide channel separating the main rock from a collection of pinnacles. Eagle rays soar between gaps, gorges and valleys formed by boulders, while hawksbill turtles and octopuses bop around the rocks. Look for whale sharks and mantas cruising the channel.
SHARK FIN ROCK
Depth: Surface to 200 feet
Skill Level: Advanced
A mile southwest of Punta Turrialba. This is a mammoth underwater rock with boulders hugging the southwest side and a wall on the northwest. A tornado of bigeye jacks sweeps around this site, while solitary tuna and pairs of wahoo hunt. Watch for mobila and Pacific manta rays during your safety stop.
PAJARA
Depth: 65 to 100 feet
Skill Level: Advanced
Islet at the mouth of Weston Bay. Someone emptied a cupboard of plate corals down the south slope of this site. There's an 85-foot wall on the north side. Look for orange, muppet-like frog fish on the wall at 55 feet and morays in the coral. Green and hawksbill turtles rotate around a pinnacle to the west.
BIG DOS AMIGOS
Depth: 65 to 120 feet
Skill Level: Advanced
A half-mile off Punta Rodriguez, this islet features a 45-foot-high arch and a 60-foot pinnacle off the southeast side. Rainbow runners, yellowtail snappers and bigeye jacks stream through the arch. Cracks are packed with lobster. Hundreds of hammerheads swim between the islet and the pinnacle.
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