Costa Rica SCUBA Adventure at Cocos Island
What the Tribe Says
Irazu Volcano Costa Rica
“Cocos Island is probably the most amazing place I have dived both above and below the water. Its remoteness makes you feel that you are in a truly timeless place and the diving is high adrenaline stuff where the unexpected can happen at any time. The submersible is a thing of wonder – 1000 feet under water and no deco, what could be better. This operation is the best live aboard experience I have had.” ~ David MacNair, Founding tribe member since 2001. Note: David went on one of the “in the navy now” boats so imagine an even better experience.
Why We Think This Place Kicks Butt! (aka-Why Do We Go Here?)
Because it’s wild and wooly – a place that’s still relatively untouched. The marine action is big and high voltage. Lot’s of sharks and other oceanic predators and masses of fish. We’ve waited patiently all these years and FINALLY…..there is a luxury expedition ship. It’s no longer only bunk bed style (“you’re in the navy now”) boats.
What’s the Adventure?
Cocos Island
Among Cocos Island’s many attributes is a startling degree of biodiversity. This island’s world-renowned waters explode with life; including innumerable white tip reef sharks, schooling hammerhead sharks, dolphins, mantas and marbled rays, giant moray eels, sailfish, and of course the occasional whale shark. Other common encounters are large schools of jacks and tuna, silky sharks, silver tip sharks, marlin, Creole fish, green turtles and octopus. Like the Galapagos, endemism is high here with 27 species found nowhere else in the world. We journey 36 hours on our luxury expedition ship, the MV Argo, 300 miles from the shore of Costa Rica to this remote oasis then spend 7 days diving. We’ll get on the island once or twice but access is limited so this expedition is mostly about awesome diving and chilling out with friends on the MV Argo between dives.
Hammerhead Shark in Cocos Island
We offer a complimentary nitrox certification because you’ll definitely want to use it here and we’ll be doing in depth multimedia talks on the marine life so you know exactly what to look for. Digital u/w photo instruction and shared DSLR use included! Ditto for digital video! And Cocos Island is fantastic for underwater digital photography. This is gonna rock.
Totally unique to diving with the MV Argo is DeepSee. DeepSee is a custom built one-atmosphere submarine, capable of carrying one pilot and two passengers down to a depth of 1,500 feet (475 m). The MV Argo offers (additional fee), the world of adventure travelers a journey deep into the submerged realm where few have gone before. TOTALLY AMAZING!
Details You Want to Know
DATES: January 18-28, 2011 ONE CABIN LEFT
PACKAGE PRICE: $5390.00 p/p double occupancy
INCLUDED: 10 nights accommodations onboard the MV Argo, all meals, all diving, group transfers, use of underwater digital camera and video, services of expedition leaders including nitrox certification and multimedia talks.
NOT INCLUDED: Air transportation, travel insurance, dive insurance, alcoholic beverages, items of a personal nature, departure tax where applicable, excess baggage fees, SCUBA or snorkel equipment, park fee (@USD$250), nitrox, DeepSee sub, staff gratuities.
Pricing for Xandari Pre/Post Stay TBA
ARRIVAL AIRPORT: San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO)
Thermal Protection: Cocos Island is a bit of an enigma when it comes to thermal protection. The surface temperature is between 78-82 degrees depending on the season. However, below the thermocline, the temperature can drop to the low 70′s. The mystery is that the depth and the actual temperature of the thermocline can change literally from week to week and sometimes you want to be under the thermocline if the sharks are congregating there. I would plan for the lowest temp and bring a 5MM or 7MM suit and hood or hooded vest. That way you can mix and match and will be prepared for whatever conditions are present.
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