Cocos
Islands, a national park located some 330
miles southwest of Costa Rica’s mainland,
has the country’s best diving sites
by far. While the Island is covered with
virgin forest, the ocean that surrounds
it contains abundant marine life, and the
visibility is good year round. Divers at
Cocos Islands regularly see such impressive
animals as manta rays, dolphins and hammerhead
sharks, which sometimes gather in schools
of 30 or 40 animals. It takes about 36 hours
to reach Cocos Island, and some companies
have ships that run regular dive cruises
there, which last ten days and include three
dives per day.
Cocos
island offers some of the finest big animal
scuba diving in the entire world. In an
era haunted by ecological Catastrophe, Cocos
offers an example of natural harmony. Hammerheads,
giant manta rays, bottle-nose dolphins,
whale sharks and millions of smaller fish
all call Cocos home.
While
Cocos Islands is an excellent sanctuary
for marine life, it takes special ships
and an unusual crew to make the trip here.
Cocos is difficult to access and inhospitable
to humans. Under the guidance of Avi Klapfer
and Yosy Naanan, however, the Undersea Hunter
and Sea Hunter bring civilized comfort to
this uncivilized gem.
Since
the maiden voyage in October of 1990. the
Hunter ships have completed over 300 successful
trips to Cocos. Designed for commercial
diving and research, the sturdy, user-friendly
vessels are impeccably maintained. The boats
carry enough food, water, diving gear and
supplies to keep up to 18 passengers and
8 crew members comfortable for weeks.
In
remote Cocos Islands, it takes more than
supplies to keep divers happy. It takes
specially designed vessels and an expert
crew. Few operators in the world have Klapfer
and Naaam’s breadth of experience.
The ships’ designs reflect their expertise.
Large dive decks, huge storage rooms and
workshops and impeccable service systems
ensure that the vessels are prepared to
deal with the most extreme situations without
sacrificing guests’ comfort.
In addition, the Undersea Hunter and Sea
Hunter each have two powerful fiberglass
skiffs, a necessity at Cocos Islands where
the Island is merely a speck in the wind-blow
sea. Just as the real ocean requires real
boats, real boats require powerful hoisting
machines. It is a tribute to the ships’
meticulous designs that both vessels have
12 –tons cranes.
While
many live-aboard offer adventure, few offer
a destination as remote and surprising as
Cocos Islands, Costa Rica. Cocos is special
because not everybody can get there. The
Hunter boats are special because they can.
Adventure
diving in Cocos Islands and adventure land
tours in Costa Rica — a great combination.
You are met at the boat upon your return
to Puntarenas and taken on an privately
escorted land tour to Monteverde Rain &
Cloud Forest Reserve, and/or Arenal Volcano
and Tabacon Hot Springs that can include
tree-top canopy and whitewater river rafting.
After the tour we return you to your hotel
in San Jose for departure. This is a flexible
tour and we can set up the itinerary according
to your preference.
NOTE:
Do you lack confidence in your diving skills
for the advanced diving in Cocos Islands?
Consider this! Arrange for three or four
days of land-based, Pacific Ocean scuba
diving in the Gulf of Papagayo before departing
for Cocos Islands and improve your skills.
We arrange all the accommodations, diving
and transportation. |
