Destinations
Costa Rica · Pacific expeditions · 2026 guide
A remote island.
A remarkable dive adventure.
Choose your Cocos Island liveaboard with the whole journey in mind: the cabin, the crossing, the diving days and the real trip budget.
Updated 28 September 2026: budget calculations and seasonal wording reviewed; other operator details checked 26 September 2026. This is a researched planning guide; personal experiences appear in the dated reader comments below. Booking links are affiliate links: Divezone may earn a commission if you book through them.
Choose your Cocos liveaboard at a glance
Start with your cabin preference, then compare the same trip length and complete package. These are planning comparisons, not live availability.
| Boat | Worth shortlisting for | Cruise budget with Nitrox* |
|---|---|---|
| Cocos Island Aggressor | Side-by-side twins or a dedicated Solo cabin | Deluxe: $7,752.20–$7,771.70 Solo: $9,752.20–$9,771.70 |
| Okeanos Aggressor II | Lower published Deluxe fare; check bunk layout | Deluxe: $7,302.20–$7,321.70 |
| Sea Hunter | Included Nitrox and a 20-guest boat | Dated cabin quote + $654 + any notified fuel surcharge |
*Shared Deluxe occupancy except Solo. Cruise subtotals exclude flights, hotels, insurance and personal extras. The Aggressor range reflects unresolved tax treatment of the fuel surcharge, not seasonal pricing. See every cost and source below.
Liveaboard diving in Cocos Island
Cocos Island is a breathtaking island located about 550 km off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Known locally as Isla del Coco, this rainforest-covered national park became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
Bordered by rich and abyssal waters, Cocos Island has become an ideal habitat for numerous pelagic species such as sharks, whales and dolphins. Its great draw is the chance to encounter schooling hammerheads around rocky pinnacles and cleaning stations. Every dive is different: sightings, visibility and currents cannot be promised.
A liveaboard makes this remote destination accessible to recreational divers. Read our Cocos Island diving guide for more destination detail, or start with the boats below if you are ready to plan your trip.
Which Cocos Island liveaboard should you choose?
These three boats appear in the current partner catalogue. Our shortlist focuses on practical differences, rather than declaring one boat best for everyone. Confirm the exact departure, cabin and inclusions before paying.
Cocos Island Aggressor
The 138 ft yacht accommodates 22 guests in 12 cabins. Its two dedicated Solo cabins are worth comparing if you want privacy without booking a whole twin cabin. Deluxe cabins have side-by-side single beds; Master options are on the upper deck.
Choose carefully: a Master category does not automatically mean a double bed. Specify your bed arrangement and cabin number. Private bathrooms and individual climate control are provided.
Archive photo · Wind Dancer liveryOkeanos Aggressor II
This 120 ft yacht carries 22 guests. Its published 2026 ten-night Deluxe fare is lower than Cocos Island Aggressor’s, making it a useful starting point when comparing matching dates.
Choose carefully: Deluxe cabins use a lower double and an upper single bunk. Master and Suite categories offer other arrangements. The operator’s detailed specifications list 11 cabins, although its introductory cabin count is inconsistent; confirm against the current deck plan.
Sea Hunter
Sea Hunter accommodates 20 guests in 10 twin or double cabins. Nitrox fills are included for certified divers, so compare the complete package rather than the cabin fare alone.
Choose carefully: request the price for your exact date and cabin, plus park charges and any fuel surcharge. The operator currently lists Starlink at US$50 through agents, or included on direct bookings.
Compare all three boats, cabin layouts and inclusions in detail →
Cocos Island liveaboard prices in 2026
Cocos is a substantial expedition purchase. The fares below are published reference rates, not live quotes or promises of availability. Compare the same trip length, occupancy and currency.
| Boat | Cabin fare | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Cocos Island Aggressor | Deluxe $6,849 Master $7,199 Solo $8,849 | Shared occupancy except Solo; Nitrox and mandatory extras are additional. |
| Okeanos Aggressor II | Deluxe $6,399 Master $6,749 Suite $7,249 | Shared occupancy; confirm bed layout and total extras. |
| Sea Hunter | Request a dated quote | No comparable annual 2026 tariff verified here. Nitrox included for certified divers. |
Sources: Aggressor’s published 2026 rate tables, checked 26 September 2026. Promotions may differ. On a phone, swipe the table sideways.
Comparable cruise budgets: what is included in the total?
Basis: one person, ten nights, 2026 standard fare, departures from 1 July, shared Deluxe cabin unless stated, Nitrox-certified diver and park fees paid in cash. Calculations checked 28 September 2026. Promotions and different trip lengths need a fresh calculation.
| Cost in USD | Cocos Aggressor | Okeanos II | Sea Hunter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabin fare | $6,849 | $6,399 | Q = dated cabin quote |
| Park fee, including stated tax | $553.70 | $553.70 | $554 |
| Evacuation-plan charge | $30 | $30 | No separate charge verified |
| Fuel | $150–$169.50* | $150–$169.50* | Any notified surcharge |
| Scheduled San José–vessel return transfer | Included | Included | $100 |
| Subtotal before optional Nitrox | $7,582.70–$7,602.20 | $7,132.70–$7,152.20 | Q + $654 + notified fuel |
| Nitrox, including 13% onboard tax | $169.50 | $169.50 | Included |
| Cruise subtotal with Nitrox | $7,752.20–$7,771.70 | $7,302.20–$7,321.70 | Q + $654 + notified fuel |
Aggressor fuel is listed at USD 150; the upper end allows USD 19.50 if 13% tax applies to fuel. Nitrox is USD 150 + 13% = USD 169.50. Card surcharges are excluded. The travel webpage specifies cash for park fees and VAT and a 3% fee on other card payments; the August trip PDF instead mentions a 3% surcharge on park fees paid by card. Confirm accepted payment methods and the final tax treatment with the operator.
Other cabins: Cocos Master: $8,102.20–$8,121.70; Cocos Solo: $9,752.20–$9,771.70. Okeanos Master: $7,652.20–$7,671.70; Suite: $8,152.20–$8,171.70. These use the same extras and assumptions.
Complete your door-to-door budget: add your return flights, pre/post-cruise hotels, airport–hotel transfer, dive insurance, equipment rental, internet and optional gratuities. These depend on your origin, dates and choices, so they are not included in the cruise subtotal. Avoid adding charges already included in a seller’s package.
Sea Hunter: no reliable dated 2026 cabin quote was verified, so a numerical grand total would be misleading. Ask for a ten-night quote with the park fee, $100 transfer and any fuel surcharge itemised. Nitrox, meals and divemaster service are included under the operator’s terms.
Sources: Cocos Aggressor fares; Okeanos II fares; Aggressor fees and transfers, August 2026 trip document; Aggressor Nitrox prices; Sea Hunter package terms and fees.
Build the full trip budget
Ask each seller for an itemised quote covering cabin + mandatory charges + diving extras + travel costs. Keep flights, hotel nights, transfers, insurance, equipment rental, internet and optional gratuities visible in your comparison.
The current travel sheet lists a US$490 park fee plus 13% VAT ($553.70), a $30 evacuation-plan charge and a $150 fuel surcharge from 1 July 2026. These line items add up to $733.70, before any further applicable tax or payment surcharge. Nitrox adds $169.50 including 13% tax. Fuel tax and card-payment terms require confirmation as explained above.
Sea Hunter’s supplements must be quoted separately; do not apply another operator’s charges to its package.
Before you commit, check the deposit, balance deadline, cancellation terms, refund currency and the price of single occupancy. A discounted eight-night trip and a ten-night trip are different products: compare their actual diving days.
Best time to dive Cocos Island
Trips run throughout the year. Choose your dates around your tolerance for open-ocean conditions and the departure that fits your schedule, rather than a guarantee of a particular animal.
December–May
Often a useful window for divers prioritising relatively calmer seas and clearer water. Rain and rough crossings are still possible.
June–November
More rain and plankton can coincide with rich pelagic activity. Visibility may decrease, and the crossing can be demanding.
These are broad travel-planning windows, not fixed weather boundaries. Conditions around May–June and November–December can overlap; rain, rough seas and variable sightings are possible year-round. Seasonal wording reviewed 28 September 2026 against the partner seasonal guide. For more detail, see our Cocos diving seasons.
The route: San José, Puntarenas and Cocos
Map of Cocos Island dive sites
Locate Manuelita, Dirty Rock, Big and Small Dos Amigos, and Bajo Alcyone around the island. The map also shows other named sites and the bays used as geographic reference points.
An orientation map, not a fixed cruise itinerary or navigation chart. The captain and dive team select sites and their order according to conditions, park rules and divers’ experience.
Liveaboard vessels typically depart from and return to the Pacific town of Puntarenas. The crossing takes roughly 36 hours each way, depending on sea conditions. This gives you time to prepare your equipment, meet your fellow divers and settle into life on board.
- Arrive in Costa Rica: confirm San José (SJO) flights and the operator’s designated pickup hotel. Undersea Hunter requires arrival at least one night before departure.
- Transfer and embark: follow your boat’s pickup and tide-dependent boarding instructions.
- Cross to Cocos: remember that transit nights are part of the cruise length.
- Dive around the island: sites and the daily plan depend on conditions. Aggressor’s current ten-night guidance indicates 18–21 dives, with up to three a day and no night diving.
- Return with a buffer: Undersea Hunter advises against flying home on the day the boat returns. Obtain the return timetable before purchasing flights.
Dive sites you may visit
Cocos is known for offshore pinnacles and rocky formations. Familiar names include Bajo Alcyone, Dirty Rock, Dos Amigos and Manuelita. Let the crew select sites according to current conditions and the group’s experience; an itinerary list is not a promise to visit every site.
Is this trip right for your diving experience?
Diving requirements, boat by boat
Checked against operator documents on 26 September 2026. A recommendation is not the same as a boarding requirement. Send your certification, logged experience and date of last dive to the operator before paying.
| Boat | Verified requirements | Experience and supervision |
|---|---|---|
| Cocos Island Aggressor | Certification proof; dive-accident insurance; computer; SMB and reel. Nitrox card if using Nitrox. | Experienced divers. No numerical logged-dive minimum found in the shared travel sheet. Buddy teams manage their dives after briefings; direct supervision is not promised. |
| Okeanos Aggressor II | The same requirements apply: certification proof, dive-accident insurance, computer, SMB and reel; Nitrox card when applicable. | Covered by the same operator document. Confirm acceptance of your certification and recent experience in writing. |
| Sea Hunter | Certification proof, dive-specific insurance covering evacuation and a computer; Nitrox certification for Nitrox use. | Deep Diver specialty and at least 25 hours underwater are recommended. The guide decides whether a diver can join each dive. Private guiding is offered separately. |
Sources: Aggressor travel sheet, requirements and supervision sections; Sea Hunter FAQ, experience, certification and insurance sections; Sea Hunter insurance terms. These are operator entry conditions, not permission to exceed your training or personal limits.
Open-ocean currents, surge and changing visibility make Cocos a destination to discuss honestly with the operator. Send your certification level, recent diving history and experience in current before booking. Minimum requirements differ between boats.
- Guiding: ask whether dives are directly guided or conducted as independent buddy teams after a briefing.
- Equipment: confirm the required computer, surface marker buoy, reel and locator arrangements, plus rental availability.
- Thermal protection: Aggressor quotes roughly 22–28°C water, with colder thermoclines. Ask the crew about recent temperatures and a suitable wetsuit for you.
- Insurance: confirm the operator’s required dive insurance and remote evacuation cover. A local evacuation-plan charge does not replace your own insurance.
- Crossing comfort: ask about cabin location and conditions. No yacht or stabiliser can guarantee freedom from seasickness.
Cocos Island liveaboard FAQ
Which boat is best for a solo traveller?
Cocos Island Aggressor offers dedicated Solo cabins. Compare those with shared berths and sole-use quotes on other boats. Ask how cabin sharing works before reserving.
Is Okeanos Aggressor II the cheapest option?
Its published 2026 ten-night Deluxe fare is $450 below Cocos Island Aggressor’s equivalent fare. That does not establish the cheapest complete trip: dates, discounts, extras and Sea Hunter’s quotation can change the result.
Are hammerhead sharks guaranteed?
No. They are a major reason divers travel to Cocos, but sightings and school size vary with ocean conditions. Plan for a wildlife expedition with unpredictable encounters.
Can beginners join a Cocos liveaboard?
This is not an ideal first diving holiday. Ask the operator to assess your certification and recent experience before you book; the crew decides which dives are suitable.
Can I still book Argo or a DeepSee submarine dive?
Argo’s operator currently states that the boat is away on a scientific expedition and that DeepSee has been retired. Do not rely on older promotional material.
How should I use the reviews below?
Read the date and boat name. Older comments preserve travellers’ experiences at the time, but may describe previous vessels, prices or diving practices. Use current operator information for booking decisions.
Plan your Cocos expedition
Shortlist a cabin, compare the full cost and confirm the diving days. Then choose the departure that suits you.
Sources & further reading
Reviewed 26 September 2026. Operator information takes priority over legacy reviews. Prices, schedules and fees can change.
- Aggressor: Cocos Island Aggressor cabins and 2026 rates; Okeanos II cabins and 2026 rates; travel and fee sheet.
- Undersea Hunter: trip preparation and inclusions, Sea Hunter and Argo status.
- UNESCO: Cocos Island National Park; partner catalogue and seasonal overview.
Keep exploring: all liveaboard destinations · special offers · Galápagos diving
Awesome review of the options for diving the Cocos. Its a shame it is such a trek to get there. What season is best for seeing whale sharks at the Cocos?
Which of these companies would you say is the most luxurious for the Cocos Island liveaboard trip?
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We did a 10 day live aboard to the Cocos Islands last year and it was just fantastic! The Wind Dancer is a very nice boat with very lovely and amazing staff.
We had a total of 21 day dives and two night dives. During the day dives, we By day we saw a lot of sharks; some hammerheads, whale shark, blacktips, tiger sharks and whitetips. Currents are sometimes strong but we our dive group were all experienced divers so we had very little problem with it. Divemasters and guides were very experience and competent.
To give an overview of the boat itself, here is how it’s like: dive deck had large lockers where we placed our fins and other stuff. 3 freshwater showers are situated near the rear dive platform. The boat has a decent camera table, an outside battery charging station and another charging station by the dining area.
Food? There was plenty of food during our 10 day stay. The dining area can get a bit crowded though at meal time especially during breakfast and lunch, where foods are served in buffet.
Victor.
Please take that my review of the boat does not return the quality of the dive. For any diver looking for a good dive, Cocos is one of the best places to go to, being a UNESCO World heritage site that includes the surrounding marine zone. And the Okeanos crew gets the job done.
The cabins are kept clean and have been well-built but everything is pretty much average. Do not expect lavishness. There is a TV and a DVD player in every room so watching movies can be done without any other people or distractions, which was a big bonus for me.
There’s a lot of food for everyone and they always served breakfast, lunch and dinner on time. The food was plain, but satisfying. It wasn’t really something unforgettable which is why I’d be putting in an average rating but definitely not bad at all. The crew always puts on a fair amount of options to choose from anyway.
The crew gets a higher score because everybody was quick on their toes to assist the guests with our gears and they were very welcoming. There was never an instance where anybody was rude or unprofessional and one of the dive masters was even extra helpful and showed us a good time. The other crew members though just seemed happy enough in doing their jobs.
The Okeanos Agressor is something that could satisfy your diving amidst the lack of luxury.
My girlfriend and I spent a week diving Cocos Island aboard the Wind Dancer in July 2014. Diving around Cocos Island definitely is the best when it comes to the sharks I should say.
The Wind Dancer maybe an old boat and have not been modernized and refurbished for long time but the crew on the boat was excellent. The chef is good so food is okay but don’t just expect fresh foods. The crew overall friendly, helpful, skilled and customer-service-oriented; they were the best part!
The boat is just around 100 ft long but it got 4 decks. The boat is a bit cramped but nonetheless it’s comfortable.
Dive operations are very well conducted and safety is very well emphasized. We had 7 days of diving and we saw reef sharks, tiger sharks and of course the main attraction, the hammerhead sharks.
This boat also has a good variety of food and the kitchen crew are amazing and well skilled for foods are not overcooked. Even the beef that was served was medium rare which I totally loved!
It’s important for everyone to know that diving in the Cocos is not for the inexperienced. A lot of things could change in a matter of a heart beat due to strong currents and surges. The dive trip in Cocos Island Island was a big challenge to my skills and knowledge but definitely something that I would do all over again. All the diving was done by the use of a smaller “skiff” and we never had to take our gears and tanks off while we were there.
Our skiff driver had always been exceptional and patiently waited for us to resurface. Well if he hasn’t done so we might have found ourselves drifting half-way to Galapagos!
Gears were well taken care of after each dive and tanks were always filled. All we had to do was go off the skiff, shower and find our way to where the sweet-smelling food was. We were pampered by the professionals on board the Undersea Argo and I have great respect for our captain and dive masters.
Lady luck must have been on our side the entire time that we were on the MV Undersea Argo. Our dives had always been productive with thousands, yes, thousands of reef fish busily swimming along with us.
There were schools of hammerheads everywhere that it became a problem looking at anything else as they’ve practically blocked other fishes. And the night dive with the whitetips was like a scene I’ve seen only in professional videos. It was breath taking to watch the whitetips on a feeding frenzy at a night dive.
These sightings proved to be rewarding by the special guests that came with us and there were actually two groups– camera crews from Japan and France who were doing professional shoots. They were very nice and didn’t hesitate sharing their wonderful photos with us. Talking to them post dives were very enriching.
Does anyone do a 7 or 8 day liveaboard trip in the Cocos Islands? Thanks.
UnderSea Hunter was the best! Cocos Island lies about 320 miles south west of Puntarenos on the Pacific Ocean side of Costa Rica and it took us a day and a half to get into the island but I enjoyed it since it was a different experience to be surrounded by water all the time. It was also the opportunity for us to familiarize ourselves with the boat and everyone else.
The dive deck was large enough to accommodate all 20 divers on the MV Undersea Hunter. It also had designated storage bins for gears and a sufficient number of electrical outlets to allow the divers to recharge their camcorders easily. The crew can also easily provide rental equipment, should anyone wish to use any and really cam handy when someone forgets a piece of equipment. Personally though, I would recommend bringing your own equipment.
We enjoyed the various dive sites teeming with different kinds of sharks, mantas, jacks, orcas among other. Turtles used to be present at the dive sites but we had some problems seeing them as there were a good number of Tiger sharks on the area. Tiger sharks love to feast on turtles, which probably why the turtles didn’t turn up on our last dive.
I guess it is also important to note that the MV Undersea Hunter staff would always prepare mouth-watering treats after each dive.
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We did a 10 days trip aboard the Wind Dancer, touring around the Cocos Islands. The boat was lovely and comfortable. The staff was friendly, accommodating and also very professional. We sure can tell that their knowledges of the area are limitless and they take pleasure in educating new comers.
We completed 22 dives, 2 were night dives. In general, the current is strong so be sure you are experienced enough, we found it hard but we were lucky to be surrounded by almost only dive masters so everybody was helpful. Also, some dives we spent hanging by a wall to only observe the sharks, Dolphins and rays from a certain distance. It was pure pleasure! Diving around the Cocos Islands is definitely a paradise for sharks enthusiast! Hammerheads by tons, 3 whale sharks, loads of black and white tips reef sharks, many Galapagos sharks and we saw a Tiger Shark twice. I could not believe my eyes. There was, of course, so many other schools of fishes.
One more thing, I found very reassuring that the Wind Dancer’s diving team was aware of the threats faced by the marine life in this area and I was happy to see that they actively encourage people to learn about that and to be very respectful of nature, both in and out the water.
It will probably take us a while but we sure will be back! Jane
Great experience on the SEA HUNTER!
I am an experienced diver and I spent the last few years diving all over the world, literally. Diving around the Cocos Island is certainly not a beginner’s business, the currents are way to impossible. The incredible concentration of fish is indeed very impressive. It’s like if all the pretty diving pictures we see everywhere were shot here, around the Cocos. White and black tip sharks, Galapagos, hammerheads, amazing turtles, barracudas and much much more. The island is wonderful and majestic. Uninhabited, pristine and boasting a beautiful waterfall in it’s core. It’s worth getting on land and exploring the island, I encourage the most adventurer to go.
The organization on the Sea Hunter is extremely professional and designed for underwater photographers. The cabins are comfortable and the food varied and good. I was delighted to be awaken in the morning by the smell of the breakfast being cooked for us. The boat is comfortable, lots of space that you can enjoy and relax. They have a big screen and a good choice of DVDs you can watch.
It was a long and exhausting trip to get to the vessel but I would do it all over again tomorrow if I could. Stayed a bit in San Jose to cut the travelling in half and then headed to Puntarenas to board this beautiful boat. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I fully recommend to all the experienced divers of this world.
Long, exhausting journey aboard the Okeanos Aggressor to the Cocos Islands but definitely rewarding. As a shark lover, I feel like I have seen everything I could hope for. More than once we have been able to observe a huge group of Hammerheads and this alone is enough to make the trip worthy. But, it was way more than that. Hundreds of reef sharks, a dozen of Galapagos sharks and 2 tiger sharks. All are very fascinating creatures, all in different ways. Turtles, many schools of fish, wonderful corals and beautiful landscapes. Being on the Okeanos Aggressor for an entire week was comfortable and enjoyable. The boat is great. The crew, professional and friendly. Food and service impeccable. The entire cruise is well driven, focused on safety and providing a great diving experience.
I also did a 10 days liveaboard on the Cocos’s island. I was on the Argo, but I’m afraid my experience was not as enchanting as many. The price is actually way to high for the services we get on this boat. It’s almost 500$ per day, per guest and the service was extremely ordinary. Seemed to me that everything was focused on the submarine for those who dive the big depths. I was clearly paying for all this tremendous submarine operation which I have no interest in. Then I thought maybe I just came on the wrong boat because they did not meet what I call luxury. My cabin was so noisy, like SO NOISY, even with earplugs it was hard to sleep. There’s was a poor service in cleaning, I think it was only one person that had the impossible tasks of doing the rooms and getting towels and the lunch and dining area ready. It doesn’t make sense to me. Whether they need to rethink their priorities and make that clear or whether I need to consider another boat next time.