Destinations
MV Argo dive boat review
Argo · Cocos availability update · 2026
An expedition vessel with a new mission
Argo is currently unavailable for Cocos Island trips. Undersea Hunter Group reports that she is on a global expedition with National Geographic Pristine Seas, with no Cocos return date announced.
Compare other Cocos liveaboards →
Status checked September 26, 2026. Read the operator’s notice.
Explore Argo in photos
Cabins, shared spaces and diving facilities from the operator’s current vessel gallery.
Photo 1 of 8 · Boat
These official images are not dated as 2026 photographs. They illustrate the vessel and do not imply current Cocos departures.
MV Argo combines the comforts of a liveaboard with the working space of an expedition ship. This profile preserves the useful parts of Divezone’s original review, with the current availability notice above. The descriptions of guest life below are historical context, not a new first-hand review or a bookable 2026 itinerary.
Cocos Island, off the coast of Costa Rica, remains home to some of the most impressive pelagic life on the planet. There is a great diversity of marine life and the chance to see large groups of sharks and rays in their natural habitat. These waters are a rewarding destination for experienced divers, but wildlife encounters are never guaranteed.
Argo today: the Pristine Seas expedition
National Geographic Pristine Seas’ two-year expedition anniversary film, shared by Undersea Hunter in 2025. This shows Argo’s research mission, not an available Cocos holiday. Watch the official post →
Argo was conceived as a hybrid of luxury liveaboard and working ship. Her strong steel-hulled construction and ample deck space suit offshore expeditions. The operator’s specifications list 129 ft / 39 m and a 10-knot cruising speed.
Cabins and boat layout
Argo caters for up to 18 passengers in nine staterooms. Cabins have air-conditioning and private bathrooms. The old description that every cabin converts between twin and double layouts has been replaced with the operator’s stated categories.
| Location | Bed layout | Practical difference |
|---|---|---|
| Upper deck | Queen bed with optional upper twin | Check the assigned cabin and occupancy |
| Lower deck — Double | Queen bed with optional upper twin | Suitable layout for guests sharing a double bed |
| Lower deck — Twin | Two twin beds | Separate beds for two travelling companions |
These layouts describe the vessel; they are not cabin availability. If Argo returns to passenger trips, ask for the exact cabin number, bed arrangement and occupancy before paying.
Life onboard: the original review
The vessel features a comfortable salon/lounge area and a spacious sun deck for relaxing between dives. Argo has a comfortable lounge area with soft chairs where you can chat, relax or even have a little nap on your surface interval!
Food was served in a buffet style, combining local and traditional western dishes. The original review describes fresh tropical fruits, salads and vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals, prepared in a variety of styles by the chefs onboard. Dietary arrangements should always be confirmed for any future trip.
Up on the top deck is the bridge and a spacious sun deck. Admire the vista or have a cold drink soaking up the night sky. The choice is yours.
Diving facilities and the DeepSee update
Beginning with the diving facilities, Argo has a large, spacious dive deck. Camera stations and charging points have long been part of her appeal to underwater photographers.
The operator describes individual gear storage, camera-rinse facilities and nitrox/rebreather support. These vessel capabilities should not be read as a current recreational diving package.
DeepSee is retired
Argo was previously a platform for the DeepSee submersible. Undersea Hunter Group now states that DeepSee has been retired from service. Submarine trips described in older reviews or shown in historical videos are no longer a current booking benefit.
Planning a Cocos trip in 2026
There is no confirmed return date or current Argo Cocos fare to quote here. The previous USD 5,845 starting price has been removed because it is not a current offer. Keep this page for boat background and past guest experiences; use the comparison below to plan another Cocos trip.
Which Cocos boat fits your priorities?
| Your priority | Boat to compare | Tradeoff to check |
|---|---|---|
| Lower published 10-night Deluxe fare | Okeanos Aggressor II | USD 450 below Cocos Island Aggressor in 2026; Deluxe uses a lower double and upper single bunk |
| Side-by-side Deluxe twins or a dedicated cabin for one | Cocos Island Aggressor | Solo has its own tariff; compare the exact bed arrangement and full quote |
| 20-guest capacity and included Nitrox fills | Sea Hunter | Certified Nitrox divers only; request a departure-specific total and allow a return hotel night |
These are practical differences, not a quality ranking. Match dates, trip length, cabin and mandatory fees before deciding. Compare all Cocos liveaboard options →
Availability is departure-specific. Compare the full quote: cabin, trip length, park charges, taxes, fuel supplements, transfers, hotels, insurance and rental equipment. Check each boat’s experience requirements and travel arrangements before booking.
Find the right Cocos boat for your trip →
How to use this guide
Planning information checked September 26, 2026 against the operator sources linked below. This is an editorial update, not a new onboard inspection. Useful original review text and past guest comments are retained. When reading reviews, consider the travel date: cabins, equipment and services may have changed.
Argo: questions before you plan
Can I book Argo for Cocos Island now?
The operator currently says Argo is unavailable at Cocos for the foreseeable future. This page therefore directs trip planning to other Cocos boat profiles.
Has Argo been permanently retired?
The operator’s notice describes an expedition with National Geographic Pristine Seas, not retirement of the ship. A Cocos return date has not been announced in that notice.
Can guests still take a DeepSee submarine dive?
No. The operator states that DeepSee has been retired from service. Historical videos and photographs are not evidence that submarine dives can still be booked.
Are the boat photos new in 2026?
They come from the operator’s current Argo gallery. Their capture dates are not supplied, so they are not presented as newly photographed in 2026.
Travelled aboard Argo? Share what made the trip memorable
Tell fellow divers when you travelled, which cabin you stayed in and what you thought of the crew, diving and life onboard. Your travel date helps readers distinguish past experiences from today’s vessel status.
Updated September 26, 2026 using Undersea Hunter Group’s Argo page for vessel status, cabin layouts and the DeepSee notice. Useful original Divezone narrative is retained. Photographs and reference deck plan: Undersea Hunter Group.
Where does this liveaboard dive boat go?
Check out the fabulous places where this dive boat travels to.
Note: some destinations may not be listed below, please enquire for more details.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica offers experienced divers some of the best diving in the world.
Cocos Island Costa Rica
"The most beautiful island in the world." and The world's most remote diving destination with regular liveaboard service.
- If you have been diving on board this liveaboard dive boat in Cocos & Costa Rica, please share your review and let us know what you thought. Please post your comments in the review section below, by doing so you will help fellow divers to plan their next diving trip
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We had an unforgettable week scuba-diving on Argo!
We’ve dived in many beautiful places including the Tuamotu archipelago in French Polynesia. But nothing compares to Cocos Island when it comes to sharks. We’ve never seen as much scalloped hammerhead sharks. We admired them during all of our 21 dives apart from 2: the check dive in a lovely coral garden, and a dive on Big Dos Amigos, where we saw a tiger shark. Galapagos sharks are numerous as well. And we could see some black tip sharks, one whale shark, and two tiger sharks! There are so many white tip reef sharks that you ignore them completely. Apart from sharks, there are some impressive schools of jacks, some massive tunas, barracudas, frog fishes, marble rays, eagle rays, boxer crabs, just to mention a few.
Security is paramount. All divers are equipped with GPS emitters, lights and whistles in case you are taken away by current. Undersea Hunter developed an astute defense pole to which you can add a bullet firing top in case of an unlikely attack from a tiger shark. The dive guides are very professional and caring. The dive sites have lines to facilitate the access to submerged rocks in big currents. You have space for your photography gear. The skiffs used to get to the dive sites are comfortable and speedy.
We were thrilled to dive with Deepsee submarine. We greatly appreciated the professionalism of our pilot Federico, whose knowledge and kindness made our exploration highly entertaining and captivating. Time flied during the whole journey! We started with dolphins at the surface. We enjoyed looking at crabs, eels, frog fish, brotulas, groupers, and many strange invertebrates. At 300m depth, we were so excited to spot an unknown fish species, that needs to be checked by a scientist for identification.
The boat is large with comfy cabins with lovely marine paintings. We had the manta ray cabin. On the first night in Cocos, we were annoyed by a high pitch noise due to a generator. As soon as we mentioned it, they found a solution to stop it. More generally the whole team was very kind and caring. You can feel that all team members are happy and love their jobs. The food was good. On top of that we had a very friendly group of divers, which allowed for a lot of captivating conversations.
We will be back!