Visiting the remote Cocos Island in Costa Rica is not your typical vacation. This legendary UNESCO World Heritage site demands a vessel built specifically for the open ocean, a role the Okeanos Aggressor II liveaboard has mastered for decades. As part of the longest-running dive operation at Cocos Island, having operated there since 1988, this 120-foot / 36m steel-hulled motor yacht is engineered for stability and safety on the Pacific crossing, providing a comfortable mobile home to explore one of the world's most dynamic marine environments, offering 22 divers a front-row seat to an untamed underwater wilderness.
After a day immersed in the blue, comfort and personal space are paramount. The Okeanos Aggressor II liveaboard accommodates guests in 11 private staterooms, each with an en-suite bathroom. Understanding that divers have different preferences, the layout offers several configurations. These range from cozy deluxe cabins with bunk-style beds to spacious suites featuring large picture windows, premium bamboo wood flooring, and private minibars. All staterooms are equipped with bathrobes, hairdryers, and fresh towels, while the crew ensures daily housekeeping. Communal spaces like the shaded cocktail area, sun deck with chaise lounges, and an air-conditioned saloon are designed for post-dive relaxation, where you can share stories or simply watch the endless horizon.
The operational focus of this liveaboard is clear from its well-designed dive deck. Every diver is assigned a personal gear locker, and the operation provides 80 cubic foot (12 liter) tanks, weight systems, and nitrox to extend your underwater time. Safety is prioritized with innovative technology; each guest is issued a personal satellite tracking device, a critical measure for drift diving in remote, current-rich waters. For underwater photographers, dedicated amenities like a large camera table with a dedicated rinse tank and saloon computers for image editing are available. This thoughtful setup, overseen by a professional 10-man Okeanos Aggressor crew, allows you to focus on the dive, confident that the logistics and your safety are expertly managed.
A schedule of up to 4 dives a day requires proper fuel, and the culinary team on the Okeanos Aggressor II rises to the challenge. The menu is varied and plentiful, designed to replenish energy with a mix of American classics, local Costa Rican flavors, and chef-prepared dinners served each evening. Days begin with cooked-to-order breakfasts and include snacks, lunches, and homemade desserts. To stay hydrated, a selection of complimentary fruit juices, soft drinks, coffee, iced tea, and local beer and wine is available throughout the day.
A liveaboard cruise aboard the Okeanos Aggressor II is an experience framed by the Aggressor Fleet's established values, which extend far beyond comfortable amenities. The goal is to foster a deeper connection with the destination through education and community. Evenings may include marine life identification presentations or documentaries that build context for what you're observing underwater, turning a dive trip into an enriching field expedition. This experience-led approach, coupled with the operation's decades of local knowledge, builds a layer of trust and insight you won't find with a standard charter. It ensures that your time at Cocos is not just about seeing wildlife, but understanding the intricate ecosystem you are visiting.
The Okeanos Aggressor II liveaboard is your gateway to the main event: the protected waters of Cocos Island National Park. The tour showcases this pelagic theater, where nutrient-rich currents collide to create one of the planet's most biodiverse marine habitats. The promise of Cocos lies in the sheer density of life and the dramatic oceanographic conditions that attract large schools of scalloped hammerheads, majestic manta rays, and countless other species. This is a destination for experienced divers seeking to witness a truly wild, unscripted marine spectacle. With a long-standing commitment to operating sustainably and in full compliance with park regulations, the Okeanos Aggressor II provides the ideal choice for a responsible and unforgettable expedition to this crown jewel of the Pacific.
Okeanos Aggressor II has a total of 11 staterooms, all with private en-suite bathrooms: 8 Deluxe staterooms, 1 Master stateroom and 2 Suites. The Deluxe staterooms each have a lower double bed and single upper bed, and are all on the lower deck of the liveaboard. The Master stateroom on the main deck has a queen bed and is equipped with a TV/ VCR, as well as a porthole.
The 2 suites are situated on the upper deck. They each have sea view windows, a 42" flat screen monitor and DVD player, refrigerator, separate shower cubicle, table and chairs; one suite has a king bed, the other has twin beds.
All the cabins have:
- Individual controlled air-conditioning
- Private en-suite bathroom with hot water shower and hand basin
- Hairdryer, bathrobe, towels and toiletries
- Suites and Master have windows, cabins on lower deck have portholes
- TV and movie player
- Bathrobes (Suites and Master only)
- Bedside reading lights
- Wardrobe and mirror
- Bedding
- Fire warning system
- Fire extinguisher and life jackets
- USA flat 2-pin 110V electricity
No. of bathrooms / showers - 11 / 11 - hot water
Cocos Island
Trip highlights: whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, shark action, dolphins, manta rays, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, off the beaten track
Dive sites and activities: Cocos Island, including Dos Amigos, Manuelita, Bajo Alcyone and Dirty Rock
Day 1
Your adventure begins with a warmly welcome on Okeanos Aggressor II and help you settle in. After a refreshing drink and a comprehensive safety briefing, the liveaboard will begin its long crossing, approximately 36 hours at sea, toward the legendary diving paradise of Cocos Island.
Core Days
This is where the magic begins. Over the next 9 days, you will explore the remote waters surrounding Cocos Island, famous for some of the most thrilling big-fish encounters on the planet.
The highlight of every dive is the chance to witness massive schools of scalloped hammerhead sharks, often numbering in the hundreds. But they are far from the only stars of the show. You may also encounter whitetip reef sharks, Galapagos sharks, tiger sharks, silky sharks, whale sharks, and even the occasional silvertip or guitar shark. Rays of all kinds glide gracefully past the cleaning stations, including mobula, marble, eagle and manta rays, while huge schools of Pacific fish such as creolefish, trevallies and jacks add to the spectacle.
Your days follow a balanced rhythm, filled with exciting encounters beneath the surface. Each morning begins with dives where you can expect to see schools of hammerheads and other pelagic species moving gracefully through the currents. Afternoons often bring the chance to spot whale sharks, especially between June and September, along with large schools of fish and passing rays. Evenings are reserved for unwinding, reviewing photos, and sharing stories with fellow divers, as night diving is not permitted in Cocos due to the presence of hunting tiger sharks.
Please note that the first and last diving days at Cocos, Days 2 and 10, feature partial schedules due to the timing of the boat’s arrival and departure from the island.
Day 11
After an unforgettable journey, Okeanos Aggressor returns to Puntarenas. Following a light breakfast, you will disembark and be transferred back to your hotel in San José or directly to the airport, carrying with you extraordinary memories of Cocos Island’s wild underwater world.
[Information is best estimate in ideal circumstances and subject to changes beyond our control. The itinerary is a guide only and may be adapted to best suit the weather, tides, currents, availability and other prevailing events. Price is for the cruise, not for an exact number of dives].
The menu onboard the Okeanos Aggressor II liveaboard is varied and plentiful, featuring a mix of American feasts, barbecues, and local cuisine. All meals are served in the saloon, freshly prepared and timed around the diving schedule.
Breakfast:
- A rotating selection including continental breakfast items, fresh fruit platters, cereals, oatmeal with honey or raisins, yoghurt with granola, and jams
- Hot dishes such as eggs and omelets made to order, pancakes, French toast, bacon, sausages, and hash browns
Lunch:
- Fresh salads such as Caesar, Caprese, and tuna
- Main dishes might include baked chicken breast, seafood pasta, or BBQ cheeseburgers
- Served with sides like rice, potatoes, or grilled vegetables, plus homemade breads and hot soups
Snacks:
- Sweet treats like brownies, banana cake, or cheesecake
- Savoury bites such as ceviche, guacamole with tortillas, or mini sandwiches
Dinner:
- Starters include fresh salads and homemade soups
- Main courses such as filet mignon, grilled sea bass, or cordon bleu chicken
- Accompanied by sides like rice, mashed potatoes, or sautéed vegetables
- Desserts may feature chocolate mousse, key lime pie, or tiramisu
Complimentary Beverages:
- Fruit juices, soft drinks, iced water, iced tea, and coffee
- Local beer and wine (complimentary)
- Welcome cocktail on embarkation day
- Complimentary wine served with dinner each evening
Additional Notes:
- If you have any special dietary requirements, please note them when completing the guest registration, and once onboard, speak directly with the Okeanos Aggressor chef
- Please keep in mind that certain special dietary and beverage requests may not be available due to the remote location
"
Equipment at the right size were available and at good condition. Staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. Liveaboard is a little bit on the "ageing" side but this is compensated by the great service and food that we received." -
Cristin Lee, Malaysia, 23 April 2015 ...
"
This trip has surpassed my expectations. Probably the best, most organized trip I have ever been on. Staff was extremely friendly and accomodating. We were treated like royalty. Our wishes were their quest. All details were paid attention to. Safety was their number one concern. The diving was beyond words. It is definitely worth every penny and worth travelling the distance. BTW, the food was out of this world. Cant wait to go back." -
Nahla Lorenzi, USA, 30 January 2014 ...
"
Okeanos Aggressor II, Cocos has small cabins relative to other liveaboards. Great personable service. Excellent cuisine and great diving." -
Peter Kubica, Canada, 6 March 2013 ...
MORE TRIP DETAILS
Notes: Cocos is a popular destination with limited liveaboard spaces. We recommend you book well in advance to avoid disappointment.
Dive experience: Beginner divers may consider Cocos Island to be a difficult dive destination due to its ruggedness and currents. This liveaboard safari is not recommended for new divers or handicapped divers.
Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation with air-conditioning, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinking water, soft drinks, hot drinks, local wine and beer, land excursions, transfers to the boat from some hotels, dives (as detailed in the trips above), experienced English-speaking divemaster(s), tanks, weights and weightbelt, sales tax.
Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Scuba equipment (USD 330 for 10 night trips), dive computer, diving insurance, Cocos Island National Park fee (USD 490 for 10 night trips, +13% tax - cash or credit card (3% bank charge applies for card payment)), USD 30 charge for an Emergency Evacuation Plan. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash only).
Optional extras: Nitrox fills for enriched air certified divers (USD 150 for 10 night trips), torches. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival. Note: prices of items purchased onboard are subject to change.
How to get there: Okeanos Aggressor II departs on both Cocos and Cano Island liveaboard trips from Puntarenas. Guests fly into San Jose. For more details, including airlines, see our Costa Rica travel information section. Transfers to Puntarenas by the operator are from the D Sabana Hotel (former Park Inn by Radisson) San Jose: It is recommended that guests stay at this hotel. You must have a 1 night stay in San Jose before departure to meet the transfer schedule.
Note: Departure times vary according to the tides. You will be informed in advance of your pick-up time and the cruise departure time. The last dive of the trip will be at around 12 noon on the third last day of the trip. After the 36 hour crossing back to the mainland, you will disembark at 7 am, You can book any flights from San Jose after 12:30 pm.
Non-diver rate: USD 200 off the full published price (does not apply to specials).
Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): This is optional - single travelers may choose to share a cabin and pay the standard rate, or pay a supplement of 65% of the normal published price for their own private cabin.
Dive clubs and group discounts: Pay for 6 guests and 1 extra guest can join the cruise in a Deluxe cabin free of charge (total 7+ guests). Pay for 9 and 2 extra guests can join free of charge (total 11+ guests).
Whole boat charter rate (per night): Pay for 18 guests and 4 additional persons can join the cruise in a Deluxe cabin free of charge (total 22 guests).
Click to view product. Special discounted trips highlighted in yellow
