One of 2 liveaboards representing the Aggressor fleet in Costa Rica is the Cocos Island Aggressor. This large 124 ft (38m) steel-hulled motor yacht is built tough, perfect for the type of remote, pioneering diving cruise that Cocos Island liveaboards promise. Its also a modern yacht - maiden voyage January 2023.
Up to a maximum of 22 divers are accommodated in 11 en-suite cabins with personal TV and USB/HDMI ports spread throughout the upper and lower decks. Facilities include an air-conditioned saloon and restaurant on the main deck, as well as plenty of sun deck space with chaise lounges and deck chairs for soaking up the sun's rays, a bar and grill. The lounge is equipped with a library, TV and music system which helps to pass the time during the crossings. For those that enjoy a glass or two after a day's scuba diving, complimentary beer and wine are also included in the price.
English and Spanish are both spoken on board, nitrox is available, and there is a rinse tank and camera table for cameras on the spacious dive deck. The dive deck also has a toilet and 3 fresh water showers. There is also a saloon computer for image editing. Safety measures include personal EPIRBs for diving and an on-board defibrillator. The Cocos Island Aggressor intends to provide a safe and professional environment in which to enjoy the amazing liveaboard diving destination of Cocos.
Cocos Island Aggressor has 11 guest cabins (size 10' by 10' / >9 sqm), all with private en-suite/private bathrooms. There are 7 Deluxe twin bed staterooms on the lower deck, and 4 Master staterooms on the upper deck - 3 have twin beds, and 1 has a double bed.
All the cabins have:
- Individual climate control
- TV and USB/HDMI ports
- Portholes in lower deck cabins, windows on upper deck
- Private bathroom with hot water shower and hand basin
- Hairdryer, towels, bathrobe and soap
- Daily housekeeping
- Cabinet, shelves and mirror
- Reading lights
- Fire extinguisher and life jackets
- USA 2-pin 110V electricity
- Bedding
- Luggage storage space
No. of bathrooms / showers - 12 / 14 - hot water
Cocos Island (11 Days / 10 Nights - 24 Dives)
Trip highlights: whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, shark action, dolphins, manta rays, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving
Dive sites and activities: Cocos Island, including Dos Amigos, Manuelita, Bajo Alcyone, Dirty Rock, Bird Island - Chatham Bay, Lone Stone, Ubing Rock - Wafer Bay
Day 1
Pick up time from your hotel in San Jose varies as the boat departure from Puntarenas is planned according to the tides. A stunning view of the lush country side is a bonus during your 2 hour journey to the boat. You will be greeted by the Cocos Island Aggressor crew and escorted on board. Enjoy some refreshments and the boat briefing, while the liveaboard starts its long trip (approx. 36 hours) to the island.
Days 2-10
The seas around the remote Cocos Island are teeming with big marine life. The main attraction is of course the huge groups of scalloped hammerhead sharks, some numbering in their hundreds! But there are plenty of other shark species too -whitetip reef sharks, whale sharks, Galapagos, tiger, silky, blacktip, silvertip and guitar sharks. There are also many species of rays: mobula, marble, manta and eagle rays visiting cleaning stations, and big schools of Pacific fish, such as creolefish and hunting jacks.
On most days you will wake up and enjoy a continental breakfast at 7 am followed by the 1st dive of the day. A full breakfast is served before the 2nd dive of the morning. There is always a dive briefing before the dives to introduce the underwater topography and the marine life you are about to see at each dive site. Buffet style lunch is usually at 12 noon and the food served is varied and plentiful - mushroom steak, tuna salad, Florence chicken scaloppini, grilled eggplant, seafood pasta, lemon cheesecake. You might not want to miss the 3rd dive at 2 pm as there are always chances to see whale sharks in these waters, most often from June until the end of September. Afternoon snacks and relaxation time are all yours in the afternoon. Dinner is then at 6 pm. The weekly menu includes sea bass in lemon sauce, fillet mignon, jumbo shrimp skewers, zucchini and tomato with cheese, chicken teriyaki, peaches and pears with ice cream. There is no night diving in Cocos Island for safety reasons - it is when the tiger sharks are more likely to be hunting.
Days 2 and 9 do not include a full day of diving due to the late arrival at/early departure from Cocos Island.
Day 11
The Okeanos Aggressor returns to the dock in Puntarenas and the check-out is after an early, light breakfast. You will be transferred either to your hotel or to the San Jose Airport.
Cocos Island (13 Days / 12 Nights - 30 Dives)
Trip highlights: whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, shark action, dolphins, manta rays, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving
Dive sites and activities: Cocos Island, including Dos Amigos, Manuelita, Bajo Alcyone, Dirty Rock, Bird Island - Chatham Bay, Lone Stone, Ubing Rock - Wafer Bay
Day 1
Pick up time from your hotel in San Jose varies as the boat departure from Puntarenas is planned according to the tides. A stunning view of the lush country side is a bonus during your 2 hour journey to the boat. You will be greeted by the Cocos Island Aggressor crew and escorted on board. Enjoy some refreshments and the boat briefing, while the liveaboard starts its long trip (approx. 36 hours) to the island.
Days 2-12
The seas around the remote Cocos Island are teeming with big marine life. The main attraction is of course the huge groups of scalloped hammerhead sharks, some numbering in their hundreds! But there are plenty of other shark species too -whitetip reef sharks, whale sharks, Galapagos, tiger, silky, blacktip, silvertip and guitar sharks. There are also many species of rays: mobula, marble, manta and eagle rays visiting cleaning stations, and big schools of Pacific fish, such as creolefish and hunting jacks.
On most days you will wake up and enjoy a continental breakfast at 7 am followed by the 1st dive of the day. A full breakfast is served before the 2nd dive of the morning. There is always a dive briefing before the dives to introduce the underwater topography and the marine life you are about to see at each dive site. Buffet style lunch is usually at 12 noon and the food served is varied and plentiful - mushroom steak, tuna salad, Florence chicken scaloppini, grilled eggplant, seafood pasta, lemon cheesecake. You might not want to miss the 3rd dive at 2 pm as there are always chances to see whale sharks in these waters, most often from June until the end of September. Afternoon snacks and relaxation time are all yours in the afternoon. Dinner is then at 6 pm. The weekly menu includes sea bass in lemon sauce, fillet mignon, jumbo shrimp skewers, zucchini and tomato with cheese, chicken teriyaki, peaches and pears with ice cream. There is no night diving in Cocos Island for safety reasons - it is when the tiger sharks are more likely to be hunting.
Days 2, 11 and 12 do not include a full day of diving due to the late arrival at/early departure from Cocos Island.
Day 13
The Okeanos Aggressor returns to the dock in Puntarenas and the check-out is after an early, light breakfast. You will be transferred either to your hotel or to the San Jose Airport.
[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].