Frequently asked questions
Cocos Island is an advanced diving destination, with open-ocean conditions, strong or unpredictable currents, and occasionally limited visibility. We recommend a minimum of 50 logged dives and confidence diving in a variety of conditions.
All divers must hold one of the following certification combinations:
- Advanced Open Water + Nitrox
- Open Water + Deep Diver + Nitrox
Divers who do not yet hold the required Deep Diver or Nitrox specialties may arrange to complete these certifications aboard the vessel during the crossing, at an additional cost.
Our dive guides have final authority in determining whether a guest may participate in any particular dive, based on experience, ability and prevailing conditions.
All divers joining an Undersea Hunter expedition to Cocos Island must hold one of the following certification combinations:
- Advanced Open Water + Nitrox
- Open Water + Deep Diver + Nitrox
We recommend a minimum of 50 logged dives and experience diving in varying conditions, including currents and reduced visibility.
Divers who do not yet hold the required Deep Diver or Nitrox specialties may arrange to complete these certifications aboard the vessel during the crossing to Cocos Island, at an additional cost. Please contact our reservations office in advance to make arrangements.
Our dive guides have final authority in determining whether a guest may participate in any particular dive, based on experience, ability and prevailing conditions.
Dive Insurance
All guests are required to have dive-specific insurance that explicitly covers emergency evacuation from Cocos Island. This coverage is mandatory for every passenger, regardless of whether they intend to dive.
General travel insurance, even if it includes recreational diving coverage, is not sufficient. We recommend DAN (Divers Alert Network) or another provider offering equivalent coverage.
A copy of your insurance policy must be uploaded to your Inseanq guest profile at least 30 days before departure. Guests without the required insurance will not be permitted to dive.
Medical Forms
All divers must complete and sign the Diver Medical Participant Questionnaire and email it to info@underseahunter.com at least 60 days before departure.
Depending on your answers, you may also be required to obtain a physician’s evaluation confirming your fitness to dive. If required, this medical clearance must also be submitted at least 60 days before departure.
Guests who fail to submit the required medical documentation, or who do not receive medical clearance when required, will not be permitted to dive. In these circumstances, the expedition cost is nonrefundable.
Last-Minute Bookings
For reservations made less than 60 days before departure, the medical questionnaire must be submitted before your booking can be confirmed. If a physician’s evaluation is required, it must be submitted at least seven days before departure.
Please arrange your insurance and medical documentation well in advance to avoid complications with your expedition.
What is Nitrox?
Dives at Cocos are deep — that’s why using nitrox is such a great benefit to extend bottom time, and simultaneously enhance safety.
Advantages:
— Shorter surface intervals This is due to less off-gassing
— Less fatigue At the end of a busy diving day, you’ll actually feel less fatigued due to the reduced physiological effort required to off-gas.
— Reduced air consumption Another bonus that many Nitrox divers report is generally reduced air consumption, further adding to bottom time.
In order to maximize your dives and optimize your depth for each particular dive-site, the actual dive profile selection chosen by our dive masters is based upon the Nitrox mixture used.
Nitrox Certification on the Crossing
If you are already a certified Nitrox diver, please remember to bring your Nitrox certification card with you! You will be asked to present proof of certification once onboard the vessel.
If you are not yet a certified Nitrox diver, we can certify you onboard during the crossing for an additional fee. There are no special skills or in-water training associated with the certification. You can simply plan on completing the three-hour theory course during the 36-hour cruise to Cocos Island.
Nitrox fills are free and unlimited aboard our boats
Cocos Island is an open-ocean diving destination renowned for its extraordinary marine life, dramatic volcanic underwater landscapes and exciting diving conditions.
Water temperatures generally range from 78–83°F (26–29°C), although cooler thermoclines are common. Visibility varies throughout the year and can change significantly between dive sites or even during the same day.
Much of the diving takes place between 60 and 80 feet (18–24 meters). Currents can be strong and unpredictable, making Cocos Island best suited to experienced divers who are comfortable with changing conditions.
We recommend a minimum of 50 logged dives. All divers must hold either Advanced Open Water + Nitrox certification or Open Water + Deep Diver + Nitrox certification. Divers who need to complete the Deep Diver or Nitrox specialtiesmay arrange training during the crossing at an additional cost.
Nitrox fills are included for certified divers, and a dive computer is mandatory. Our dive guides have final authority in determining whether guests may participate in specific dives based on experience, ability and prevailing conditions.
The diving program generally includes up to three dives per day, weather and conditions permitting.
You will be diving in waters about 76-83º F (24-29 C), although it can be a few degrees lower under the occasional thermocline. 5mm full wetsuits are generally recommended, although some people prefer 3mm or 7mm if they become hot or cold easily. A hood is not necessary.
Diving at Cocos Island is conducted from two dedicated diving skiffs, each accompanied by experienced dive guides. Groups generally consist of 9–10 divers per skiff with two guides.
We generally offer up to three dives per day, weather and sea conditions permitting. Dive sites and schedules are determined by the captain and dive guides, taking into account currents, visibility, weather and diver safety.
Before each dive, your guide will provide a briefing covering the dive site, expected conditions, dive plan and safety procedures. Divers are expected to follow their guide’s instructions and remain within the established diving limits.
Nitrox certification is required, and Nitrox fills are included.
Cocos Island is an advanced diving destination where currents and visibility can change quickly. Our dive guides have final authority to determine whether a guest may participate in a particular dive based on their experience, ability and prevailing conditions. The maximum permitted diving depth is 30 meters (approximately 98 feet), and all dives are conducted within recreational no-decompression limits.
For everyone’s safety, the captain and dive guides may modify dive plans, change dive sites or suspend diving activities when necessary.
Safety is Our #1 Priority
Due to the remoteness of Cocos Island, safety is an absolute priority at all times. All of our crew members maintain peak performance skills for all conceivable emergencies including Man Overboard, Lost Diver Searches, Fire at Sea and more. It is company policy that all of our ship’s personnel perform these exercise drills on every trip, while our guests relax.
Your safety is our first priority, period. Each dive group is led by not one but two divemasters (so four in total, per trip). Our Captains are fully qualified and hold internationally recognized seafaring licenses. Many of our crew are Medic First Aid Instructors or are trained for basic first aid and as DAN O2 providers.
We take utmost care to hire and train only the most highly skilled personnel. As critical crew components, our skiff pilots have the experience and the know-how to keep track of our divers. Head counts are done methodically and our dive-masters and skiff operators quickly learn the names and faces of all of our guests. With full knowledge of local conditions, they are prepared to search and locate divers even in the most extreme circumstances.
Certifications
The captains of each vessel, as well as the crew are responsible for mastering the
International Maritime Organization’s categories of safety:
- Firefighting and Fire Prevention
- Survival at Sea Techniques
- CPR
- Personal Security and Social Responsibility
The Certification is granted when a crew member has successfully completed each of the above categories and has passed a health and wellness check. The IMO certification represents just a fraction of the safety measures that are integrated into every facet of the trip.
Paramedic Services
Cocos Island National Park staff is now equipped with paramedic services. In case of an incident, park rangers are available to come to the Sea Hunter or the Argo and deliver medical care, or to transfer the patient to the facility at Wafer Bay.
Nautilus GPS
We provide all guests with our safety kit that includes an extra-large orange dive sausage, a powerful storm whistle and a special safety light.
We also provide the Nautilus Lifeline device to all passengers — the units must be tethered to each diver’s BCD. When activated, the alarm is triggered aboard our vessel and the specific coordinates of the diver’s location are communicated. The Lifeline automatically communicates not just with our Undersea Hunter vessels, but also with every modern marine VHF radio within a 12-mile range.
These units also transmit the Marine International Distress Signal that is monitored by all ships and coast guard vessels. This is a revolutionary diver locator device: it has taken existing technology (VHF radio GPS) and custom-designed it specifically for scuba divers.
You will need the following gear:
Wet suit (we recommend 5mm), mask, fins, snorkel, regulator with visible pressure gauge, a mandatory dive computer, buoyancy compensator, depth gauge, dive gloves, weight belt (without weights) and dive watch. It is smart to mark each piece of gear with waterproof paint or tape. We suggest you put all or most of the above items in your carry-on bag for air travel. Aboard the vessel, there is ample storage space for your diving equipment — including your own personal locker.
Equipment Provided Onboard
We provide you with 80 cubic ft. (12 lt.) tanks and weights. We have a limited supply of 15 Liter steel tanks, if you would like to rent one, make sure to reserve it well ahead of time. Please note, our 15L steel tanks can be turned into DIN or YOKE with an insert. Our 12L aluminium tanks are Yoke, but can be turned into DIN with an adapter.
We provide you with weights for your weight belt: 2, 3, 4, and 6 lbs. (1, 1.5, 2 and 3 kilos). We also provide you with air or Nitrox tanks — 80 cubic ft. aluminum (12 liters). 15 liter tanks are available upon request, for a small additional fee.
Again, please note our tanks are standard yoke (INT), not DIN. Please notify our office in advance if you need an adaptor.
Rental Equipment Onboard
You can rent a complete line of ScubaPro dive gear: BCD, regulator, wetsuit, mask, fins, snorkel, and Nitrox dive computers.
Yes! Undersea Hunter offers private guides and private skiffs for guests who would like a more personalized diving experience at Cocos Island.
Private Guide
A private dive guide is an excellent option for newer divers, less confident divers, or anyone who would appreciateadditional personal attention and support. It’s also ideal for underwater photographers and videographers who prefer to explore at their own pace.
Your private guide can provide extra assistance, help you become more comfortable with the diving conditions, and tailor the experience to your abilities while prioritizing safety.
Private guide services start at $1,200 per diver, per trip, subject to availability.
Private Skiff
For groups seeking greater flexibility and a more exclusive diving experience, a private skiff can be arranged. Your group will have a dedicated skiff and dive guide, allowing for a more personalized diving schedule and choice of dive sites, subject to weather, sea conditions and the captain’s approval.
Private skiff services cost $1,900 per diver, with a minimum of four divers ($7,600 total).
Both services are subject to availability and should be arranged well in advance. Please contact our reservations office for details.
All divers must meet Undersea Hunter’s minimum certification requirements, regardless of whether they book a private guide or skiff.
Click here to access our info packet.
Due to the possible increase in the cost of diesel, based on events in the past few years, the Undersea Hunter Group reserves the right to charge a per person fuel surcharge. This fee will be effective in the event that the diesel price published by Costa Rica’s state-owned refinery, RECOPE, reaches US$3.50 per gallon. We will verify the fuel index table 60 days prior to the departure date and if it is necessary to collect a fuel surcharge then we will inform the participants of the trip. The surcharge will be collected onboard.
We recommend casual and cool cotton attire while on board (t-shirt & shorts). Nights can be chilly and/or drizzly. A sweater or a light jacket or windbreaker should be sufficient on a cool evening. Bring good hiking shoes with good grip that you don’t mind getting wet, for walks on the island if you’d like to explore the island’s topside.
The vessels have both 110 and 220 volts ac. The cabins have 110 volts ac only.
The vessels have standard US and European sockets (but not British-style sockets).
Starlink internet is available aboard the Sea Hunter! Guests can receive three access codes for the voyage:
- Transit to Cocos Island: 2GB
- At Cocos Island: Unlimited
- Return to Puntarenas: 2GB
Starlink is $50 USD per guest for trips booked through agents. For trips booked directly with Undersea Hunter, it is included free of charge.
During the transit legs, we ask guests to avoid high-bandwidth activities such as movie streaming and video calls to preserve the shared data allowance. Messaging apps, email, and voice calls work well and are encouraged for staying in touch.
Yes. It costs $3.50 per minute.
Starlink internet is available on board. Or please request our satellite numbers when you book. See above rates for use of the satellite phone.
No, you do not need to bring towels. We provide towels for each guest, and there will also be fresh towels after each dive.
We have a well-equipped first aid kit including oxygen on board and our crew is trained in basic first aid. You may want to bring anti-seasickness medicine and ear-drops if you feel you will need it. Of course, remember to bring all your personal medications.
We will usually make one or two visits to the island itself during a trip. You can sometimes schedule more visits in between dives with your cruise director if you would like, but please note that you will miss dives.
As of April 12, 2023 we have dropped all COVID testing and vaccination requirements.
If you wish to bring a child who is younger than 15 on a trip, then please contact our office. Underage divers will only be allowed under certain circumstances.
We recommend flying into Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), serving San José, Costa Rica.
All guests must arrive in San José at least one night before their expedition departs. We also strongly recommend staying one night after the expedition, as weather, sea conditions or other unforeseen circumstances may occasionally affect the vessel’s return schedule.
Undersea Hunter arranges round-trip ground and marine transfers between designated San José pickup hotels and the vessel in Puntarenas for an additional $100 per person.
Guests may stay at any hotel of their choice but must be present at one of our designated pickup hotels at the assigned pickup time. Approximately one week before departure, an Undersea Hunter representative will contact guests with their pickup details and transfer schedule.
The drive to Puntarenas takes approximately three hours. From there, the vessel crossing to Cocos Island generally takes 32–36 hours.
At the end of the expedition, guests are transferred from Puntarenas back to San José.
We strongly discourage booking international flights on the same day the vessel returns to port. Undersea Hunter cannot be responsible for missed flights or additional travel expenses resulting from unforeseen delays.
It’s crucial to let us know with as much advanced notice as possible if you plan to use a rebreather at Cocos Island.
Our vessel is equipped with Nitrox Gas Blending Systems, Partial Pressure as well as a Membrane Compressor, and rebreather support. We offer tri-mix support with helium for special expeditions, and an assortment of bail-out and rebreather cylinders.
We are capable of supporting all types of closed-circuit rebreathers (CCR) units with Sofnolime CO₂ Scrubber material and high-pressure oxygen with a booster bump.
Cocos Island is a fantastic dive destination to take advantage of the silence and tranquility of a rebreather. Without making bubbles, you blend into the environment and become basically invisible to the sharks.
Rebreather Prices
Undersea Hunter’s dive skiffs are one of the elements that truly sets us apart. In circumstances when a rubber inflatable would be crippled in the wind-blown vastness of the Pacific, these large, heavy-duty fiberglass dive cruisers provide the stability and safety that is essential at Cocos Island. We comfortably handle up to ten divers (plus 2 dive-masters and skiff pilot) in each skiff to move safely and efficiently between diverse dive sites around the island.
These boats are extremely stable in any sea conditions, and serve as the primary dive platform throughout your trip. Each skiff measures 24 feet in length with a beam of over nine feet long, and is powered by twin 115hp, 4-cycle fumeless outboard motors. These modern engines provide the power and redundancy required to safely reach any of the remote dive sites within an extended radius of the mothership. At the end of each dive, re-boarding is conveniently accomplished via a solid, steady ladder.
Skiffs are equipped with integrated racks for scuba diving equipment, separate camera storage area, VHF radios and a T-roof, which offers shelter from the tropical elements for the crew and camera equipment. They further hold all the necessary safety equipment including communications, oxygen, first-aid kit and spare dive gear.
Personal dive gear is kept onboard the skiffs during the entire duration of the active dive days. This completely eliminates the need to lug heavy scuba tanks back and forth between mothership and skiff, reducing wear and tear on equipment (as well as on people!). The tanks are refilled in place, within minutes of returning from each dive. This enables the divers to always be ready, at a moment’s notice, to take advantage of a fleeting opportunity — be it a whale sighting or the spontaneous appearance of a baitball.
Special Expeditions & Private Skiffs
Our skiffs are 100% customizable to fit the needs of your expedition. They can be fitted with a range of conveniences like a scientific winch or swinging boom to lift heavy camera gear — whatever you need, we have you covered. A portable 5kw electric generator can also be supplied and installed on the deck of one of our two skiffs.
In addition to these two large skiffs on each of our vessels, for an additional fee we can supply you with an additional private skiff or an 18-ft. Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) with an experienced boat operator. This gives you even greater mobility and flexibility for your film projects.
Galmar is our private dock located in Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Owned and operated by Undersea Hunter, it consists of 49 linear meters (160 linear feet) of concrete bulkhead and dock with approximately 2400 square meters (25,000 square feet) of adjacent property. Galmar is a new, purpose-built working and boarding dock designed to serve the harboring, boarding and maintenance needs of our vessels.
The dock contains about 800 square meters (8500 square feet) of covered work area and houses our local offices, crew accommodations, workshops and ample warehouse. It is our logistical center and storage for an extensive inventory of spare parts and provisions for all of our vessels. Galmar hosts an extremely well equipped workshop that can handle all types of work including carpentry, fiberglass, mold building and repairs, painting and corrosion treatment, engine work and metal work in steel, aluminum and stainless steel including cutting and welding. Almost all of the maintenance work performed on our vessels is done in-house by our own talented workers.
The Galmar dock has a permanent crew of 12 to 16 employees during regular operations and supports up to 50 workers and employees during periods of construction or the pre-programmed maintenance of our vessel. Keeping this work in-house assures that our stringent quality needs are being met. We are fully capable of overhauling and extensively refurbishing our vessels at Galmar.
UCR Research Partnership
Undersea Hunter and the DeepSee submersible have enjoyed a longstanding partnership with the University of Costa Rica, and each year we donate a certain quantity of trips to UCR scientists to further their research.
Each and every recreational submarine dive we take with passengers catalogs depths, temperatures and other info at various locations. We also record videos with a laser scale, which scientists can then freeze frame by frame, zooming in to count algae, particles in the water, etc. Analyzing years of this information creates a sort of virtual mosaic of the island’s underwater topography.
Such invaluable data enables scientists to track of the health of the deep waters surrounding Cocos Island, which would otherwise never be explored by human eyes. This research has been critical in identifying “new” species previously unknown to science. For example in 2012 UCR scientists discovered a new family of soft corals they named Aquaumbridae. Its first new speices was named Aquaumbra klapferi, after Undersea Hunter co-founder Avi Klapfer.
Not only that, but each and every scuba dive performed above the Sea Hunter and Argo also contributes to a vast body of research. Every single time we hit the water, our guides take detailed biodiversity counts and estimates, recording variables like water temperature, currents and a slew of other metrics. This data has been compiled into several large-scale studies to assess the health of Cocos Island over time. We are thrilled to announce that as of 2020, Undersea Hunter guests will also have the option to participate.
Community Involvement
Undersea Hunter believes in conservation through education, which is why we participate in talks and community events at schools countrywide, emphasizing the critical importance of ocean protection for kids ages 2-5th grade. For example in 2018, we were invited by Costa Rica’s Ministry of Education to speak at the Ecological Kids Camp in Puntarenas Matambu Natural Reserve. The main topic was the Tropical East Pacific marine corridor of hammerhead sharks, popularly known as the “Hammerhead Triangle”, which connects three marine worldwide heritage sites in a triangle formation: Cocos Island in Costa Rica, Malpelo in Colombia and Galapagos in Ecuador. This marine corridor also includes the coastal areas of Coiba in Panama and the Golfo Dulce in Costa Rica, which are the nurseries for hammerhead sharks, turtles and other reef sharks so vital for marine ecosystems. Our team went home with hearts full of positivity, and hope that the future of our oceans are planted on the hearts and minds of the next generation.
Recycling
Undersea Hunter has set up an incentivized system for receiving, separating and storing all forms of recyclable waste at our very own GalMar dock. What’s the incentive, apart from doing the right thing? Our workers are rewarded for their diligence with the entire proceeds gained by this effort.
The process begins on our two boats where the paper, plastic, glass and aluminum are separated by the crew and brought home. Next we receive, transport and separate all of the additional refuse produced and collected by the park rangers, volunteers and academic investigators working at Cocos Island, and that refuse is also brought to our dock. Lastly, all chemicals, medicines, batteries and other tech-generated wastes are segregated and stored appropriately. Once a month, this substantial volume of material is transported by our own trucks to the proper facilities.
Food Sourcing
We are succinctly aware of our environmental impact, both on land as well as the oceans. For this reason, all of our food is carefully chosen to encourage best practices. All beef served on our vessels consists of locally-raised, grass-fed cattle from a supplier that uses no chemicals or antibiotics in their husbandry. The pork we use is also raised locally and free of chemicals and antibiotics. Where possible, our local fruits and vegetables are raised with no pesticides or chemicals, following international organic guidelines.
Once all passengers are boarded, the vessel will take 32-36 hours to reach Cocos Island. Crossings are normally calm, but to prevent motion sickness we advise you to take the necessary precautions. At the conclusion of your trip, we will return to Puntarenas where a bus will be waiting to return you to your San Jose hotel.
The menu aboard offers a delicious combination of International and local cuisine. Meals are varied and well balanced, and we also offer delicious snacks between dives. Food is abundant with plenty of fresh tropical fruit and salads and is served buffet style. Please let us know of any special dietary needs or requests, but try to be lenient, as storage and preparation space is limited.
Beer & Soft drinks: Free
Bottle of wine: $15 – $35.
Hard liquor is not available on board but our guests are welcome to bring their own, which should be purchased prior to boarding.
Since it is customary to tip crew members, many people ask us what tip amount is appropriate. This is a very personal decision, as tips are your way of expressing satisfaction. Generally the tip is given to the captain who distributes it equally amongst the crew. Please note that we do not dictate or include tips.
The nearest Re-compression Chamber is in the capital of Costa Rica, San Jose, about 36 hours sailing from Cocos.
Smoking is strictly prohibited inside the boat, but each boat has a designated location on the sundeck if you wish to smoke.
Disclosures
Please review our Terms & Conditions carefully before booking your Cocos Island expedition.
Our Terms & Conditions cover important information, including:
- Booking deposits and payment deadlines
- Cancellation policies and refunds
- National Park fees, transfers and possible fuel surcharges
- Mandatory dive insurance and certification requirements
- Medical forms and submission deadlines
- Last-minute bookings
- Liability release and onboard safety policies
Please read our complete Terms & Conditions:
https://underseahunter.com/terms-conditions/
All guests are required to sign a liability release before boarding. A sample is included in our predeparture information packet for your review.
Do you need more information?
If you have any further questions about our trips, feel free to write to info@underseahunter.com.
Wishing you the greatest diving trip of a lifetime!