Oct 9-19, 2025 | Cocos Island Trip Report | Sea Hunter

Cocos Island has been one of those dream destinations -remote, mysterious and full of life. This liveaboard trip turned that lifelong dream into something even more magic than I ever imagined.

From the moment we set sail there was the shared sense of adventure and anticipation on board. By the time we reach Coco Island, the underwater world left speechless: massive schools of hammerheads, Galapagos, silver tips, black tips in large shimmering walls of jacks that seem to go on forever. Every dive felt alive – raw, powerful and humbling-, the kind of diving that reminds why you fell in love with the ocean in the first place.

But Coco isn’t just magic underwater. Stepping onto the island itself felt like entering another world: lush green jungles, misty cloud forest and endless waterfalls cascading down volcanic cliffs. Visiting the Ranger station, interact with them and hiking along the island, gave us a completely glimpse of this untouched paradise from a completely different angle wild, vibrant and alive in every sense.

And there was the crew -truly the heart of the experience, their professionalism, warmth, and passion created an atmosphere of safety, friendship and pure joy. They went above and beyond, cheering us on through strong currents, sharing their knowledge and always making sure everyone felt at home between the dives. We laugh, shared stories and enjoy amazing meals surrounded by nothing but sea & sky in this gorgeous island. It didn’t feel like a trip anymore. It felt like a shared journey among friends who love the oceans and pristine nature.

Leaving Coco’s was hard but overall it was a fulfillment of a life long dream sparked years ago by Jacques Cousteau TV show.

Coco’s: where waterfalls meet the sea and every dive feels like a discovery

Marco Venegas, Sea Hunter passenger 

We just had to start this trip report off with Marco’s glowing firsthand testimonial!

The week began with an excellent check dive at Manuelita Coral Garden, where upon descent hammerheads were already being cleaned on the reef. Two large oceanic blacktips, several spotted eagle rays, and abundant reef fish accompanied the group throughout the dive. Multiple schools of hammerheads crossed over the sandy bottom, setting a strong start to the expedition.

Conditions remained favorable during the following days. Manuelita continued to deliver outstanding activity with hammerheads circling the cleaning stations in clear water. A medium oceanic blacktip and a massive Galapagos shark made close passes, while a giant manta glided by as divers moved into the blue. The action at the reef edge and sandy bottom kept spirits high.

Dirty Rock delivered big time – hammerheads filled the area in every direction, including a massive school that streamed past continuously throughout the dive. Several Galapagos sharks and robust oceanic blacktips joined the show, and more hammerheads appeared out in the blue. Later dives revealed equally impressive activity along the island side, with dozens of sharks moving together in synchronized formations. When the current allowed, the pinnacle was surrounded by dense schools of jacks, and hammerheads passed so close that divers could see every detail.

Currents and surge varied throughout the week, sometimes creating challenging conditions but never diminishing the excitement. Even during lower visibility, the group enjoyed sightings of mobula rays, tunas, eagle rays, and the occasional tiger shark. Oceanic blacktips and Galapagos sharks were frequently observed, along with dolphins, jacks, and leather bass hunting across the reef.

Alcyone lived up to its reputation, with strong currents and extraordinary shark encounters. Hammerheads formed thick clouds rising from the bottom to midwater, often mixed with Galapagos and blacktips. On calmer dives, a tiger shark appeared briefly, and several Galapagos sharks patrolled near the stations. Dos Amigos Pequeño also delivered excellent action, with Galapagos and hammerheads sharing the stations and large schools of jacks swirling around the pinnacle.

Porites offered two of the most memorable dives of the expedition. More than fifteen silvertip sharks, mostly females, circled close to the divers in perfect visibility. Two huge female Galapagos sharks cruised through, followed by a majestic manta ray gliding above the silvertips. On a later dive, silvertips of all sizes—from juveniles to large adults—filled the site alongside the same old oceanic blacktip seen earlier in the week. A small school of hammerheads and a medium silvertip at the safety stop rounded out a world-class dive.

Between the first and second cleaning stations at Manuela, hammerheads passed repeatedly, culminating in a massive school of over a hundred individuals moving through the blue. Oceanic blacktips and Galapagos sharks added to the spectacle, while jacks and reef fish provided constant activity across the reef.

The expedition concluded at Manuelita, which was alive with hammerheads, Galapagos, and blacktips passing in constant motion. A final school of hammerheads appeared just before ascent, providing a perfect ending to a truly exceptional week of diving at Cocos Island.