Cocos Pelagic Expedition 2027

Cocos Pelagic Expedition 2027

Join us July 2027 aboard the Cocos Island Aggressor for an amazing 10 night trip featuring whale sharks, schooling hammerheads, white-tips, and more!

Why Join This Trip?

• One of the best big animal dive destinations in the world
• See whale sharks, schooling hammerheads, mantas, turtles, and much more
• Modern, spacious & photographer-friendly liveaboard vessel
• 25% off rental photo gear from Bluewater Photo
• Fully refundable deposit until 18 months from departure

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Trip Overview

Escape to Cocos Island on a liveaboard scuba diving trip in Costa Rica! Cocos is a lush, green, uninhabited island resting 342 miles off Costa Rica's Pacific coast. Rocky pinnacles surrounding Cocos are beacons for big animals and big action. Schooling hammerheads, countless white-tip sharks, mantas, tuna, and even whale sharks call Cocos home. This ten-day trip offers seven days of Costa Rica liveaboard scuba diving.

To get a little insight as to what the trip is like, read the reports from our previous trips: 2015 trip and 2016 trip.

Click the Manta Trust logo to learn more!

Check out this amazing video from Aggressor Adventures!

Dive Overview

You'll be diving in water temperatures between 72-82F with cool thermoclines.

• Alcyone: A 600' long submerged mountain, the top of the mountain is 75' from the surface. Schooling Hammerheads, Mantas and schooling fish. Possible Sailfish or Marlin.
• Big Dos Amigos: This islet features a 45-foot-high arch and 60-foot pinnacle off the southeast side. Look for Rainbow Runners, Yellowtail Snapper, Bigeye Jacks and lobster. Hammerheads swim between the pinnacle and arch.
• Bird Island, Chatham Bay: Dove from Chatham Bay, southeast of Manuelita, this site provides a variety of marine life including Frog Fish, lobsters, morays, rays, White Tip Sharks and Hammerheads. There is even a cleaning station.
• Dirty Rock: A large island with schools of Marble Rays and Hammerheads.
• Lone Stone: Schooling Marble Rays and Mobula Rays.
• Manuelita: Lots of White Tips, Marble Rays, and schools of Creoles.
• Special Sightings: Whale Sharks, mating Eagle Rays, Sail Fish, mating White Tip Sharks, False Killer Whales.
• Ubing Rock, Wafer Bay: This 300' rock begins at 20' and drops to a 110' sandy bottom. The southeast slope attracts schooling Hammerheads.

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Sample Itinerary

• Day 1: Transfer from host hotel to Puntarenas for boarding and departure for Cocos Island
• Day 2 - 3: Transit to Cocos, arrival at Cocos Island, diving begins
• Day 4 - 8: Diving around Cocos Island
• Day 9 - 10: Transit to Puntarenas
• Day 11: Check out at 7 am and transfer to the San Jose Airport (SJO) or host hotel

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Diving Conditions

Diving conditions in Cocos Island in July are well suited for big-animal encounters, with nutrient-rich water attracting hammerheads, manta rays and other pelagic species. Visibility can vary, and currents and thermoclines are common, bringing cooler layers during deeper drift. Topside July weather is generally warm with increased cloud cover and periods of rain.

• Water Temperature: 77 - 82°F (25 - 28°C)
• Visibility: Variable, typically 30 - 80 feet (10 - 25m)
• Depth Range: 30 - 130 feet (10 - 40m)

Recommended Scuba Gear

Download our full scuba gear guide to Cocos, Bluewater Travel guests receive 10% OFF! Click the image below to download (PDF).

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Trip Type

This trip is a PHOTO GROUP TRIP. Led by a professional or experienced photographer who will be happy to provide advice and guidance on all elements of your photography as required. The logistics of this trip mean that formal photography tutorials and workshops are not practical.

What to Expect From Our Photo Group Trips

• Photography support - Your trip leader will ensure that they spend time with everyone throughout the trip, providing advice and guidance on all elements of photography. If you have specific questions about your equipment, shot composition, or post-processing, they will be happy to support you.
• Quality time with fellow photographers - You will meet like-minded divers or travelers with a passion for photography. Newer photographers will benefit from the experience of more advanced shooters, and those with experience can share their advice and tips with the group.
• Suitable for everyone - New and experienced photographers are welcome on all our trips. Gain the necessary skills to start shooting great photos, increase your confidence in finding the best underwater shots, or hone specific skills. We also encourage non-photographers to join, and do our best to split groups according to skills and interests.

Enjoy free, unlimited access to a wealth of knowledge and advice from your photo instructor.

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Inclusions

• Accommodations aboard the yacht
• 7 days of diving up to 4 dives per day
• All meals and snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, local beer and wine
• Compressed air tanks, weights & belts
• Round-trip transfers (pick-up from the host hotel, drop-off to the host hotel/airport)

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Exclusions

• Airfare (international and domestic)
• Equipment rentals
• Nitrox (unlimited Nitrox is $150 for 10 nights)
• Certification or specialty courses
• Hotel stays/day rooms
• Dinner on the final evening
• Crew gratuity
• USD $490 Park Fee
• $30 Emergency Evacuation Plan
• All onboard sales/services have a 13% tax
• Travel Insurance - ask us about our preferred partner plan

*All onboard sales/services are subject to change and to a 13% tax.

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About the Cocos Island Aggressor

A brand new custom-built dive yacht, the Cocos Island Aggressor is built and powered for comfort, safety, and stability. The Cocos Island Aggressor is the perfect vessel for exploring Cocos Islands.

The Cocos Island Aggressor can comfortably accommodate up to 22 passengers in a total of 10 cabins. Guests can choose between the Deluxe Stateroom, equipped with two single beds and portholes, or the Master Staterooms, with two twin beds or a queen bed, and a large picture window. All rooms come complete with air conditioning, private bathrooms and showers, and a monitor with a media player.

Master Stateroom (L) & Deluxe Stateroom (R)

Spacious Salon (L) & Dining Area (R)

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Costa Rica Trip Extensions

Want to extend your trip? We can help with that! See more of South/Central America before or after your trip with Bluewater. Flying all that way merits a multi-destination vacation! Here are some examples of packages we can add on to your reservation:

Read More.

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Trip Leader

Mark Strickland

Mark Strickland’s life-long interest in the sea has included over 10,000 dives and careers as an ocean lifeguard, boat captain, and scuba instructor. His passion for underwater photography has led him to many top dive locales, including the Virgin Islands, Australia, and Thailand, where he spent 17 years as Cruise Director on a series of liveaboards. Mark now resides in Ventura County, California.

An avid marine naturalist, Mark has discovered several nudibranch species. He is co-author and principal photographer for Lonely Planet’s award-winning book, “Diving and Snorkeling Thailand”, and his work appears in many magazines, books, and displays around the world. Mark's editorial credits include Action Asia, Alert Diver, BBC Wildlife, National Geographic World, Natural History, and most major dive publications.

Read more about Mark Strickland.

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How To Get There

Flight Information

Fly in and out of San Jose Airport, Costa Rica (airport code SJO), arriving no later than July 2nd. Travel arrangements MUST include a one-night stay-over in San Jose, Costa Rica one day prior to the yacht's departure. Upon your arrival at the airport in San Jose, you are responsible for your transfer to your hotel. We recommend you stay at the host hotel, Four Points by Sheraton, which is the hotel that the bus picks up from. On the first day of the charter (July 3rd), a bus will pick passengers up at the host hotel and travel approximately 1 1/2 hours to meet the yacht in Puntarenas. If you are not staying at the host hotel, you will need to make your own way there prior to the pick-up time. Transfer times are tide-dependent and will be confirmed closer to departure.

Host Hotel: Four Points by Sheraton (formerly D Sabana / Park Inn by Radisson), San Jose, Av 6, San Bosco.

At the end of the charter (July 13th), transportation will be provided back to the host hotel and to San Jose Airport. We recommend booking a flight-out after lunchtime.

Flight Package

Our group trips attract guests from all over the globe and many of our customers prefer to book their own flights to take advantage of mileage points or credit card discounts. For these reasons, flights are not included in our group trip packages.

However, we are more than happy to work with you to find the best travel itinerary for your trip and will gladly give suggestions and advice, even if you make the final booking. We will check through your travel reservations at any time to ensure they fit with the trip schedule and can give recommendations on transit hotels and day tours where needed.

If you would like us to book flights and transit hotels for domestic and/or international travel on your behalf, we are also happy to arrange this. Contact Us for more information.

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Payment Schedule

• Deposit: $1,000 to book your spot
• Payment 2: $2,000 due 15 August 2026
• Payment 3: $2,000 due 15 December 2026
• Balance: Due 15 March 2027

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