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Cocos Islands
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Cocos Island, Rich with Treasures
In the early 1800’s, British Naval officer, Bennett Graham, changed hats and turned to piracy. Cocos Island was a favorite area to hide. Legend has it that he buried 350 tons of Spanish gold somewhere in the area. Graham wasn’t the only pirate who frequented this rocky outcropping. ‘Bloody Sword’ Bonito is said to have buried the ‘Great Treasure of Lima’ estimated at a mere $300 million of gold bullion. In total, if you add up all the tall tales, Cocos should have over a $1 billion of gold lying around. So, if you go on this trip, you COULD be very rich. Not surprising though, many expeditions have attempted to find the treasures and to no avail. SASS will argue that the real treasure is in clear site. It’s the underwater ecosystem and what you will find is an amazing collection of pelagics, schooling fish and macro life. Cocos Island is considered so unique that Costa Rica made it a national park and UNESCO listed it as a World Heritage Site. Where is Cocos Island? It is 350 miles off the west coast of Costa Rica so just getting there is a small adventure. You’ll fly into San Jose and stay overnight (Feb 17). In the morning, the Aggressor staff will pick you and ALL your luggage and photography equipment up and drive across country (1 1/2hr) to meet the boat. From there, it’s a 36hr motor time to reach the remote gem of Cocos Island. Underwater volcanic seamounts are located around the area and they serve as a resting stop for long-distance, migratory species. It is also a breeding corridor for sharks, whales and tuna. In addition to or because of this popular pelagic corridor, you’ll find a large number of cleaning stations. These cleaning stations are staffed by king angelfish, black durgeon, triggerfish and barberfish. The last factor in this trifecta is the nutrient-rich currents found in the area. Pelagics love them. A lot! The currents of Cocos can be strong so only advance divers should consider this trip. If you lack current experience, please talk to SASS and we will suggest ‘training locations’ to prepare you for Cocos. Is all this worth it? Absolutely! Why? Well, first of all, Cocos is famous for its hammerhead sharks. It is said that the sheer size of the schools of hammerhead can block out the sunlight. This is probably an exaggeration but I think it’s safe to say that you will be diving with hammerhead sharks. Tiger sharks, Galapagos, White Tips and the curious Silky sharks are all common to the area. Want even bigger stuff? Keep an eye out for whale sharks and orcas. Plus, dolphins, turtles, marble rays and mantas are frequently encountered. Huge schools of snapper, horse-eye jacks and trevally are easy to spot but like the Galapagos Islands, it’s harder to focus on the small stuff. They are there in abundance if you only look. Harlequin and cleaner shrimp, blennies, gobies and eels are everywhere. Accommodations will be on the Aggressor Okeanos II, a 22-guest custom designed dive liveaboard. It has eight deluxe cabins, two suites and one master cabin to choose from. Suites are the nicest and largest rooms on the vessel. All staterooms have a private bathroom, individual climate control and ample storage. Meals are served in the salon which also serves as the social center. Between dives and in the evening, relax on the comfy sofas and watch your dive video on the TV. The dive deck has plenty of storage area plus camera tables complete with a charging station. Diving is done on tenders and because of the currents, everyone is provided with a GPS locator affixed on your BCD. Water temperatures in March average 75-80`F so a wetsuit is necessary. For this 10 night charter, you will be able to do up to 24 dives. Buy Now to Guarantee Space on This Trip! |
Cost:
Payment: A $300 nonrefundable deposit is necessary to guarantee space on this trip. 2nd Deposit: $300 due May 15, 2018 3rd Deposit: $2000 due August 15, 2018 Final Payment: November 5, 2018 Trip Includes:
Not Included: San Jose hotel stay on Feb 17 $490 Park Fee that must be paid onboard. I’ve been promised that this steep park fee is well worth it. $30 Emergency Evacuation Insurance—must be paid onboard Cancellation: Deposits are nonrefundable unless SASS can refill your space. If this is possible, you will be refunded 50% of the amount paid. Travel insurance is strongly recommended. Passports: A valid passport is necessary to travel to Costa Rica. Valid means it does not expire within 6 months of travel. |