ARGO I 180€ DISCOUNT - 2021 I COCOS ISLAND I COSTA RICA

THE ARGO

At 129ft (39m) and a beam of 26ft (8m), the roomy and luxurious liveaboard Argo is one of five liveaboards that sail to the Cocos Islands. Totally refurbished in 2008, it's an amazing mixture of a luxury vessel and a working ship, the mothership of the remarkable DeepSee Submersible.

OUR CABINS

All the cabins on this liveaboard are above average size and the liveaboard vessel is equipped with stabilizers which reduce the roll motion while anchored at Cocos Island. The 14 experienced crew members speak English and Spanish. The roomiest liveaboard cabins found on any of the Cocos liveaboards will accommodate a total of 18 divers. The 9 rooms are available in the following options: Private Double cabins with Queen-size bed, Owner’s cabin with Queen bed, and Shareable Twin cabins with 2 Single beds. All of the cabins come with full-size bathrooms with hot water showers, granite-topped hand basin, glass shower door, toiletries and towels, remote control air-conditioning, private wide-screen TV and VCR with laptop connectivity, satellite phone and e-mail facility, writing desk and chair, cabinet, shelves and mirror, USA & European 2-flat pin 110V electricity, portholes or windows, reading lights, bedding and space for luggage. Laundry service is also provided.

AMENITIES

Onboard entertainment can be enjoyed amongst the marine decor of the air conditioned Main Lounge. Besides the comfy seating, the range of liveaboard activities include games, a library, fish ID books, computer, TV/DVD entertainment system for listening to your favorite music, watching movies or having fun with Karaoke. Use the computer photo and video editing facilities or find quiet time in the Upper Deck Study Room. There is plenty of room on this liveaboard for personal and private space. Nap on the shaded Sundeck or soak up the rays with sun chairs and mattresses. For more active guests, go on a land adventure, or go kayaking, or snorkeling.

FOOD ON BOARD

Meals will be served in the air conditioned Dining Room. Guests will enjoy three meals a day on this liveaboard, served as a buffet which includes International, Italian and interesting Costa Rican delights. Meal items are well-balanced, varied and plentiful. Menus include fresh tropical fruit, salads, local seafood, chicken, beef and more. Snacks are served between meals to keep energy levels high. Coffee, tea, drinking water, soft drinks and snacks. Wine is available for purchase.

DIVING WITH US

The steel hulled liveaboard Argo is one of only five Dive Liveaboards traveling to the Coco Island Marine National Park where the converging nutrient-rich currents attracts a multitude of large Pelagics. Shark Heaven - Divers will see huge groups of Sharks, Mantas and Eagle Rays swirling around in search of the iconic cleaning stations. The Argo has the 'DeepSee' Submersible aboard, it is a custom-built one-atmosphere submarine, capable of carrying a pilot and two passengers to a depth of 1,500 feet (450 meters). She is a flexible, capable and masterfully designed vehicle that can agilely operate throughout her range in comfort and safety. The view from DeepSee’s acrylic sphere is amazing, with a 360-degree field of vision. The Argo offers adventurous travelers the unique opportunity to journey deep into the ocean where few have gone before.

DEEPSEE SUBMERSIBLE TRIPS (OPTIONAL UPGRADE TO YOUR ARGO TRIP)

A total of four passengers per day will have the opportunity for this once in a lifetime experience. Our Aquanauts begin with a short "training" session on the mothership. This consists of a general introduction to the DeepSee submersible, an all-important safety briefing and finally the parameters of the scheduled dive including position, depth, geology and expected species to be encountered. Of course, there can always be surprises where deep encounters are concerned. Each Adventurer is then outfitted with a fresh, cotton one-piece jumpsuit and special footwear for the trip below. The Sub Pilot and one or two passengers then board the submarine as it floats within the protective hull of the Argo. Boarding is as easy as simply stepping into the cockpit and requires no special coordination or skill.

The extreme depths we explore are a serious undertaking. The safe operation actually requires two pilots at all times: one for the Sub and another aboard the dedicated support boat, TopSee. TopSee also carries an in-water specialist to assist with the sub's final stage checklist just before decent. Surface to Sub communication between the two vessels is maintained throughout the dive. Regardless of the dive site, the DeepSee is always towed to the target area by the control skiff TopSee. The Sub is given a final check of all systems both externally, by the Dive Technician in the water and aboard as the Pilot completes his pre-dive procedures. Now situated above the dive target with all systems go, the Sub is disconnected and she is free, using her own power to complete the dive.

OWNER`S CABIN - UPPER DECK

This spacious and bright cabin features a queen size bed, large windows and a luxurious full-size bathroom with hot water shower, granite-topped hand basin, glass shower door, toiletries and towels. It provides ample storage facilities, a desk and chair and is equipped with 110-volt outlets suitable for your electronic equipment. The room has its own thermostat to control the air-conditioning and is carpeted throughout. There is a satellite telephone for international calls, a satellite connection to send and receive e-mails and a flat screen TV and DVD player with laptop connectivity. This double cabin is located on the upper deck. (no current photo available)

• Size: 10 m²
• Beds: 1 Queen
• Max occupancy: 2
• Shareable: No
• Private bathroom: Yes
• Air Conditioning: Yes

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DOUBLE TWIN BED CABIN - LOWER DECK #1, 2 & 4

This spacious Twin cabin features two twin size beds, a private bathroom with hot water shower, granite-topped hand basin, glass shower door, toiletries and towels. It provides ample storage facilities, a desk and chair and is equipped with 110-volt outlets suitable for your electronic equipment. The room has its own thermostat to control the air-conditioning and is carpeted throughout with a circular porthole. There is a satellite telephone for international calls, a satellite connection to send and receive e-mails and a flat screen TV and DVD player with laptop connectivity. The 3 Twin cabins are located on the lower deck. Each cabin on Argo is a distinctly themed room, with hand painted artwork granite-topped hand basin, glass shower door, toiletries and towels. It provides ample storage facilities, a desk and chair and is equipped with 110-volt outlets suitable for your electronic equipment. The room has its own thermostat to control the air-conditioning and is carpeted throughout with a circular porthole. There is a satellite artwork by Carlos Hiller.

• Size: 12 m²
• Beds: 2 Twin
• Max occupancy: 2
• Shareable: Yes
• Private bathroom: Yes
• Air Conditioning: Yes

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DOUBLE QUEEN BED CABIN - LOWER DECK - #3, 5 & 6

This spacious cabin features a queen size bed. It is carpeted throughout with a circular porthole. The room has its own thermostat to control the air-conditioning, shelves, drawers and hanging hooks, a desk and chair, a luxury, private bathroom with granite counters equipped with 110-volt outlets suitable for your electronic equipment. There is a satellite telephone for international calls, a satellite connection to send and receive e-mails and a flat screen TV and DVD player with laptop connectivity. The 3 double cabins are located on the lower deck. Each cabin on Argo is a distinctly themed room.

• Size: 10 m²
• Beds: 1 Queen
• Max occupancy: 2
• Shareable: No
• Private bathroom: Yes
• Air Conditioning: Yes

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DOUBLE QUEEN BED CABIN - UPPER DECK - #7 & 8

This spacious cabin features a queen size bed and a private bathroom with hot water shower, granite-topped hand basin, glass shower door, toiletries and towels. It provides ample storage facilities, a desk and chair and is equipped with 110-volt outlets suitable for your electronic equipment. The room has its own thermostat to control the air-conditioning and is carpeted throughout with large windows. There is a satellite telephone for international calls, a satellite connection to send and receive e-mails and a flat screen TV and DVD player with laptop connectivity. The 2 double cabins are located on the upper deck. Each cabin on Argo is a distinctly decorated.

• Size: 10 m²
• Beds: 1 Queen
• Max occupancy: 2
• Shareable: No
• Private bathroom: Yes
• Air Conditioning: Yes

MOST RELEVANT INFORMATION

• The trip begins in Muelle Privado Galmar/Puntarenas and ends in Muelle Privado Galmar/Puntarenas
• The closest airport is Juan Santamaria Intl (SJO).
• You must arrive at least one day prior to the boat departure date.
• Upon arrival at San José Airport, take a taxi to your hotel

EMBARKATION AND DEPARTURE

• Hotel pickup time is between 08:00 and 13:00 from following San Jose hotels: Grano de Oro, Park Inn, Costa Rica Marriott, Hampton Inn and Suites
• The boat departs Muelle Privado Galmar/Puntarenas at around 16:00 on the same day
• The vessel is equipped with European (2 pin) power sockets, US power sockets
• Accepted payment methods on board: VISA, Mastercard, AMEX, Cash (USD), Cash
• DIN/INT adaptors are available on board
• Towels and soap are included

ARRIVAL AND DISEMBARKATION

• Your last dives will be in the afternoon two days before the end of the trip.
• The boat docks back in Muelle Privado Galmar/Puntarenas at night on the second to last day
• Check out and disembarkation is around 08:00 on the last day, followed by transfer to the airport where you will arrive around 10:30.
• Please reserve plenty of time in case of delays

EXTRA INFORMATION

• The drive from San Jose to Puntarenas takes about 2 1/2 hours
• In the week before your departure you will be contacted and informed about the exact transfer times
• The vessel will take a 32-36h cruise out to Cocos Island
• Cocos Island National Park Department is temporarily not allowing night dives at the island for safety reasons.
• A couple of other restrictions include snorkeling and kayaking

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ITINERARY

• Approx. 20 – 21 dives
• 50+ dives recommended
• Open Water level required.
• We strongly recommend having at least the Speciality of Deep Diver.
• We also recommend having a minimum of 25 hours of diving experience.
• Please note, the dive guide will always be the final authority as to whether a passenger can do any specific dive
• Situated in the Hammerhead Triangle (Galapagos, Cocos, Malpelo), 342 miles (550 km) off the mainland of Costa Rica, the converging nutrient-rich currents from nearby deep water attract multitudes of pelagic action to Cocos.
• Schools of hundreds of Hammerhead sharks, dolphins, mantas and marbled rays, giant moray eels, sailfish, and of course the occasional whale shark, jacks, tuna, silky sharks, silver tip sharks, marlin, Creole fish, green turtles and octopus.
• Explore ocean pinnacles boulders and seamounts which rise up from the deep practically exploding with sea life.
• The terrestrial life at Cocos also exhibits a high number of endemic species.
• Once considered a destination for hardcore divers, Cocos now attracts all sorts of scuba divers from all over the world, lured by its remote beauty and seas teeming with life.
• Because of its heavy currents and surges,Cocos Island is recommended for advanced divers only
• Rebreather is also supported.

TRAVEL PROGRAM

DAY 1

• Safety Briefing, Crew Introduction, Necessary Dive Paperwork, Cabin allocation and ship orientation will take place before departing the Harbour.
• During the journey to our first dive site for a check dive, please take this opportunity to familiarize yourselves with the vessel and make yourself comfortable.
• The vessel will take a 32-36 hour cruise out to Cocos Island.
• Please Note: This is a sample itinerary and nº of dives, dive sites, etc. may be subject to change due to weather conditions and other unforseeable factors

DAY 2

• There will be time to arrange dive and camera gear as well as enjoy the Pacific and the sunshine.
• Also, the group of incredibly experienced divers provides plenty of stories to pass the time.
• There are videos and the experience of the Captain and crew to help you get excited for the diving...as if you need them.
• In addition, you may want to take this time to take one of our diving courses.

DAY 3 - 8

• Spent time diving the pinnacles around the perimeter of Cocos Island. Divers usually average three dives per day at depths of 60-100ft (18-30m) or more. This, of course, is what the whole trip is about.
• Night dives are not allowed
• The underwater world of the national park has become famous due to the degree of biodiversity. This Island’s world-renowned waters explode with life: innumerable white tip reef sharks, schooling hammerhead sharks, dolphins, mantas and marbled rays, giant moray eels, sailfish, and of course the occasional whale shark.
• Other common encounters are large schools of jacks and tuna, silky sharks, silver tip sharks, marlin, Creole fish, green turtles and octopus.
• Its position as the first point of contact with the northern equatorial counter-current, and the myriad interactions between the island and the surrounding marine ecosystem, make the area an ideal laboratory for the study of biological processes.
• Cocos Island is also home to at least 27 endemic fish species including the exotic rosy-lipped batfish.
• The terrestrial life at Cocos also exhibits a high number of endemic species. Here are found some 70 of the 235 identified vascular plant species in the world, some 25 species of moss, 27 species of liverwort and 85 species of fungus.
• The Isla del Coco is a large uprising of volcanic seamounts covered with untamed and uninhabited tropical rainforest

DAY 9

• Make the last 3 dives before the cruise back to Costa Rica and reality
• Dinner on board
• Time to spend with group and crew

DAY 10

• All day to discuss the diving and to compare your adventures
• Relax with the beauty surrounding you

DAY 11

• Arrival to Puntarenas
• Immediately after breakfast you will be transported back to San Jose

Dive sites

Bajo Alcyone hundreds of hammerhead sharks and large fish action. Descending the submerged mountain spot manta and mobula rays swirling into the cleaning stations and legions of hammerhead sharks on all sides

Dirty Rock is made up of volcanic boulders and rock pinnacles rising just above the waves and separated by a sheltered 100m channel This site is the most popular spot for diving at Cocos Island due to the sheer volume of hammerhead sharks and the incredible bio-mass of fish that congregate here.

Dos Amigos Grande is dominated by a magnificent arch in its southwest corner. The swim through is so large that a whole dive group can fit through comfortably.

Manuelita Deep on Manuelita Island north of Chatham Bay. The deeper west side is one of the prime spots to dive with hammerhead sharks.

Manuelita Garden on Manuelita Island is a coral garden, otherwise known as Manuelita Inside, located on the protected east side of the island and is likely to be the first site welcoming you to Cocos.

Punta Maria is an underwater mountain made up of a large crown at 25m surrounded by deeper sloping walls, and a couple of pinnacles rising to 20m to the north. Punta Maria can only be visited when the current permits. It has a cleaning station for hammerheads as well as galapagos sharks.

INCLUDED

• Full board, including Coffee, tea, drinking water, soft drinks and snacks
• Dive guides
• Nitrox

NOT INCLUDED

• National park fees (490 US $)
• Transfer to/from the airport (round-trip)
• Ground transportation San Jose - Puntarenas and return from a set list of San Jose hotels: Grano de Oro, Park Inn, Costa Rica Marriott, Hampton Inn and Suites (100 US $ per trip and person)
• Deep Sea Submarine Single dive maximum depth of 1,000 feet (305 meters) 1 seat
• Deep Sea Submarine Single dive maximum depth of 260 feet (80 meters) 1 seat
• Deep Sea Submarine Full day charter price (2 DIVES)
• Wetsuit: 10 USD per day
• BCD: 10 USD per day
• Regulator: 10 USD per day.
• Dive computer: 17 USD (per day)
• Flashlight (torch): 7 USD (per day)
• 15 liter tanks: 12 USD (per day)
• PADI Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox): 200 USD (per course)
• Tips for the crew (recommended)
• Rebreather Oxygen Fills: 15 USD per fill (per activity)
• Hotel nights and meals before and after the cruise

CANCELLATION POLICY

What if I need to cancel my booking?

Your reservation request is obligation free and you can cancel anytime within the first 72 hours. During this time you can easily find matching flights and get answers from our reservations team to any further questions you may have.
After you have confirmed and paid for your reservation, the following cancellation policy applies:

• 30% from the deposit is charged for all cancellations more than 1 year before the trip.
• 30% from the total trip price is charged for all cancellations made between 1 year and 6 months before the trip.
• All deposits received are non-refundable from 180 days prior to departure.
• 100% will be charged if you cancel less than 186 days prior to arrival

In case of cancellation the refund will be transferred to your bank account, credit card or paypal account within 10 business days

BEFORE TRAVELLING

• Make sure you meet the country's requirements corresponding to your nationality make sure your passport is valid at least six months after the date you plan to visit the country
• Diving insurance is mandatory for divers of all ages on all of our trips: bring your certificate as proof
• It is strongly recommended to have travel insurance that is appropriate for the type of diving holidays you are going to do
• Check the electrical standards (such as which plugs are used) in your destination country before travelling and bring the appropriate adaptor if necessary.
• The itinerary and the number of dives are indicative and are subject to weather conditions and conditions: safety is always first
• All divers must provide their diving certification card
• Diving computers are compulsory
• Local rates, fuel surcharges, distance rates, port fees, etc. may change without notice due to changes in government policy, changes in the price of oil, etc.
• The changes are beyond our control and the increases must be paid if the boat requests them. We will endeavor to inform you of any changes as soon as possible. A change in these rates does not entitle you to cancel the trip.