In the waters of Cocos Island and Malpello you will dive with White Tips and Hammerhead sharks, Marbled Stingrays approaching 6' in diameter, Manta Rays up to 12' across, Giant Moray Eels and an occasional Whale shark!

Additionally, you will see Moorish idols, large schools of Jacks and Tuna, Creole fish, Lobsters, Octopus and other various reef life. Silky sharks, Silver Tips, Sailfish, Marlin, and Green Turtles are also in the area. The key word in describing Cocos Island and Malpello diving is ACTION! ! ! If you are looking for adventure, it's here! Conditions around the Islands are varied. The one constant factor is change. Currents are at times strong and unusually changeable. Diving could become strenuous, but not more than any experienced diver could handle. Visibility averages 80-100' with occasional extremes of 40 and 120'. With this in mind, be prepared for some of the best diving of your life...

Located in the Eastern Tropical Pacific, 300 miles southwest of Cabo Blanco, Costa Rica, lies the famous Cocos Island Marine Park. A rugged and incredibly beautiful island, this World Heritage Site is the crown jewel of Costa Rica's many National Parks. Cocos Island has an irregular coastline, which makes estimation of land area more a matter of opinion than a surveyor’s science, but it is roughly five miles by two miles (8 x 3 kilometers).

The island was formed during a volcanic upheaval about two-and-a-half million years ago and is composed of basaltic rock, labacorite and andecite lava flows. Its landmass is punctuated by four mountain peaks, the highest of which is Cerro Yglesisas, at 2,080 feet or 634 meters.

The island has two large bays with safe anchorages and sandy beaches: Chatham is located on the northeast side and Wafer Bay is on the northwest. Just off Cocos are a series of smaller basaltic rocks and islets. The largest satellite is Isla Manuelita (formerly Nuez).

The sinister and forbidding Malpelo Island is located 314 miles (506 Kilometers) off the coast of Buenaventura, Colombia in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. A small Colombian Navy garrison has been in place since 1986 and ten years later Malpelo was recognized as a Colombian Fauna and Flora Sanctuary, with a marine protected area of six miles around the island.

It is the peak of a large submarine volcanic ridge that stretches for 150 miles, from northeast to southwest. The Malpelo ridge rises from depths of 13,123 feet (4000 meters) to reveal itself as the tiny, solitary rock of Malpelo.

Malpelo was once eight to ten times larger than its present size of eight 8 square kilometers. The rocky outpost, known to many as “la Roca” or the Rock, has three distinct peaks. The highest of which, “El Cerro de La Mona”, stands at 1233 feet above sea level (376 meters).

The maritime weather has eroded the island forming steep cliffs and sea caves along its threatening coastline. The north and south sides of the island are decorated by 11 smaller satellite rocks, each with its own appeal.

On July 12th 2006 the Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary was declared a Natural World Heritage Site by the World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).The decision was made by an unanimous vote of the 21 member countries of the committee meeting in Lithuania. Malpelo and the Giant Panda Sanctuary in China received this prestigious title from among 100 proposals presented to the committee.

We recommend that you fly to San José, Costa Rica via direct flights from a major US city. Passengers using non-direct flights have experienced delays and luggage problems in Mexico City and Guatemala City.You must arrive at least one night prior to the boat´s departure date and we strongly recommend staying one night after the return, in case of any unforeseen delays.

San Jose is located in a wide mountain valley at 3000' elevation and offers several diversions, including jungle hikes, volcano tours and whitewater rafting. Local shopping offers bargains for leather crafts, woodcarvings, hammocks, coffee and macadamia nuts. There are Black Jack casinos and several nightclubs to catch your interest.

From San Jose, a tour bus will transport you to the coastal village of Puntarenas where the ship is berthed. This scenic drive takes approximately two and one half hours and offers an excellent opportunity to see the lush mountain countryside of the region.

Entry Requirements
All passengers must have a valid passport to enter Costa Rica. Most US, Canadian, E.U. and Japanese citizens do not need a visa, but if in doubt we recommend checking with the Costa Rican consulate to see if visas are necessary to enter the country.

Pack lightly since you will be dressing for warm tropical weather. Airlines have baggage limitations that can affect divers and photographers. Domestic airlines limit passengers to two pieces of check-in luggage. International flights also have a two piece limit and a limit of 70 lbs. per bag. You will be charged for any extra bags or overweight luggage. Some airlines do not allow extra bags or overweight luggage during certain times of the year. At Customs there are no limitations on the personal equipment such as diving, camera and video equipment as well as coomputers that are for peronsal use.

Language
Spanish is the official language, but English is widely spoken within areas related to tourism.

Currency & Exchange Rate
Colones ($1 US = 529 c., May. 07). International credit cards and US$ are widely accepted in areas related to tourism.

Hotels and banks exchange US Dollars for Costa Rican Colones. US dollars as well as travelers checks, Visa, MasterCard and American Express are all accepted on the vessels. We do not accept personal checks onboard.

Health
There is no malaria in Costa Rica and no vaccinations are necessary. Drinking water is safe in cities and resorts.

Time Zone
Costa Rica and Cocos Island are 1 hour behind US Eastern Time during the North American winter and 2 hours during the North American summer.

Departure Tax
There is a departure tax of US$ 26 (May 07).