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Cocos Island

Remote Pacific liveaboard diving where hammerheads gather around volcanic pinnacles

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Destination Guide Sources For Cocos Island

Reference links used to build and maintain this guide.

25 sources • Updated Oct 29, 2026

Written by DiveJourney. Built from public sources and local operator knowledge. Last updated Oct 29, 2026.

Decree 45744, 2026 Cocos Island public use regulation - Costa Rican regulatory text effective May 15, 2026. Replaces Decree 37023. Articles 4, 8, 13, 16, 17, 19, 20, 27, 29 to 32 and 44 support permits, snorkel/apnea, trails, prohibitions and access. Regulatory text mirrored from SINALEVI.
Costa Rican Attorney General, Decree 45744 Article 44 - Official SINALEVI record confirms repeal of earlier public-use Decree 37023; consult the complete current regulation for operational interpretation.
Cocos Island park authority: Sustainable Tourism Program and statutory rates - Park-administered program, historic Decree 38295 entry and dive charges, site scheduling and access. This page still cites superseded Decree 37023, so use Decree 45744 for current operational restrictions.
SINAC Cocos Island National Park information - Protected-area entry authorization and public rate summary. Compare with the current operator invoice; availability and tariff updates require confirmation.
UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Cocos Island National Park - 1997 World Heritage listing, remote rainforest and pelagic ecosystems, protection and conservation risks.
Undersea Hunter: Cocos Island expedition operator - Sea Hunter currently presented for Cocos expeditions with 2026 Cocos cruise reports; Argo explicitly away on another expedition.
Undersea Hunter: Cocos Island liveaboard FAQ - Minimum Open Water certification, advanced skills recommendation, 25 hours recommended, 32-36-hour crossing, dive limits, accommodation, safety, gear, transfers and communications.
Undersea Hunter: Cocos dive site descriptions - Specific operator descriptions for Manuelita, Chatham, Dirty Rock, Alcyone, Punta Maria and other named sites; sites subject to park assignment and conditions.
Undersea Hunter: Sea Hunter contract and fees - Sea Hunter 10-night expedition inclusions, park-fee packages, $100 transfer surcharge and mandatory dive-specific insurance; rates subject to change.
Undersea Hunter: Argo vessel status - Operator explicitly says Argo is unavailable at Cocos for the foreseeable future.
Aggressor Adventures: 2026 Cocos Island travel guide - Operator PDF dated June 9, 2026 verifies Cocos Island Aggressor, Okeanos Aggressor II, port, airport, records, mandatory insurance, fuel, park and evacuation costs and vessel-specific power.
Aggressor Adventures: Okeanos Aggressor II sailing schedule - Operator-published Cocos Island Adventure sailings from Puntarenas in late 2026 and 2027; not a substitute for confirming park authorization or actual inventory.
Aggressor Adventures: published cabin rates - Operator 2026 and 2027 rate tables demonstrating multi-thousand-dollar premium liveaboard costs; prices and discounts may change.
PADI Travel: Cocos Island liveaboard and seasons - Professional dive travel guidance: year-round operation; wetter June-December pelagic potential; comparatively calmer January-April/May; crossings vary.
PADI: Diving in Cocos Island - Dive styles, wildlife and seasonality; potential sightings are not guarantees.
Divers Alert Network: Cocos Island - Remote-dive conditions and June-October hammerhead focus, exposure and transit context; article published 2022.
DAN: emergency assistance contact - 24/7 diving emergency assistance +1-919-684-9111 and emergency sequence; vessel is first contact offshore.
Costa Rica Tourism Board: climate of Costa Rica - National broad Pacific climate tracks, dry and rainy seasons; not a live marine forecast for Cocos.
University of Costa Rica: oceanic island climatology - Peer-reviewed observations specific to Cocos Island: seasonal rainfall highest in April-November, February relative minimum and interannual uncertainty.
Costa Rica Tourism Board: entry requirements - Tourist passport, onward ticket, financial means and visa conditions. Details depend on nationality and routing.
Costa Rica Tourism Board: emergency FAQ - Official national 911 service; not reliable as an offshore communications channel without vessel routing.
Aggressor: Cocos Island Aggressor official rates and itinerary - Additional operator price and sailing evidence for Cocos Island Aggressor in 2026 and 2027.
Aggressor: Okeanos Aggressor II rates - Published rate context for Okeanos Aggressor II departures and seasons.
Destination hero photo by The TerraMar Project (historical) - Cocos Island1.jpg. Photo: The TerraMar Project / Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 2.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0. Cropped and resized. Cropped image retains the same license.
Destination hero photo by Jonas Allert - Representative photo. Hammerhead shark photographed in Hawaii, United States. Unsplash License (https://unsplash.com/license). Photographer: https://unsplash.com/@visuallert. Cropped and resized for the cover.