Originally a commercial dive support vessel and now the cornerstone of the pioneering Undersea Hunter fleet, the robust MV Sea Hunter is a 119-foot (36m) steel hull liveaboard with a long-range design engineered for the open ocean. It's a working vessel meticulously refitted for diver comfort and efficiency, carrying a legacy of over 3 decades as the original operator in the remote waters of Cocos Island.
Understanding that comfort at sea is fundamental to enjoying a remote diving cruise, the Sea Hunter liveaboard incorporates unique engineering for a remarkably stable experience. The vessel deploys 4 hydraulic stabilizers from fixed outriggers, significantly minimizing roll and creating a steady platform whether moored or underway. This thoughtful feature is especially valued during surface intervals and meals, and by those susceptible to motion sensitivity. Below decks, the focus is on functional comfort for the expedition diver. 10 cabins accommodate up to 20 guests in air-conditioned spaces with en-suite facilities. A dedicated laundry service, often a rare luxury on liveaboards, underscores the vessel's commitment to extended trip comfort, allowing guests to travel lighter and focus on the diving ahead.
The Sea Hunter's operational philosophy is built around maximizing your time in the water with efficiency and safety. All diving is conducted from 2 large, custom-built 26-foot skiffs, each powered by twin 115 HP engines and equipped with shaded camera areas and robust ladders. This tender-based diving system is a hallmark of the Undersea Hunter approach, allowing for swift, flexible access to dive sites regardless of the mothership's position and reducing congestion on the main dive deck. Your personal gear remains secured on your assigned tender for the duration of the trip, streamlining the process between dives. The Sea Hunter supports a wide range of divers, with complimentary nitrox for recreational divers and full support for rebreathers and technical diving protocols. In the strong currents of Cocos, safety is paramount; each diver is issued a personal locator beacon, a critical tool for peace of mind in this vast, blue wilderness.
Choosing the Sea Hunter liveaboard means diving with the original pioneers of Cocos Island. The Undersea Hunter fleet didn't just discover these dive sites; they helped establish the sustainable tourism model that protects them. This deep-seated history translates into an unmatched, experience-led operation. The crew possesses a deep, cumulative knowledge of the island's moods, currents, and marine behavior, informed by thousands of trips. Their focus is on responsible encounters, fostering a deep respect for the ecosystem rather than chasing guaranteed sightings. This longstanding presence has built a relationship of trust with park authorities, ensuring operations adhere to the highest standards of environmental protection, making your visit part of a legacy of conservation.
The Sea Hunter serves as your transport to one of the planet's most dynamic marine theaters. Cocos Island National Park is a protected, nutrient-rich upwelling where the ocean's power is on full display. The diving here is characterized by strong currents that attract massive aggregations of pelagic life. It is a destination with the thrilling possibility of drifting alongside a school of hundreds of scalloped hammerheads, observing the graceful flight of a manta ray, or witnessing the controlled chaos of a baitball besieged by predators. The tour positions scuba divers in the heart of this biodiversity hotspot, where the sheer biomass and natural spectacle are the true rewards.
From its stabilizers to its tenders, every aspect of the MV Sea Hunter liveaboard is designed for the practicalities of a serious diving expedition. The communal spaces, including a spacious air-conditioned lounge and a dedicated restaurant, are built for post-dive camaraderie, photo sharing, and expert briefings. The inclusion of a study with marine identification resources encourages learning and engagement with the environment. This comprehensive approach ensures that from the moment you leave port in Puntarenas to your final dive, you are supported by a vessel and a team dedicated to facilitating an incredible experience in one of the world's last great wild dive destinations. For certified divers seeking an authentic, operationally excellent liveaboard expedition to Cocos Island, the Sea Hunter represents the original and a continually refined choice.
MV Sea Hunter has 8 lower deck twin/double bed cabins and 2 suites, all with private en-suite bathrooms. The suites are on the upper deck of the liveaboard with seaview windows. One has a queen size bed and the other has a queen size bed and a single top bunk bed. All twin/double bed cabins are located on the lower deck and have portholes. 2 of these cabins have twin beds and two have bunk beds. 4 of the cabins have a double bed and a single top bunk bed.
All the cabins have:
- Personal-control air-conditioning
- Bathroom with hot water shower and hand basin
- Bedding, toiletries and towels
- Private large screen TV & DVD player (Suites only)
- Portholes (lower deck), windows (upper deck)
- Reading lights
- Cabinet, shelves and mirror
- Fire warning system and fire extinguisher
- USA-flat pin 110-220V electricity
- Space for luggage
No. of bathrooms / showers - 10 / 10 - hot water
Cocos Island
Trip highlights: whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, shark action, dolphins, manta rays, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, off the beaten track
Dive sites and activities: Cocos Island, including Dos Amigos, Manuelita, Bajo Alcyone and Dirty Rock
Day 1
Your liveaboard adventure begins as the M/V Sea Hunter sets sail from the seaport of Puntarenas. After settling into your cabin, relax on the sun deck with a refreshing drink and enjoy our first dinner on board. Over the next 36 hours, you can unwind, mingle with fellow divers, and attend briefings as the liveaboard makes the crossing to the legendary Cocos Island.
Core Days
Prepare for some unforgettable world-class diving! Each day will be packed with up to 4 dives, all preceded by detailed briefings from the expert Sea Hunter guides. At legendary sites like Bajo Alcyone, be mesmerized by massive schools of scalloped hammerhead sharks walling in the deep blue. This is the iconic Cocos Island diving experience you've been dreaming of - the best hammerhead action on the planet.
Explore the cleaning stations of Manuelita Island, where you'll encounter curious white-tip reef sharks resting on the sand, majestic tiger sharks patrolling the depths, and schools of silky sharks. Behold the thrilling spectacle at Dirty Rock, where enormous baitballs form, attracting predators like yellowfin tuna, wahoo, Galapagos sharks, and marbled rays. Discover the vibrant walls and coral gardens of Dos Amigos, 2 sites teeming with marine life, from large schools of creolefish, jacks and snappers to the occasional curious shark.
Final Day
Savor one last light breakfast on board the Sea Hunter as it returns to the harbor in Puntarenas. After checkout, transfers will be arranged to your local hotel or directly to San José International Airport, marking the end of an incredible liveaboard diving expedition.
[Information is best estimate in ideal circumstances and subject to changes beyond our control. The itinerary is a guide only and may be adapted to best suit the weather, tides, currents, availability and other prevailing events. Price is for the cruise, not for an exact number of dives].
Your days at sea with the Sea Hunter liveaboard are structured around diving, dining, and relaxation. Typical daily schedule:
• 7 am: Light breakfast is available.
• 8 am: 1st Dive of the day.
• ~11 am: 2nd Dive of the morning, preceded by a hot breakfast served on board.
• 12 noon: Buffet-style lunch.
• 2:30 pm: 3rd Dive of the day (afternoon dive).
• Afternoon: Time for snacks, sunbathing, and relaxation.
• 6 pm: Dinner is served.
• 3 times during the trip, a 4th Ddive (night dive) will be offered.
Meals are a highlight of Sea Hunter trips, designed to refuel and refresh you after your dives. All meals are served buffet-style in the air-conditioned dining room on the main deck of the liveaboard, at tables for 4 with waitress service. The menu offers a delicious, well-balanced, and varied combination of International dishes and local Costa Rican/Central American specialties, with plenty of fresh tropical fruit and salads to help you stay hydrated. The occasional BBQ is also featured.
A variety of drinks and snacks are available throughout the day. Coffee, tea, drinking water, soft drinks, and a complimentary beer after your last dive are included. Wine is available for purchase onboard.
Snacks are available throughout the day and included in your price. These consist of cookies, candy bars, ice cream, fresh fruit, and bread/toast.
To ensure we can cater to your needs, please note the following:
* Catering begins with dinner on your first day (check-in day) and ends with breakfast on your final day.
* Sea Hunter can cater to all dietary needs, including Halal and vegetarian. It is essential that you provide advance notice of any special requests, as the liveaboard is unable to make stops at supermarkets once it departs for Cocos Island. Please be lenient with special requests, as storage and preparation space is limited.
MORE TRIP DETAILS
Notes: Cocos is a popular destination with limited liveaboard spaces. We recommend you book well in advance to avoid disappointment.
Dive experience: A minimum of 50 hours underwater is recommended by Sea Hunter on its liveaboard charters. Nitrox and advanced certifications are also highly recommend. The Enriched Air Nitrox course can be taken onboard during the crossing for USD 250. Having experience with currents is also recommended. December-May has less strong currents, and is the more advisable period for scuba divers trying to avoid them. But in general the recommendations apply to the whole year as strong currents could be present at any time.
Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation with air-conditioning, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinking water, soft drinks, hot drinks, dives (as detailed in the trips above), experienced English-speaking divemaster(s) (max number of divers per DM is 10), tanks, weights, weightbelt, nitrox fills for enriched air certified divers, return land transfer from San Jose to Puntarenas, personal diver locator (EPIRB), sales tax.
Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Scuba equipment (USD 30 per day for BCD, reg & wetsuit), diving insurance, Cocos Island National Park fee (10 nights USD 554, 11 nights USD 633) to be paid in advance, fuel surcharge (USD 200). Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash or credit card).
Optional extras: Alcoholic drinks, torch (USD 7 per day), dive computer, 15 litre tank (USD 12 per day), dive insurance. DeepSee submersible dives (subject to availability, depth range from 100 to 300m, prices range from USD 1 500 to USD 1 895). Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival. Note: prices of items purchased onboard are subject to change.
How to get there: MV Sea Hunter departs from Puntarenas. Guests fly into Costa Rica and overnight in San Jose. You will be transferred from your hotel in San Jose between 8 am - 1 pm to Puntarenas, provided you stay in a recommended hotel. The journey takes 2-3 hours. You will be informed of your pick-up time from San Jose. Departure times from Puntarenas vary according to the tides, between 10 am - 4 pm. For more details, including airlines, see our Costa Rica travel information section. The last dive of the trip will be on the second last day of the trip. Disembarkation time is 8 am. Please wait at least 18 hours before flying after diving.
Non-diver rate: None.
Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): This is optional - single travelers may choose to share a cabin or pay a supplement of 100% of the published price for their own cabin.
Dive clubs and group discounts: Pay for 9 guests and 1 additional person can join the cruise in a Lower deck twin/double cabin free of charge.
Whole boat charter rate (per night): Pay for 18 guests and 2 additional persons can join the cruise in a Lower deck twin/double cabin free of charge (total 18 or more guests).
Click to view product. Special discounted trips highlighted in yellow
