Instant Reader Report
on Sea Hunter / [same] in
Costa Rica / Cocos Island on
2003/07
by
Patrick Wikstrom , NC, USA
Report Number 030924195022528

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 Socorro Islands, Roatan, South Africa, Costa Rica, Channel Islands,
Massachusetts, North Carolina, Bonaire, Cozumel, Florida, Yucatan Caves,
Bahamas, Little Cayman  & Brac, Belize, Turks & Caicos, Indonesia,
Thailand, Cocos 

Dive Conditions

experienced divers were given great freedom. No Po2 greater than 1.6, 90
min max dive time  

[None]  

Overall Rating

   Crouching in a semi circle in the sand, or clutching the boulder ridges
along the side walls of Alcyone, we watched in awe as literally hundreds
of Hammerheads poured down upon us. Wave after wave of Hammers swam out of
the distance over our group and then passed on, only to be repeated five or
ten minutes later by another squadron. The  site popped and flashed with
the gleam of strobe lights as divers bagged close ups and silhouettes
obtainable at just a few dive sites on the globe. 
   Led by Bret Gilliam, of Fathoms Magazine, our group of Drager Dolphin
divers was either previously certified or completed the training on the 36
hour crossing from Puntarenas to Cocos. Both the training and rebreather
equipment on board the Sea Hunter was first rate. Although the trip price
was slightly more than the base price if booked directly from Sea Hunter
it included the training costs, rebreather rental, nitrox, and rebreather
supplies for the seven days of diving. This all-inclusive format beat the
ala-carte pricing and turned out to be a bargain from my standpoint. The
120ft long Sea Hunter, which was recently completely re-fitted, is a
stable, well designed dive boat with a large salon, separate dining area,
computer and video workroom, large sundeck (both covered and open), and a
huge dive deck. Facilities for photographers were the best I’ve found on
ten live-aboard trips. Cabins were clean, had private en-suite baths,
ample storage space, but no individual air-conditioning controls. I shared
a triple cabin and had sufficient personal space. Food was generally
excellent, with copious quantities served with decorative flare. Decent
Chilean wines were available at $12 per bottle and beer was $1.50 a can.
No other booze was available. 
   With the exception of the Captain who was a little bit aloof and didn’t
socialize much, the ship’s crew was absolutely spectacular. The
divemasters, Miguel and Mario, were friendly, helpful and adept at finding
neat stuff and doubled as videographers,  producing a first class trip
documentary. Cooks and kitchen staff were attentive and friendly, panga
drivers were professional and proficient at tracking us down when we
popped up all over the ocean, and the engineers and other crew were all
sociable and helpful as they went about their business. The boat itself is
equipped with redundant generators, compressors, a huge nitrous bank, and
all manner of modern electronics and diver safety equipment. 
   Except for the first checkout dive all diving was done from two hard
bottomed pangas which broke the passengers up into two groups and went to
the sites in an alternating pattern. We never had more than ten divers on
any site. Entry was by backward roll and re-entry was via sturdy metal
ladders. Audible and visual surface signaling devices were mandatory, and
supplied if necessary, along with personal radio locators who’s antenna
had a maddening propensity for falling off. Most dives were free-swimming
gentle drifts but big current sites like Alcyone were hooked first with
divers descending and ascending the anchor line. Two morning, one
afternoon, and night dives every other day were offered. Solo diving and
moderate decompression diving was tacitly allowed although most divers
stayed with their groups. Dive times lasted as long as 83 minutes with
rebreathers, depths were governed by site configuration, oxygen issues,
and decompression obligations. This is advanced diving and divers were
treated like the experienced adults we mostly were. Water temps averaged
80-82 degrees with colder thermoclines and currents in the mid 70’s –
visibility varied from 30 to 90ft. The weather topside varied throughout
each day from torrential downpours to beaming sunshine. The island itself
is a beautiful pre-historic looking mountain rising from the sea with
numerous waterfalls pouring out of the island’s flanks and lush jungle
growing down to the waters edge. 
   The underwater bio-diversity at Cocos was truly unbelievable. Huge
schools of Jacks and sardines whirled and swirled in and out of baitball
configurations. Giant Marble Rays cruised the rocky outcrops, Eagle Rays
skimmed the sandy bottoms, Green Turtles chomped on sponges, Yellowfin
Tuna zoomed by, Manta Rays and Dolphins joined our safety stops, and I
logged seven species of sharks during my adventure. (Whitetip reef,
Blacktip Reef, Silkys, Galapagos, Silvertips, Hammers, and a Whale Shark).
Sharks were truly everywhere with multiple species noted on every dive.
Don’t expect much colorful coral or spectacular macro but the big animal
action of the rocky pinnacles like Dirty Rock, Alcyone, or the three
different approaches of Manuelita Island offer up truly spectacular
adventure diving. Best trip of my life!!
   www.underseahunter.com      
 

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