Instant Reader Report
on UnderSeahunter / [same] in
Costa Rica / Cocos/Malpelos on
2003/06
by
Gregg Gaylord , WI, USA
Report Number 031228144944890

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 Carribean, Asia, Australia, Florida 

Dive Conditions

75 minute dive time.  Dive your own profile.  Decompression dives allowed
for qualified divers. No alcohol until after dive day is done.  

[None]  

Overall Rating

The FATHOMS MAGAZINE rebreather expedition took on the double island trip
with the SeaHunter visiting first Malpelos for four days, and then Cocos
for four days.  At Malpelos the conditions were rather "barren"
with little leeward protection for the boat, so certification on
rebreathers wa not performed.  Thus, half the divers (who had their own
panga) were on Nitrox open circuit, and the other half were certified
rebreather divers.  Upon reaching Cocos, the open circuit divers switched
to rebreathers as they completed the on-board and in-water certification. 
The trip was led by Bret Gilliam and Fred Garth.  

The diving was superb.  At Malpelos, the "check-out" dive
included one very large Whale Shark.  All told, we had 11 Whale Shark
sightings at five different Malpelos dive sites.  The final dive site
including a pair of Whale Sharks (male/female).  Included at Malpelos were
innumerable hammerheads, silky sharks, eels, mating pompanos, turtles, and
eagle rays.  I have no adjectives to describe this trip.  

Cocos responded with a previously "unwitnessed" event.  We saw
Jacks "cleaning" the ramoras off a whale shark at Alcyon. 
Though the hammerhead action at Cocos was not good, we were still thrilled
with the Silvertip Sharks at the murky, shallow Silverado cleaning station.
 Red Lip Bat Fish were plentiful.  

I don't know if it is possible to "top" this trip.  The
SeaHunter is a spectacular boat.  Comfortable, roomy, well equipped for
the 20 rebreather divers (Dolphin Drager semi-closed systems were
available though you could "bring your own" system as long as it
was only for Nitrox diving...no heliox).  The captain and crew are the best
in the business.  Divemasters Mario, Nico and Miguel ARE the standard for
the industry.  No offense to any of the many great divemasters out there,
but this IS "As Good As it Gets".

Eight total dive days, with a total of 3 night dives with swarming,
hunting White Tips at Cocos meant a total of 26 dives available.

Beware of flying into San Jose Costa Rica.  While there is nothing wrong
with the airport or Costa Rican people, the weather is a determining
factor as to what COUNTRY you will land in.  I recommend arrival 2 night
in advance of the departure date of the SeaHunter.  If you don't arrive in
advance, you may not have clothes, dive equipment, or a dive boat waiting
for you.  The SeaHunter DID delay their departure by several hours to
gather ALL the guests, and we only missed one single dive at Malpelos.  No
problem.  But certain airlines coming from the East Coast
(Newark/Continental) seem to have the most trouble having passengers
arrive WITH their baggage.  So plan ahead.  San Jose CAN be a fun town,
and there are many jungle trips or white water rafting trips available
(ask the SeaHunter organization...www.underseahunter.com) to arrange
hotel/side trips in advance.   

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