Argo — a steel expedition liveaboard built for remote diving

Argo is for divers who want the reach and working space of an expedition vessel rather than the feel of a small floating hotel. The steel hull, heavy-lift capability and large dive support areas make sense in a remote destination such as Cocos Island, where the boat has to serve as transport, base camp and equipment platform at once. Photographers get proper camera storage, charging points and separate rinse tanks; divers get three hard-hull tenders instead of a rubber inflatable as their daily ride to the sites. The choice is straightforward: Argo suits a group that values range, stability and a serious diving setup over a boutique boat with fewer moving parts.

From the dock, Argo presents as a working expedition vessel: steel-built, broad in the beam and designed to carry equipment as well as people. The layout gives the dive operation room to function without turning the main living spaces into a gear shed. Once aboard, the impression is more practical than decorative, with open deck areas, camera handling space and tenders ready for the remote-site work they were built to do. The boat dates from 2008, but its character comes less from age than from purpose. It was conceived for long-range operations, submarine support and extended multi-task voyages, so a week of diving uses only one part of what the platform can handle.

Argo’s atmosphere is shaped by the fact that the crew runs an expedition platform, not simply a hotel. English and Spanish are spoken on board, and the layout keeps the working parts of the operation close to the guests without making them intrusive. A bar, saloon and open deck give the group places to regroup after diving, while the camera areas allow photographers to stay focused on their equipment. Groups and private charters are accepted, so the social character can change from one departure to another. The boat suits divers who are comfortable sharing a working vessel, following a clear operation and letting the crew manage the logistics that make remote diving possible.

Dive groups run at a ratio of one guide to nine divers, with each group led by two divemasters on the operator’s Cocos procedures. Briefings use whiteboard diagrams to explain the site, the planned route and the points of interest, and the divemaster giving the briefing leads that dive. The buddy system is obligatory, dives are limited to 60 minutes and decompression diving is not permitted; the maximum depth is 30 metres. English and Spanish are spoken on board. Oxygen is carried on the main vessel and in the tenders, and each passenger receives a safety kit with a large surface marker buoy, whistle, light and Nautilus Lifeline locator. No course programme or minimum logged-dive requirement is stated.

The diving system is built around three 24-foot hard-hull tenders with twin 115 HP outboards. Their size and solid hull give more stability than an inflatable in open Pacific conditions, and a fixed ladder makes re-boarding straightforward. Each tender has scuba racks, camera storage, VHF radio, shelter and its own oxygen, first-aid kit and spare gear. Argo carries 80-cubic-foot aluminium tanks; 100-cubic-foot steel tanks are available by advance reservation. Two Bauer H13-E3 HP compressors fill the tanks, while an LP 280 membrane system supplies nitrox, included for divers. Rental equipment is available for a surcharge, and the boat supports rebreathers, although it is not presented as technical-diving friendly. A dedicated camera station, charging points, special camera storage and separate underwater-camera rinse tanks keep photography gear out of the general rinse area.

Between dives, Argo gives divers several ways to get out of the working areas. The open-air saloon and sun deck provide air and shade, while sun loungers suit the long surface interval when nobody wants to put on another layer of clothing or sit below deck. The indoor saloon has air conditioning, a bar and audio-video entertainment for weather that keeps people inside. Camera users can work at the photography station and charging areas rather than spreading housings across the dining space. Land excursions are also part of the boat’s offering, giving a non-diving afternoon a purpose beyond waiting for the next tank.

The stated diving pattern is two morning dives followed by a third dive after lunch: the first is generally at 8:00, the second at 11:00 and the afternoon dive around 2:30. A briefing comes before each descent, with a whiteboard plan and the site’s particular strategy, then the tender takes the group to the water and returns it to the vessel after the dive. Tanks are filled again through the compressor system so the next departure does not depend on carrying equipment back and forth from the main deck. Meals and snacks sit around those water sessions, while the gaps belong to the shaded deck, saloon, camera station or a shore excursion when one is planned. The schedule can change with conditions and opportunities, but the structure is clear: briefing, tender, dive, recovery, refill, repeat.

Meals combine Western and local food, served buffet-style, with dietary restrictions accommodated. Hot and cold soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, spirits and snacks are available between meals. That matters on a remote diving trip because the table is part of the recovery cycle: divers can eat without waiting for a formal restaurant service, take fruit or another snack between water sessions, and return to the next briefing ready to go. The food is not presented as a fixed regional menu, so the appeal is flexibility rather than a single culinary identity.

Argo has nine air-conditioned cabins arranged as Twin, Double and Owner’s Cabin categories. Each has a private bathroom, 110-volt outlets, storage in shelves, drawers and hanging lockers, plus a desk and chair. Carpet, a circular porthole and individual air-conditioning control make the cabins feel finished rather than makeshift, while the private bathroom keeps the return from a long dive simple. The upper-deck accommodation described for Argo adds granite bathroom surfaces and a more spacious arrangement; the lower-deck cabins offer either two twin beds or a double configuration with an optional upper twin. The useful detail is storage: wet gear stays in the diving areas, while clothes, cameras and chargers have somewhere fixed to live.

Cocos Island departures and returns are handled through Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Transfers are arranged as part of the trip logistics when offered; their details are communicated before departure. Arriving in Puntarenas the night before is the sensible plan.