Submersible diving in the Pacific

World-first discoveries

Using 3D mapping technology, we’ve not only contributed to scientific understanding across the Pacific but identified new dive targets, facilitating world-first dives.

After all, with much of the ocean’s floor unexplored, who knows what you’ll discover. We’ve dived across the Pacific, taking in everything from great shark congregations to wrecks that tell the story of some of WWII’s bloodiest battles.

However, much of the joy of submersible diving is its ease. Despite going deeper and longer for Scuba, you’ll travel in comfort alongside family and the likes of marine biologists, with no training or decompression required.

That’s all while you explore above water by superyacht in luxury. Choosing between everywhere from Fiji to the Solomon Islands, you’ll be island hopping between the desert-island beach setups, leaf-hut villages and family treasure hunts.

All media taken on Cookson Adventures trips

One of Cookson’s Fijian charters… documented the seabed of a local bay. “That data helped a local tribe extend the marine-protected area of the bay”

September 2023

French Polynesia

French Polynesia offers something of the unique. Largely formed of unique atolls – circular coral reefs created from ancient eroded volcanoes – the passes between their interior lagoons and the exterior ocean are incredibly nutrient rich. This brings about truly giant congregations of sharks, while otherworldly grouper spawnings and giant abyssal wall dives of impossibly colourful coral add extra intrigue. What’s more, we’ve achieved world-first dives in some of its most impressive spots.

Fiji

Fiji is a technicolour dream of beautiful reef systems and wall dives. It’s all animated by extraordinary marine life, from manta rays to reef sharks and, in deeper reaches, humpbacks and sperm whales. Among it all, we’ve conducted first-of-its-kind seabed mapping, not only identifying new dive targets but additional scientific data which we’ve shared with universities and local chiefs alike. A chance to meet the latter, through our exclusive contacts, is a joy – as is the opportunity to understand the region’s centuries-old island-village culture.

Solomon Islands

Much of the very first major Allied offensive in the Pacific played out in the Solomons and we’ve mapped some of its most important wrecks. The chance to witness Japanese destroyers and American planes that played a pivotal role in WWII is unparalleled. And, as we have done on previous trips, we can use 3D imaging to monitor their degradation – something brought to life by marine historians. You can also contribute to turtle tagging projects, swim with mantas and enjoy private invitations to remote island communities.

Palau

Dugongs, WWII wrecks and manta ray congregations – Palau has it all. Then there’s everything from schooling sharks to 1,300 species of reef fish. And, with some 340 islands to explore, it’s ripe for scientific research, with plenty of work to be done to document its hidden treasures. It’s the chance to add extra meaning and detail to your trip. Then, off the submersible, spot crocs in freshwater lakes, soar above the emerald islands by heli and kayak through karst islands to discover white-sand beaches for a gourmet beach setup.

Potential for new discoveries

The vast majority of the Pacific’s seabed is unexplored. And, we’ve got a track record in identifying potential targets to deliver world-first dives and discoveries, including finding a Roman shipwreck in the Mediterranean in 2019. Back in the Pacific, we’ve used seabed mapping technology to facilitate world-first dives, each with the chance for fresh discoveries.

Experts

One of the great joys of submersible diving is that you can be joined by leading authorities. Imagine having the world’s top researcher explain the giant shark aggregation in front of you or an expert historian tell the story of the WWII wreck you’re diving on. Of course, you might just want to share the experience with your family and friends.

Off the sub

Throughout your Pacific adventure, we’ll create an itinerary tailored to you. That could be spending time in traditional villages, engaging with marine research projects or simply hopping between island idylls, indulging with beach barbecues from your private chef. As always, there’s fun for all the family, perhaps incorporating educational sub dives with treasure hunts enhanced by piratical actors, as we’ve done on previous trips.

We’ve got the track record of delivering innovative submersible trips across the Pacific, monitoring the degradation of WWII shipwrecks in the Solomon Islands, diving with sharks in French Polynesia and mapping dramatic underwater features to share the data with Fijian chiefs, improving their understanding of the island they’ve called home for centuries.

Indeed, you’ll be exploring some of the largest marine ecosystems on the planet. So remote, they’re ripe for new discoveries, whether that’s shipwrecks, dramatic abyssal walls covered in coral or schooling manta rays.

This is all built with our access to unique permits and the industry’s top experts, whether that’s maritime historians, leading pilots or marine biologists. Of course, all the submersibles we work with are fully certified by the leading accreditation agency, with a full spread of safety systems – from failsafes and buoyancy tanks to redundancy systems and ROV operations.

We’re also particularly proud of our 3D mapping in the Pacific. Sending a team out ahead of our dives, the information is not only vital for scientists studying ecosystems or marine historians monitoring the state of centuries-old wrecks, but it provides visualisations that enrich our clients’ experience and can even identify new dive sites. This new data of these hard-to-reach areas is then shared with scientific bodies, governments and charitable organisations, including Seabed 2030 – the project to map the entire ocean floor by 2030.

Then, above the water, we design a full superyacht experience, tailored to our clients. Discover uninhabited islands to enjoy a beach party to remember. Soar over remote islands and contribute to research missions, lending a hand with conservationists tagging turtles. Or, immerse yourself in local culture with a private invitation to visit a tribal chief.

We’ve also organised some epic treasure hunts. Providing fun and education for the whole family, we bring in the likes of actors, heat-mapping drones and spy cameras so kids both young and old can explore their surroundings and its heritage. It all culminates with a submersible dive in search of the lost treasure.