Yacht journeys...

Multigenerational trips that see children learn about coral degradation with conservationists while yogic workshops prepare adults to freedive with whales. Discovering an uninhabited island to set up a dancefloor under the stars. Or, taking helis out to enjoy special invitations to spend time with remote tribal communities. Our expertise is in taking yacht trips to the next level.

Voyage planning

We’ve planned everything from entire circumnavigations of the globe to trips that maximise the owner’s short time on their vessel. In the Mediterranean, for example, that’s meant anchoring for views of erupting volcanoes, before shutting down the port of Napoli to discover a Roman shipwreck by submersible.

Permitting

Throughout, we’ve got the relationships with both global authorities and local communities to permit our clients’ journeys. That could be speaking with the chieftains of Pacific island communities to open up special anchorages in tribal waters. Or, as part of AECO and IAATO, we’ve permitted the first private submersible dives in Antarctica and brought icebreakers into the Arctic.

Our specialism lies in the blank areas of the map, taking explorer yachts to remote Pacific islands for rare wildlife encounters or creating multi-week expeditions to Greenland’s rarely explored north.

Specialist crew

We’ll staff your trip to meet both your demands, and that of the destination. World-class ice pilots to navigate the polar regions, marine biologists to indulge a passion for the underwater world or top tutors to bring your child’s curriculum to sea.

Track record

Having operated world-first projects in the polar regions and mapped new ground in the Pacific, we draw on years of real-world experience at the forefront of explorer yachting.

Contacts

Whether it’s knowing local leaders or navigating complex permitting processes with international regulators, we’ve got the relationships and know-how to open up unique experiences in remote regions safely and innovatively.

From multi-asset ops in Antarctica to relocating giant tortoises in the Galápagos, we have extensive experience in using helicopters to open up new experiences. Our approach isn’t to see these as simple timesavers, but to bring guests to places that are otherwise inaccessible.

Unique experiences

That might be landing in a remote jungle clearing to enjoy a private audience with tribal elders, taking in volcanic eruptions from the air or using helicopters to track the migration of a spinner dolphin spot, so you can get in the water alongside these playful creatures.

Global network

We have an extensive network of trusted operators around the world that we rigorously scrutinise, from studying pilot experience and service records to drawing on hands-on experience of working on multiple projects in the past. As well as bringing in support vessels to facilitate, we also have extensive experience in working with existing yacht heli ops.

Discovering a Roman shipwreck, the first private submersibles in Antarctica and using seabed mapping to pioneer new dives in the South Pacific – we’ve got the track record in deploying submersibles for truly safe, innovative and unique experiences.

Accessibility

You’ll travel in comfort with no training or decompression required. We’ll also organise for the sub to be prepositioned, while you rest onboard your yacht.

Discovery potentially

Going deeper than traditional diving, you’ll take in an ocean floor that is almost entirely undiscovered – who knows what deep-sea creatures you might encounter. However, we’ve also used mapping technology and expert consultants to identify new potentials. We’ve seen guests take in largely unexplored WWII wrecks in the Pacific and dive new sites to potentially discover new shark behaviours.

Platform for science & conservation

With us, not only can you travel side-by-side to speak with the likes of marine biologists and archaeologists as you dive, but you can contribute directly to research efforts. Using 3D mapping technology, we’ve provided new data to universities studying remote ecosystems and locals looking to protect their ancestral waters. That’s alongside the chance to study ecologies and wildlife behaviour that’s rarely seen.

Safety

We exclusively operate subs that are fully certified by the DNV, the industry’s leading regulatory body. That means an incredible amount of safety systems, including being tested to much deeper depths than they operate in, and everything from failsafes to buoyancy tanks and drop weights. We also operate secondary sub or ROV systems alongside the main dive, for additional overlook and safety.

Whether adding value or facilitating operations in remote environments, we’re able to integrate with existing crew to deliver unforgettable experiences.

Experts

The world’s best ice navigators. Heli operators with tens of thousands of hours under their belts. And, security specialists who have published books on the region you’re visiting. We have a black book of contacts that can ensure your trip is delivered safely and to the highest standard.

Expedition services

Wherever your passions lie, we can bring in the experts to uplift your experience, whether that’s championship-winning surfers to tech your family, marine biologists to bring your dives to life or conservationists to take you behind the scenes of a research project close to your heart.

Media

For our private clients, we’ve created everything from Netflix-style documentaries and social-media sizzle reels to handmade photo books and memorable aftermovies of their trips. As such, we’ve founded Cookson Productions
, having gone on to produce short conservation-focused documentaries that have been premiered at London’s Royal Geographical Society and New York’s Explorers Club before being shown at film festivals.

Cookson Adventures is consistently sought to advise on a wide range of facets of the yachting industry, whether that’s new builds, refits or helping owner’s representatives.

Construction consultation

Over the years, we’ve partnered with leading shipyards, including ICON Yachts, to deliver insight into how superyachts are used in practice. This has informed design decisions, from adding cranes to operate submersibles to allotting space for scientific teams.

Yacht management

We work with captains and owners’ representatives to integrate with crews and add value to your journeys. With a focus on itinerary management, that could be expedition services for a particular trip, opening up special access to the likes of conservation projects, remote communities or heli ops. Or, it might be planning an overarching year routing to meld your interests and movements with the best seasons to travel.

When operating in remote environments, support yachts offer the chance to bring in additional crew, assets and provisions to facilitate your trip.

Global options

We have a fantastic network of support vessels available for charter around the world. We’ve even gone as far as converting existing vessels to adapt to our clients’ needs, including certifying helipads.

Assets

From bringing in helicopters and submersibles to adding sports fishing tenders, basketball courts or dive centres, we’ll pick a support vessel that works to facilitate your trip.

Crew

Support vessels add extra berths for your team. While this might be an expedition crew of mountaineering, pilots or dive guides, this also could be supernumeraries such as nannies and tutors, or even an internationally renowned DJ or Olympian trainer.