# Da Costa — The Moon Pool character guide

> Da Costa in The Moon Pool by A. Merritt.

**Role:** supporting

**First appearance:** 0010-viii-olaf-s-story

## Snapshot

A Portuguese sailor whose practical seamanship and steady nerve make him a quiet anchor when the supernatural closes in.

## Who they are

Da Costa is a working sailor among scientists and dreamers, a man whose competence lies in ropes and wheels rather than theories. He is superstitious enough to shrink from the uncanny but loyal enough to stand his ground when it matters. His presence grounds the expedition in ordinary human courage, and his rapport with the stricken Norseman Huldricksson shows that he understands grief as well as he understands the sea.

## Relationships

### [Olaf Huldricksson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/characters/olaf_huldricksson)

_friendship_

Da Costa and Olaf share a loyal, brotherly camaraderie as fellow explorers.

### [Olaf Huldricksson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/characters/olaf_huldricksson)

_friendship_

Da Costa and Olaf share a loyal, brotherly camaraderie as fellow explorers.

### [Olaf Huldricksson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/characters/olaf_huldricksson)

_friendship_

Da Costa and Olaf share a loyal, brotherly camaraderie as fellow explorers.

## In the story

### [VI: “The Shining Devil Took Them!”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/vi-the-shining-devil-took-them)

Portuguese captain; helps rescue Huldricksson, demonstrates self-binding, and expresses fear of the full moon.

### [VII: Larry O'Keefe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/vii-larry-o-keefe)

Captain of the Suwarna; shows fear when Nan-Matal is mentioned.

### [VIII: Olaf's Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/viii-olaf-s-story)

The Portuguese captain who confirms Olaf's story and agrees to continue the voyage.

### [IX: A Lost Page of Earth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/ix-a-lost-page-of-earth)

Informs Huldricksson of the expected arrival time at Ponape and accompanies him to the Brunhilda.

### [The Moon Pool](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/x-the-moon-pool)

Confesses to Goodwin that he transported Marakinoff to Ponape and left him at Nan-Matal.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/characters/da_costa
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/characters