Cocos The Island of Sharks

Thrilling drift dives, steep vertical walls, blue water diving and deep pinnacles categorize the many superb dive sites in the Cocos but the hundreds of patrolling hammerhead sharks are what make the Cocos island world renowned.

Cocos Island is a remote uninhabited island located 550km off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Declared a marine National Park in 1978, this tropical island offers visitors a rare glimpse into one of the most pristine and untamed rainforests in the world. Created from large uprisings of volcanic seamounts and situated in the Golden Triangle, the converging ocean currents attract an array of marinelife and huge pelagic action, for which the Isla del Coco are famed.

Schooling hammerhead sharks, white tip sharks, Galapagos sharks, tiger sharks, mantas, tuna and the occasional whale shark are attracted to the underwater world of the National Park, making it an excellent diving destination for pelagic lovers.

The main attraction of the Cocos is the scalloped hammerhead sharks that congregate together, sometimes gathering by the hundreds! The best dive sites to see these odd looking creatures is Bajo Alcyone and Dirty Rock. Bajo Alcyone is a 600 ft long submerged mountain where legions of hammerhead sharks and majestic manta rays glide through the water, circling above and below divers in search of cleaning stations. Due to the strong currents here, Bajo Alcyone is better suited for advanced divers.

However, for less skilled divers who still enjoy getting up close and personal with big fish, Dirty Rock is the preferred choice. Towered by spectacular volcanic formations and rock pinnacles this sheltered channel is the perfect location for divers to get in on the pelagic action. Schools of patrolling hammerhead sharks are not the only attraction here, turtles and playful dolphins, along with a huge variety of fish make Dirty Rock one of the most dynamic dive sites in the Cocos.

For a change of scenery divers can enjoy thrilling night dives with whitetip reef sharks. At night these slender sharks emerge, hunting bony fish, crustaceans and octopus in groups. Due to their slender shape these sharks are capable of dashing in and out of caves and crevices as they search for hidden prey. Witnessing groups of whitetip reef sharks as they engage in a feeding frenzy while whizzing past divers is an exhilarating experience, sure to get your blood pumping and your heart racing!