Isla del Coco · Costa Rica5°31′N 87°04′WA diver's field journal

Visit Cocos Island
Cover story

Hundreds of hammerheads, and the long way out

Among the world’s dive site, there are several spots who features a signature species in which you are guaranteed to encounter underwater. Some sites may feature small critters…

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ManifestThe four boats to Cocos

VesselOperatorTrips
Sea HunterThe Cocos pioneer's workhorse: a long-range expedition boat that has been crossing to the island since the 1990s.Undersea Hunter Group11 and 14 day expeditionsCheck dates
ArgoA 130-foot expedition cruiser and the home of the DeepSee submersible, built for filmmakers and serious photographers.Undersea Hunter Group11 and 14 day expeditionsCheck dates
Okeanos Aggressor IIAggressor's Cocos yacht: all dives from two tenders, with up to 27 dives on the longest charter.Aggressor Adventures8, 10 and 12 night chartersCheck dates
Cocos Island AggressorThe newer of Aggressor's two Cocos boats, sailing the same 36-hour crossing from Puntarenas.Aggressor Adventures8, 10 and 12 night chartersCheck dates

Every boat leaves from Puntarenas. The crossing takes about 36 hours each way.

SpecimensSharks of Cocos

No. 01Hammerhead SharksAmong the world’s dive site, there are several spots who features a signature species in…No. 02Silvertip SharksOne of the big boys patrolling the underwater habitats of Cocos Island are the Silvertip…No. 03Whale SharksWe are quite sure that you are already familiar with this type of shark. But just in case…No. 04Tiger SharksIf there was a contest of who’s the most feared underwater creature with a striped…No. 05Galapagos SharksAlthough they are found in all the world’s tropical waters, this type of Requiem sharks…No. 06Whitetip Reef SharksIf we are to give you the easiest way to identify this type of shark, then it should be…No. 07Silky SharksAlthough silky sharks are considered one of the deep thriving shark species in Cocos…No. 08Thresher SharksWhile Cocos island is known for hammerhead sharks, tiger sharks and whitetip reef sharks…
Old chart of Cocos Island
An old chart of Cocos Island, from our historic maps page.

LogbookEleven sites worth the crossing

  1. Dirty Rock
  2. Bajo Alcyone
  3. Manuelita
  4. Dos Amigos
  5. Punta Maria
  6. Submerged Rock
  7. Viking Rock
  8. Lobster Rock
  9. Manta Corner
  10. Shark Fin Rock
  11. Silverado

From the archiveTreasure Island

In 1820 Captain William Thompson sailed off with the church treasure of Lima, and legend says he buried it on Cocos. Hundreds of expeditions have dug for it since. None has found it.

The treasures of Cocos Island →
Treasures Buried on CocosThe Treasure HuntersHistoric Maps of Cocos Island

Field guide · 78 speciesRays, fish, birds and whales

Giant Manta RaysSpotted Eagle RaysGoliath GrouperCommerson’s FrogfishRosy-lipped BatfishMoorish IdolGreat BarracudaBrown BoobyCocos FinchWhales

Before you goPlanning notes

Asked oftenQuestions

How do you get to Cocos Island?

Only by liveaboard dive boat. Trips leave Puntarenas on Costa Rica's Pacific coast and cross about 36 hours each way. There are no flights, hotels or day trips.

Can you stay on the island?

No. Cocos is a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the only people living there are park rangers. Visitors sleep on board and go ashore only with the rangers' permission.

Which boats go to Cocos?

Four: Sea Hunter and Argo (Undersea Hunter Group), and Okeanos Aggressor II and Cocos Island Aggressor (Aggressor Adventures).

Do you need to be an experienced diver?

Yes. Dives are in open ocean with currents, mostly between 16 and 33 metres (55 to 110 feet), and every dive starts from a small tender.