Cocos Island lies in the Pacific Ocean some 375 miles off the west coast of Costa Rica. The island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
The day and a half trip to reach Cocos Island and its status as a World Heritage Site ensure that this dive charter destination will remain undisturbed by over development and mass tourism that spoil so many dive resort developments.
If you're into close encounters with sharks, there is no better dive charter destination in the world than Cocos Island. Don’t mistake Cocos Island dive charter with the theme park dives where tourists line up to feed sharks and then skip off to the disco for an evening’s entertainment. This is the real thing, an extreme experience interacting with the ocean’s greatest predator. All other shark diving destinations are measured against Cocos Island.
The best time to explore Cocos Island is from May to December when the weather is lousy and the sharks are searching for victims.
Cocos Island is not for everyone and unlike dive resorts, it doesn't want to be. The conditions are demanding. There are powerful currents; limited visibility and thermoclines challenge even the most experienced and adventurous divers. Cocos Island is no place for beginners.
All of the dive sites around Cocos Island are excellent and depending on the season, you may see mantas, whalesharks, whitetips and schooling hammerheads all on the same dive. The three live aboards that have been authorized to take divers to Cocos offer re-breather training and certification that is conducted during the 36 hour crossing from the Costa Rico mainland. The re-breather training is worth doing to enhance the opportunity for close encounters with hammerheads that shy away from diver bubbles.
