Cocos Island
Cocos Island is a remote volcanic island 500 km off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, one of the world’s best dive sites for encountering large pelagic species. Underwater rocky pinnacles attract schools of hammerhead sharks, giant mantas, whale sharks, sailfish, and marlins.
The program includes 3 dives per day at depths of 15–35 meters. Key dive sites include Alcyone (underwater seamount with hammerhead sharks and mantas), Big Dos Amigos (arched rock formation), Bird Island and Chatham Bay (cleaning station with whitetip sharks), Manuelita (vertical wall with marble rays), and Ubing Rock (reef ridge with hammerhead schools). In free time — jungle hikes with waterfalls.
What You'll See
Conditions
Season
Year-round (best: June–December)
Visibility
15–30 meters
Water Temperature
23–27°C
Level
Advanced Open Water
Duration
10 nights
Useful Information
Best Season
June–November (rainy season, peak hammerhead and whale shark activity), December–May (calmer seas, better visibility)
Visa
Visa-free entry for up to 90 days for most nationalities; a passport valid for the whole trip and a return ticket are required
How to Get There
Fly to San José (SJO) via Madrid, Istanbul or Panama City, then 2 hours by road to the port of Puntarenas and a 30–36 hour liveaboard crossing to Cocos.
Climate
Tropical, 24–32°C, rainy season May–November
Currency
Costa Rican colón (CRC), US dollars widely accepted
Time Zone
UTC-6
