Cocos Island is a remote Pacific seamount 550km off the coast of Costa Rica, accessible only by liveaboard on a 30- to 36-hour crossing. Like its cousin Malpelo and the northern Galápagos, Cocos is defined by scalloped hammerhead schools at seamount cleaning stations, plus resident Galápagos sharks, silkies, and regular tiger shark sightings. The diving is current-driven, deep, and rewarding. The rainy season (June–November) produces stronger currents and more pelagic action at the cost of rougher surface crossings.
The year at a glance
- Water
- 25–28 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 25–28 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 26–28 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 26–28 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- moderate
- Water
- 26–28 °C
- Viz
- 15–25 m
- Sea
- moderate
- Rain
- high
- Water
- 25–27 °C
- Viz
- 15–25 m
- Sea
- moderate
- Rain
- high
- Water
- 24–27 °C
- Viz
- 15–25 m
- Sea
- rough
- Rain
- high
- Water
- 24–27 °C
- Viz
- 15–25 m
- Sea
- rough
- Rain
- high
- Water
- 24–27 °C
- Viz
- 15–25 m
- Sea
- rough
- Rain
- high
- Water
- 25–27 °C
- Viz
- 15–25 m
- Sea
- moderate
- Rain
- moderate
- Water
- 25–28 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- moderate
- Rain
- moderate
- Water
- 25–28 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
Signature dive sites
The sites you'll hear about in every briefing.
- 01
Alcyone
Submerged seamount, classic hammerhead cleaning station.
- 02
Dirty Rock
Pinnacle with currents and hammerhead schools.
- 03
Bajo Alcyone
Deep seamount with Galápagos sharks and pelagics.
What you'll see
Top species with their April status.
Galápagos Shark
Scalloped Hammerhead
Silky Shark
Tiger Shark
Marine life by month
Peak Present Rare
Getting there
Gateway
Fly into Puntarenas departure (liveaboard). Visa: Visa-free for many nationalities, 90 days.
Best months
Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec