Diving with Sharks at Cocos Island

Situated 340 miles off the coast of Costa Rica, Cocos Island is one of the world’s greatest spots for scuba diving with sharks. A 34-hour boat ride takes thrill seekers to this lush and secluded island, where scalloped hammerheads and whitetips school in billowing masses amid the nutrient-rich currents. This UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site was declared a national park in 1978, and offers divers unparalleled opportunities to swim with large numbers of marine predators.

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Cocos Island fast facts

• The island is uninhabited

• Cocos receives approximately 275 inches of annual rainfall

• Best time to see large numbers of hammerhead sharks is May-November (rainy season)

• Visitors dive from a custom live-aboard boat for the 10-day trip

• Accessible via San Jose to Puntarenas, where live-aboard boats depart

• Named the world’s most beautiful island by Jacques Cousteau

• Recommended for advanced divers due to strong currents

• Most of the dive sites are volcanic islets with a max. depth of 130 feet

• Average water temperature is  72-83 degrees; wetsuits required

Diversity of aquatic life

Circling masses of hammerhead sharks are the main draw of Cocos Island, but divers can also expect to cross paths with other species including tiger, silky, Galapgos, blacktip and whitetip reef sharks that scour the underwater seamounts for food. Though slightly less common, whale sharks – some reaching over 18-feet in length –also swim through the strong currents surrounding Cocos Island. Divers often glimpse graceful manta rays, marble and eagle rays, as well as green sea turtles, dolphins, parrotfish, moray eels, jacks and snapper.

Popular dive sites

There are nearly 20 dive sites around this volcanic seamount, which is home to some 260 species of fish. Pelagic sea life among the submerged pinnacles is especially abundant between 60 and 90 feet. Bajo Alcyone is the most notable site for massive manta rays and scalloped hammerheads, which can number in the hundreds at this cleaning station. Dirty Rock is another dynamic site known for its pelagic marine life and thriving masses of hammerheads and other apex predators. Night dives at Manuelita promise close encounters with unbelievable numbers of whitetip reef sharks as they hunt their prey.