Coco Island is recognized worldwide as a reservoir of biodiversity and endemism, with exceptional scenic beauty. It has been awarded as a UNESCO World Heritage Site among other awards. 

 

The island is located approximately 500 km off the Pacific coast of our country and belongs to the Coco Marine Conservation Area (ACMC), one of the eleven Conservation Areas that make up the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) of the Republic of Costa Rica.

 

This is the home of the famous schools of hammerhead sharks and many other species of pelagic sharks. It is considered one of the three best sites for recreational diving on the planet.

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What is included?

• Live-aboard vessel experience.

• Full diving equipment.

• Enriched air tanks (Nitrox)

• Food, beverages and lodging. 

• Divemaster guide or certified instructor.

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What to bring on the expedition?

Appropriate clothing for life rafting and sun protection.

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Dive sites and marine life:

Due to strong currents and swells, Coco Island is recommended only for advanced or highly experienced divers. Dive sites consist of islets, pinnacles, walls, and underwater mountains rising from the depths.

 

Among the most famous and internationally renowned sites, we can highlight "Roca Sucia", "Manuelita", "Alcyone" and "Dos Amigos". 

 

At the dive sites, we can observe different species of sharks such as: whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, blacktip sharks of two species, silvertip sharks, whitetip sharks, silky sharks, Galapagos sharks, tiger sharks, giant mantas, mobulas, spotted rays, wahoos, giant schools of fish, moray eels, the famous toad fish, the endemic batfish, among many other attractive species. In the world of diving, Coco Island is where we can say that everything is possible.  

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About the Tour:

Coco Island is subject to highly changeable weather patterns. Although it rains practically all year round, the best time to dive is from June to December when you can more frequently encounter pelagic species or the giants of the ocean.

 

The only way to get to Coco Island is by dive boat, which you can board from the city of Puntarenas in Costa Rica. The liveaboard trips generally last 10 days, as it takes up to 36 hours to complete the crossing from Puntarenas.

 

Perpetually cloudy and rainy, Coco Island is always humid, with an average temperature of 27° C (80° F) and an average annual rainfall of over 7 meters. The water temperature varies from 24-29° C (75 to 84° F) throughout the year. It is important to keep in mind that thermoclines generate a temperature drop of up to 6 degrees Celsius regardless of the season, so our best recommendation is to be prepared with the correct exposure equipment.

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Season from December to May:

The dry months are considered to be between December and May, although it still rains during this time. For divers who suffer from seasickness, this is the best time to dive Coco Island. The surface is calmer during these months and the water visibility is simply outstanding, making the long journey to this remote seamount much more tolerable than during the rainy months. However, because the number of pelagic species decreases during the winter and spring months, by this time many operators stop traveling to Coco or split their time between Coco Island and other dive routes in Costa Rica.

 

Season from June to November:

June to November is the rainy season, and in the opinion of the most knowledgeable divers, it is the best season to dive Coco Island. This is when the nutrient upwelling attracts a large number of marine species and the strong currents help in the migration of hammerhead sharks that visit the cleaning stations that make Coco Island famous. Giant mantas and whale sharks are also seen more frequently from June to November, mainly under the influence of the full moon.

 

Due to large number of plankton in the water, visibility during this season is reduced to about 16 meters and conditions on top deteriorate. Travel to the island is much more difficult during the rainy season. This is also high season for dive trips to Coco Island, so be sure to book as far in advance as possible.