I Pacific about 55 miles and a little over 30 hours boat ride straight out into the sea from the coast of Costa Rica is the island known to many divers as Cocos Island. This is a mountainous and absolutely magically beautiful and green island. Cocos Island was formed by a volcanic eruption 2,5 million years ago. The island is characterized by four mountain peaks, the highest of which, Cerro Yglesisas, rises 634 meters above sea level. Cocos has two large bays with white sandy beaches and they provide safe harbors for boats. Just off the coast are several small islands - the largest of which is Isla Manuelia. It is forbidden to go ashore here but short guided tours are arranged by the park rangers here and this beach cut is normally a nice leg stretcher.
Dive at Cocos Island
World-renowned among divers, this island's waters are filled with amazing marine life. Here you can see whitetip reef sharks, shoals of hammerhead sharks, dolphins, manta rays, rays, giant moray eels, silky sharks, tiger sharks, sail fish and of course the occasional whale shark. The night dives here are known to offer hunting sharks. Whitetip reef sharks by the hundreds come in and literally scour the rocks for edibles as they seek shelter in the dark of night. An incredible experience that will stay on the retinas of any diver for a long time.
To get to this amazing and very remote place and dive, there is only one live board that can take you here. Your diving trip starts from the mainland of Costa Rica and it takes just over a day to get there. During the trip here you can see whales, dolphins and sometimes killer whales that accompany the boat. The history surrounding Cocos Island is filled with stories of pirates and explorers. The evidence is everywhere in both Spanish and English ship archives. For four hundred years sailors and adventurers have carved inscriptions into rocks and boulders along the shores of Chatham Bay. Today it's diving trips here that matter, but the myths of fantastic treasures live on. The treasury island, Cocos Island, will probably always have its stories.
Currency: The local currency is the colon (CRC), but US dollars are also common. Paying by credit card is common, and most cards are accepted.
Language: Mainly Spanish, but most guides and crews speak English
Water: In general, the water in Costa Rica is safe to drink, but if you are far outside the cities/tourist resorts, it is still good to be careful.
Visa: Cocos Island belongs to Costa Rica. Swedish citizens may enter the country without a visa for stays shorter than 3 months. Passport must be valid for 6 months after return home.
Health: Contact your local vaccination clinic Private healthcare is of a high standard, but outside the cities there may be limited access to healthcare.
Pressure chamber: Pressure chamber: Located in San José..
Tipping: It is common to tip guides, hotel staff, at restaurants, etc. The restaurant bill often includes a 10% service charge, but it is common to tip a little anyway.
