All-Inclusive Cocos Island Dive Trips, Tailored by Divers
All-Inclusive Cocos Island Dive Trips, Tailored by Divers
Located over 340 miles off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, Cocos Island is one of the most remote and predator-rich dive destinations on the planet. Often referred to as Shark Island, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is famous for its immense biomass, powerful currents and large aggregations of pelagic sharks.
Cocos is a destination for experienced divers seeking raw, uncompromising diving. Expect schooling scalloped hammerheads, Galapagos sharks, silky sharks and whitetips on almost every dive, alongside dramatic volcanic topography and deep blue-water encounters.
Our Cocos Island dive holidays are expedition-based and carefully planned by Sea to Sky, working with experienced local operators who have been running liveaboard trips to the island for decades.
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Bajo Manuelita
Manuelita Outside
Dirty Rock
Manuelita Coral Garden
Bajo Alcyone
Bajo Alcyone is widely regarded as the signature dive site at Cocos Island. This submerged seamount rises to within approximately 25 metres of the surface and regularly hosts vast schools of scalloped hammerheads. Divers descend a fixed line into strong current before sheltering behind the rocks, watching the schools move past overhead. Silky sharks, eagle rays and large tuna are commonly seen here.
Jeremy adds:
“Bajo Alcyone is all about positioning and patience. Get comfortable in the current, find your spot on the rocks and let the sharks come to you. Good buoyancy and awareness make a huge difference here.”
Manuelita Outside
A well-known shark cleaning station where hammerheads and Galapagos sharks circle while king angelfish attend to them. The sandy bottom and open water provide excellent light, making this a favourite site for photography. Whale sharks and manta rays are occasional visitors during peak season.
Filomena adds:
“This is one of the best sites for observing shark behaviour rather than chasing it. Stay still, watch the cleaning stations and you’ll often see far more than if you try to move around.”
Dirty Rock
A dramatic pinnacle surrounded by smaller rock formations that create natural shelter in the current. This site often sees continuous movement of hammerheads, marble rays and green turtles, with divers able to settle into the rocks and observe the action.
Jeremy adds:
“Dirty Rock can be busy with life and current at the same time. Use the terrain for shelter and take your time. It’s a great place to slow down and let the pelagics pass through.”
Manuelita Coral Garden and Night Dive
By day, this is a colourful coral slope and one of the calmer dives at the island. At night, it becomes one of the most intense shark dives in the world. Hundreds of whitetip reef sharks hunt cooperatively across the reef, using divers’ lights to locate prey.
Filomena adds:
“The night dive here is unforgettable, but it’s important to stay aware of your surroundings. Keep your torch controlled and your position steady, and you’ll see the whitetips working the reef all around you.”
When to Dive Cocos Island, Costa Rica
When to Dive Cocos Island, Costa Rica
Cocos Island is a year-round destination, though conditions vary by season.
Beyond the Diving
Beyond the Diving
Our Local Partner – Undersea Hunter Group
Our Local Partner – Undersea Hunter Group
Sea to Sky’s Cocos Island trips are operated in partnership with the Undersea Hunter Group, the longest-running and most experienced liveaboard operator at Cocos Island.
Their fleet includes:
- Sea Hunter, a highly stable expedition vessel with extensive dive deck space
- Argo, a hybrid expedition vessel that serves as the support platform for the DeepSee submersible
Both vessels are designed for photography-friendly diving, with dedicated camera facilities and experienced crews who understand the demanding conditions at Cocos Island.
Filomena adds: “Cocos is demanding diving, and having the right team and vessel makes all the difference. Undersea Hunter understand the conditions here better than anyone, which allows divers to focus on the experience rather than the logistics.”
Ready to Dive Cocos Island?
Ready to Dive Cocos Island?
Cocos Island is not a casual dive destination, but for experienced divers seeking powerful shark encounters and true expedition diving, it is unmatched.
Tell us your travel dates, experience level and group size, and we will create a personalised Cocos Island liveaboard diving itinerary.
Jeremy’s tip: “Cocos is a true expedition destination. Be honest about your experience level, arrive well rested, and pack for repetitive, current-heavy diving. Being prepared makes a huge difference to how much you enjoy the trip.”
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“The trip was organised by Jeremy at Sea to Sky. His attention to detail through the booking process, right through to his first hand knowledge of the dive sites was superb. It led to the holiday being truly relaxed, and wanting a teenager to come back with her friends for a diving course.”
“I had already 2 trips with Sea to Sky and I can warmly recommend this company! Friendly people best organisation and professional diving trips. With Sea to Sky you are in very good hands and your holidays are worth booking.”
“I’d been looking for a trip that blended site seeing, diving, great locale and authentic restaurants and can not recommend this company enough. Travelling as a single person in a new country can daunting, but Sea to Sky made my travels easier than I could have expected”
Explore More of Our Diving Holidays
Explore More of Our Diving Holidays
From beginner‑friendly reef dives to bucket‑list liveaboards, we offer a carefully curated selection of dive trips around the world. Whether it’s relaxed eco‑lodges in the Maldives, cenote adventures in Mexico, or luxury liveaboards in the Red Sea, every holiday is chosen from our own diving experience – so you know you’re in expert hands.
