The Majesty Of Mantas
Diving the Cocos Island in Costa Rica
Diving the Cocos Island in Costa Rica
Located some 550 miles off the country’s west coast Cocos Island can be hard to get to – it’s a 36-hour cruise from the mainland - but for those who make the journey, it offers marine life in abundance that is rarely seen anywhere else on the planet. The island itself was deemed the most beautiful island on earth by Jacques Costeau and it’s easy to see why - mountainous tropical rainforest, filled with ferns, mosses and fungi, grow in a landscape abundant in rivers, streams, waterfalls, valleys and cliffs that plunge into the sea.
Cocos Island is well-known for the amazing opportunity it provides to observe one of the friendliest pelagic species – the giant Manta Ray. Despite their intimidating wingspan of up to 9 metres, these graceful oceanic acrobats take great interest in passing divers and are known to enjoy rolling and swimming overhead, seeming to enjoy the gentle tickling sensation of the air bubbling up from the scuba equipment. Giant oceanic manta sightings are common between January and July, and the very best sites – like Bajo Alcyone – also double as manta cleaning stations.
In the surrounding marine ecosystem there is rich coral reef, volcanic tunnels, caves and deeper waters, making it home to a breathtaking array of species including giant oceanic manta rays, resident pods of bottlenose dolphins, and the occasional mammoth-sized whale shark. There’s a reason this Unesco Marine reserve is known as “the little Galapagos.” The island is a mountain top, and beneath the surface, its protected waters are alive with a thriving ecosystem, offering divers the chance to observe how the oceans might have been 200 years ago.
The diversity of marine life is the result of climate, exposure to diverse ocean currents, and geology—the region’s caves, tunnels, and reefs. The climate is tropical and wet, and the island receives more than 6 meters (20 feet) of rainfall every year. Manta Rays aren’t the only species that divers can observe here. Pods of dolphins are often spotted eagerly greeting yachts as they approach, and divers are often accompanied by the friendly clicks and squeaks of these playful creatures as they explore. It’s a Pacific playground for schooling hammerheads, manta rays, whale sharks, endangered sea turtles and humpback whales.
This marine reserve now protects over 809 square miles of underwater species. Restrictions on staying on the island reserve its pleasures solely for those with a boat, and excursions ashore are only possible with approval from park rangers, something that can be sought in advance of your yacht charter. By choosing to dive here, you will be helping keep this marine ecosystem alive and flourishing for future generations of divers.
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