Photo report “Diving safari on Cocos Island. Costa Rica”.

March 2013

Days spent: 10

The route went througth Costa Rica and Cocos Island. Expedition numbered 11 persons.

Cocos Island – heaven on Earth, lost in the vastness of the Pacific Ocean.

The divers from all the continents come here to enjoy the unique beauty and the diversity of the underwater world of this island.

Our expedition, which gathered together the divers from Moldova, started the long journey in the hope of seeing the sharks, that inhabit in the coastal waters of the Cocos Island.

On our way to the Pacific coast, we have our first stop to learn more about the giant crocodiles that inhabit here.

We sail on a boat to a place, where larger individuals can be seen, on our way watching the animals settled on the both banks of the river.

The first unexpected meeting. It’s the Boatbill – a bird from the order Ciconiiformes. It has an unusual shape of the beak with a tooth on the tip of the maxilla. A characteristic feature is the black crown.

And here is our first meeting with the crocodiles. It is a large male, having its own territory. It is four and a half meters long.

Any other male, entering its territory, will be immediately attacked. This crocodile has also become the prey of its enormous jaws.

Usually, there are several females on the territory of the male crocodile, and this is one of them. It is much smaller than the male, but even so it is very active, and our guide has decided to perform a show …

Then we set out in search of the biggest crocodile of this parts. It is about 5 meters long. For its temper, it earned the nickname Tyson. To be honest, we did not expect out guide to perform an extreme show with this monster…

After getting an adrenaline rush, we take our way to Puntarenas town, where from we are going to sail on the “Wind Danсer” yacht to the Cocos island.

Morning – time for relaxation. Especially since, the passage from the Puntarenas town to the Cocos island lasts 36 hours and during which time we have to cover a distance of 360 sea miles. We have decided not to waste our time, and get to know the foreign members of our expedition…

Cocos Island, the biggest uninhabited island on the Earth and the only island in the west part of the Pacific Ocean covered by tropical rainforests.

So, we are getting prepared for our first dive and we eagerly await to see the unique underwater world of the Cocos Island, and our dive-master, Hannibal Morales begins his first briefing.

In a great mood, we take to the place of our first diving. The cameras are ready, and we hope getting great shots.

Our experience expanded beyond all expectations. Wonderful weather and clean water offered us the possibility to take great shots of the inhabitants of the underwater nature Park of Cocos Island. The morays, silvertip sharks and skates became the real heroes of this dive site.

Today we set forth to learn more about the Cocos island.

As early as in the 17th century the pirates settled down on the island. They based there, as the island allowed them to replenish the reserves of fresh water, repair their ships and, also, stow away the loot. So far the island is one of the favorite places for all kind of treasure hunters…

Cocos Island is all covered by tropical rainforests, and its bluffs are almost inviolable.

After berthing in a bay, we took the road inland, to learn more about its nature.

In the close thicket, under the shade of the jungle, a diverse wildlife is hidden. Near the small streams, flowing on the island, you can see different type of birds, strolling along the coast.

And in the law of the tropical forest a white-tailed deer can be seen strolling. We did not expect to see it here.

A frigate bird has settled on the shady crowns of the trees. You can take a rest here and tidy up.

And, of course, a bit of relax near one of the many waterfalls on the island, all the more since, tonight we are going to have a night diving.

As usual, the evening get-together on the upper deck ends up another day on the island. Here we can share our impressions of what we saw and enjoy the sunset on the ocean while having a beer.

So, another dive site is waiting for us, a night diving this time, where we hope to see the nightlife of the silvertip shark and other inhabitants of the Cocos Island waters. The cameras are ready and we head for the place of our next diving.

It was an extraordinary sight. We have never and nowhere seen so many silvertip sharks. Even though it is considered aggressive, this time its aggression has not been directed towards us. And it is great.

Today we are having a festive dinner and the crew welcomes us on the upper deck….

Another dive site ends up our acquaintance with the underwater world of the Cocos island. As usual, the briefing is held by our dive master, Hannibal Morales.

Today, we hope to see closer the Galapagos shark and the hammer fish inhabiting here, and, of course, we hope to see the most dangerous inhabitant of the ocean, the tiger shark.

And, finally, after a long time waiting, a tiger shark appears before us.

Indeed, it was the peak of our feelings. We have never expressed our emotions so stormily. And the meeting with the tiger shark was a great end of expedition.

We bid farewell to the Cocos island, or as they say in Costa Rica, “Isla del Coco”. We thank all the people who could preserve this magic underwater world.

And, we leave the island hoping to return here one day…