Cocos Island Trip Report Oct 2015

Words And Photos By KADU PINHEIRO

Cocos Island is the top destination to be able to get close to schools of scalloped hammerhead sharks

This week during our Bluewater Trip / Workshop, Cocos Island showed us why it's considered one of the best places in the world to dive with sharks, so during this week we had encounters with Hammerhead sharks, tiger sharks, Galapagos sharks, marble rays, eagle rays, morays and all the usual cast of fish Coco Island has to offer.

Join Tim Yeo On Our Next Cocos Island Group Trip October 15 - 25, 2016

Left: White tip reef sharks Right: Marbled stingray

Left: Scalloped hammerhead shark coming in close Right: Green turtle & diver

Some of the dives were challenging with depths of 100 feet and currents, but the group of underwater photographers were good divers and managed to navigate the conditions while handling their expensive and heavy camera setups to capture stunning shots.

Left: Divers getting close to hammerhead sharks Right: Large schools of snappers hiding out in a swim through

Throughout the week we held seminars on various underwater photography topics tailored toward the conditions we encounted and marine life that we saw. As the week progressed, the consistent close encounters with sharks allowed guests to practice and hone in their underwater photography skills to get some amazing photos.

Left: School of bigeye jacks Middle: A trumpetfish glides over the reef Right: Spotted eagle ray

Dos Amigos Pequeo was one dive site that really stood out for its adrenaline rush. The dve site was swept by a string current, but along with that brought lots of Galapagos sharks and a large school of hammerhead sharks. We were holdogng onto the rocks gazing at the underwater shark freeway going past us.

Left: Hammerhead sharks on the underwater freeway Right: Achance encounter with a tiger shark

While Cocos Island is known for sharks, we also found reef fish, rays, turtles, lobsters, and even a frogfish!

Left: Giant Frogfish Middle: Diver & marbled stingray Right: Reefscape

Left: Hammerhead shark with reef fish Right: White tip reef sharks out hunting at night

We were also treated to a couple hours on land in Cocos Island where we visited the ranger station and hiked to Wayfer Bay where a local soccer competition was being held.

Left: Cocos Okeanos Aggressor Right: The ranger station on Cocos Island

Left: Bridge crossing along the short hike Right: Scenic views from Wayfer's Bay

Left: Local soccer competition on Wayfer's Beach Right: It was great to spend a couple hours ashore

Thanks to all of our guests, and hold your fire!!! Mario, Monica, Miguel, Yunuen, Ulisses, Mauricio, Christophe, Eric, Eddy, Bart, Fernando, Alejandra, Jorge, Shih, Albert, Edward, David, Yuping, Lin, Monica H. and Shao.

- Kadu Pinheiro

Happy Bluewater guests

Interested In Diving Cocos Island On The Okeanos Aggressor? Join Tim Yeo On A Group Trip October 15 - 25, 2016.

Email us at info@bluewaterdivetravel.com to reserve your spot today.

Bluewater Travel can book you on a trip to Cocos Island diving from a liveaboard, for the same cost or less than booking any other way. We know the routes, cabins, rooms and when to go better than anyone else!

Email us atinfo@bluewaterdivetravel.comto start your adventure.

For More Photos, View The Slideshow At The Top Of The Page