| Cocos Island National Park | | | | Island implies a unique experience for any diver as |
| Sank in the middle of the infinite Pacific Ocean, we | | | | soon as you go down, a world full of life appears |
| find the Cocos Island. It is one of the protected | | | | before your eyes, thousands of fish swimming |
| areas with the greatest diversity in terms of wildlife | | | | around you forming a synchrony of colors, a rainbow |
| and one of the best places for Costa Rica Scuba | | | | in the plenitude of the ocean.you will be hypnotized |
| Diving Vacation. It is a huge natural laboratory for | | | | when your eyes are set of great schools of hammer |
| scientists and nature lovers. It has 2.400 Ha, with 510 | | | | shark (Sphyna lewini)or when you see the amazing |
| species of sea mollusks, 362 species of insects, 235 | | | | white finned sharks (Triaenodon obesus) swimming |
| species of plants, 200 species of fish, 97 species of | | | | very close to you. |
| birds, 57 species of crustaceans, 3 species of spiders | | | | Today, as it was for the buccaneers, the only way |
| and 2 species of reptiles. In this huge diversity, there | | | | to get to Cocos is by boat. Divers, who make up the |
| are over 130 species of endemic flora and fauna. It is | | | | vast majority of visitors, usually arrive on live-aboard |
| an ideal place for scuba diving, snorkeling, bird | | | | dive boats (a 9- or 10-day trip from the port of |
| watching and wildlife watching. | | | | Puntarenas). If they go ashore, it's usually only to dry |
| The trip to Cocos Island is in itself a great adventure. | | | | out for a spell. But exploring the 14-square-mile, |
| After traveling for over 36 hours on the blue waters | | | | virtually uninhabited island that Jacques Cousteau |
| of the Pacific Ocean, a "green bouquet is seen far | | | | once called the most beautiful in the world isn't really |
| into the sea". | | | | a hardship. There are other Cocos Islands in the |
| Legends say that pirates and corsairs, like William | | | | world (near Guam, Australia, and Mauritius to name a |
| Davies, Benito Bonito and William Thompson, found a | | | | few), but there is only one "Shark Island. " That's a |
| safe place to hide their treasures in this Island. For | | | | good thing, right? |
| many, Robert Stevenson was inspired on those tales | | | | Field Notes |
| of sailors to write his famous novel the Treasure | | | | Scuba Diving: As dive site names go, Dirty Rock isn't |
| Island. | | | | the most inviting, but this rocky outcropping about a |
| Although you will not find golden medals or precious | | | | half mile off the north shore of the island has one of |
| gems, you will find the most valuable treasure of all: | | | | the largest hammerhead shark populations in the |
| The natural richness of flora and fauna. | | | | world, along with giant manta rays. Expect |
| As soon as you arrive, it is as if time is suddenly | | | | 120-foot-plus visibility. For even more mantas, head |
| going back, as taking a leap to an old world, a place | | | | to Dampier Head at the southwest corner of the |
| that remains intact through time. Cocos Island is | | | | island, where rays with wingspans up to 10 feet |
| probably one of the places with most endemic flora | | | | seem to like to swim with divers. |
| and fauna in the world. | | | | Nature, Nature and Nature. A natural laboratory similar |
| In just 2.400 hectares, there have always been 139 | | | | in some ways to the Galapagos (which lacks the |
| endemic species in the national park. More than 230 | | | | tropical rainforest here), Cocos is home to an |
| species of plants, out of which 70 are endemic, | | | | estimated 60 endemic animal species. Bird watchers |
| including the Palo de Hierro (Sacogiottis holdridgei). | | | | will note that the rocky islets off the island are prime |
| More than 85 species of birds inhabit the park, but 3 | | | | nesting areas for seabirds, including the red-footed |
| of them can only be seen in Cocos Island National | | | | booby, and that three of the island's 70 or so species |
| Park: Cuclillo from Cocos Island (Coccyzus | | | | include three found nowhere else: the Cocos Cuckoo, |
| ferrugineus); Mosquerito (Nesotriccus ridgwayi) and | | | | the Cocos Finch (shades of Darwin!), and the Cocos |
| Pinzon from Cocos Island (Pinaroloxias inomata). Two | | | | Flycatcher. |
| reptiles joined the selective and exclusive list of | | | | Hiking: For a little legwork between dives, head up |
| species that are unique in the world: Lizard (Norops | | | | 2,092-foot Mount Yglesias, the highest peak on the |
| townsendi) and the Salamander (Sphaerodactuylus | | | | island. The trail to the summit, one of several on the |
| pacificus). | | | | island, leads through rainforest (and passes the wreck |
| If you are already amazed with the natural panorama | | | | of a B-24 in the jungle), and the view of the Pacific |
| in land, come on and explore the depths...many more | | | | at the top might even make you forget about your |
| treasures are waiting for you. Scuba Diving at Cocos | | | | swim fins for a while. |