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