The name ‘Cocos (Keeling) Islands’ may cause a question sign to pop up in your head-after all, these islands are hidden beauties that very few divers have come to know. However, whether you are a nerd in geography or still wondering where in the world these islands are located, it will help to know that within the next few minutes of reading this article you will be adding five more dive sites to your ‘diving agenda’. Sure, this might sound a bit cocky to most people, but the pure truth is that the Cocos Keeling Islands’ top five dive sites have been universally accepted as underwater wonder worlds that are in a different category all to themselves. Before we get into the nitty gritty of each one, we will take the time to do a crash course in geography for those that have absolutely no idea where the Cocos (Keeling) Islands are located.
The natural tendency of most people is to assume that the Cocos and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands are the same place. However, while the former is located in the Pacific Ocean, one will discover that the latter is located in the Indian Ocean and has absolutely no connection with the other island. The Cocos (Keeling) Islands are located approximately midway between Australia and Sri Lanka and consists of 27 coral islands and two atolls. Despite being a tiny speck on the map the islands have been the center for World War I and II and have also felt Charles Darwins’ tread upon its streets in 1836 when he was studying his theory about how atolls are formed. Today, the islands have survived the devastating wars and are now exotic pearls within the Indian Ocean that any adventurous diver should and must see.
Now with the geographic and historic barrier out of the way we will get into the details of the top five dive sites that have made the Cocos Keeling Islands a rare diving treasure-Cabbage Patch, Ski Run, Fan Wall, Two Caves, and Garden of Eden.
Cabbage Patch
The name of this dive site pretty much says it all in diving terminology. It has a total area of roughly 500m filled with Cabbage/Salad corals which is scientifically known as Turbinaria reniformis. Every inch Cabbage Patch is filled with spectacular sights that are caused by the special effects of the sunlight hitting the cabbage corals to produce wonderful colors that are rarely seen in the underwater world. In addition to this, there is a rocky substrate that is located within 18 meters of the cabbage corals. The alert eyes will spot reef sharks, garden eels, golden damselfish, and a number of marine inhabitants that have transformed this natural paradise into their home sweet home.
Ski Run
Ski Run has a lovely array of gorgonian fans and whip corals that have been finely sprinkled to its sides to add beauty and character to its overall formation. Octopus, reef sharks, barracuda, tuna dolphins and many others can be spotted swimming from side to side or lazing around while they travel in search for food. The steep canyon that quickly changes the scenery challenges the diver to explore even more of the mysteries that are hidden within its depths.
Fan Wall
The gentle current that marks this site creates the perfect diving conditions for both inexperienced and experienced divers. The steep wall is 30 meters long and is covered with beautiful Gorgonian Fans that sway gracefully from side to side as the currents pass over them. Fan Wall is home of grey reef sharks, mantas, Indian Ocean butterflyfish, dogtooth tuna, and many more.
Two Caves
This dive site has two spectacular areas to explore: two small caves that are the homes of white tip sharks and an old Sri Lankan boat that was sunk to add another option for divers to see. The caves and the boat have a wide variety of marine life that strings along each corner. Divers that are looking to see sharks, mantas and bat fish will find Two Caves a real charm given the numerous species that appear.
Garden of Eden
The Garden of Eden in Cocos (Keeling) Islands has a list of ‘forbidden fruits’ that any diver will want to experiment with. You will be surrounded by curious creatures at this dive site while you mingle with the natural inhabitants of the area. The numerous Gorgonian Fans have transformed it into a garden that is full of charm, color and beauty. The large pelagics that inhabit the area help to create the feel that you are entering another realm. This dive site is noted for its busy surroundings and with the growth of new plate corals and the colorful forms of turtles, parrotfish and surgeonfish it is easy to understand why.