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POPULAR COCOS DIVE SITES
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The Cabbage Patch. Located on the southern side of Horsburgh Island. The site is made up of one predominant coral, Turbinaria reniformis, Cabbage or Lettuce Coral. It covers an area of approximately 700 square metres from 6 metres to around 18 metres. Goldback anthias and Ternate Chromis hover above the coral, ready to seek shelter in its coverage as divers cruise near. At 30 metres stands of beautiful red whip corals appear to grow out of the glorious white sandy beach. Common to the Cabbage Patch are garden eels and sleeping whitetip reef sharks. |
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Cologne Gardens. Located on the western side of Horsburgh, north of the Cabbage Patch. The wide reef flat is covered with many species of leather corals of different textures and colours. The reef flat falls sharply from 16 metres to a sandy beach some 50 metres below. Apricot coloured gorgonian fans adorn the wall which is full of nooks and crannies to explore. Often 1000's of blacktail snappers congregate, moving slowly over the corals, as well as midnight snapper, fusiliers, grey reef sharks and sweetlip. Colourful red stands of lobyphillia coral and large plate corals break up the expanse of the leather corals. Small colonies of sea-anemones have also made their homes amongst the leather corals. |
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Fan Wall. Located close to Direction Island and this is one of the "desert dives". Initially on descent you may wonder why dive such a barren site. However by 30 metres it becomes very obvious. The ridges and walls are covered with huge gorgonian fans. Hiding amongst these fans are longnose hawkfish, Indian Ocean butterflyfish, the elusive and rare Ornate Angelfish (Genicanthus bellus) and other smaller reef fish. Above and in the blue, grey reef sharks often cruise as well as dogtooth tuna and the shy Napoleon Wrasse. It's also a site where manta rays are regularly seen. Fan Wall is a great "fish" dive. Occasionally Kat the dugong will pay a visit, mainly out of curiousity as this isn't one of his usual haunts. |
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Two Caves. Located close to Direction Island in a fairly barren area. Although seemingly devoid of good coral coverage, the fish life certainly make up for the lack of colour. This is the site where a Sri Lankan people smuggler was sunk. Unfortunately most of the boat has broken up however what is left has made a wonderful haven for many schools of fish, particularly the Harlequin Sweetlip (Plectorhinchus chaetodontoides). Two Caves also offer a wonderful refuge for fish. Although the caves are quite small, you can actually swim into them. Sharks regularly patrol this area, along with black trevally, tuna, mantas and KAT, the lone dugong! |
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Ski Run. Love it or hate it. This dive site caters to the adventure diver or macro enthusiastic. A sandy bottom with several bombies each with its own unique ecosystem. Down beyond 30 metres huge gorgonian fans and whip corals adorn a steep channel that eventually plummets to the depths of the ocean. Here you'll find the rare Ornate Angelfish and sharks cruising out in the blue. Mantas quite often appear cruising up the sandy chute. Batfish, queenfish and trevally are common to the area. Up shallow, macro critters. Several species of shrimp, nudibranchs, gobies, blennies, morays, juvenile angelfish, leafy scorpion fish, wrasse and much much more. |
Download PDF Map of Cocos Dive Sites
