Coco Island

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Thanks to the impressive marine life in its waters, Cocos Island was named one of the ten best dive sites in the world by PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) and a "must" according to diving experts.

Among the many attributes of Cocos Island is a surprising degree of biodiversity. The waters of this world-renowned island explode with life, including countless white tip reef sharks, hammerhead sharks, dolphins, blankets and marble stripes, giant brunettes, sailfish and, of course, the occasional whale shark.

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Other common encounters are large banks of horse mackerel and tuna, silky sharks, silver tips, marlin, Creole fish, green turtles and octopuses.

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Cocos Island also hosts at least 27 species of endemic fish, including the exotic pink-lipped batfish. Terrestrial life in Cocos also exhibits a large number of endemic species. The island is home to 70 of the 235 species of vascular plants identified in the world, some 25 species of moss, 27 species of liverwort and 85 species of fungi. There are more than 87 species of birds, including the famous cuckoo, finch and flycatcher of Cocos Island. There are 362 species of insects, of which 64 are endemic. Two native reptiles are found only on the island.

Under the waterfalls and in the rivers, there are freshwater fish that baffle scientists for their own existence. Due to its remote location and abundance of fresh water, Cocos has been, throughout history, a favorite refueling station for pirates, whalers and sailors.

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The first visitors left the pigs on the island as a source of fresh meat that perpetuates itself. To this day, wild pigs and deer abound, to the detriment of the island's native birds that nest on the ground. These animals, introduced by man, are also responsible for accelerating soil erosion with their excavation, which undermines and degrades native vegetation.