Islands

The Cocos (Keeling) Islands are Australia’s best kept secret  and one of the last, undeveloped tropical island groups, in the world.  Comprising of twenty seven coral islands forming two atolls, the isolated  cluster is located in the middle of the Indian Ocean, approximately  2750km north- west of Perth W.A. The northern atoll, North Keeling, is a  single uninhabited island. The main atoll is a horseshoe chain of islands  encircling a lagoon. This atoll contains five major islands, including the  only inhabited islands of the group, Home Island and West Island

The Environment:

  

Far removed from the hustle and bustle of mainland Australia, these palm clad, tropical islands surrounded by aquamarine waters, clear blue  skies and white sandy beaches, create the idyllic setting for the holiday experience of a lifetime. This pristine, island paradise is further enhanced by the number of activities on offer. Awesome marine life, pristine, gardens of hard  and soft corals, warm waters with excellent  visibility offering some of the best diving and snorkelling in the world. Direction Island, just a short boat ride from the main island, is a must for all water sport enthusiasts. It is an uninhabited paradise with white sandy beaches and swaying palm trees. The southeast trade winds experienced during July to October offer ideal conditions for wind surfers, kite surfers and surfboard riders, Q-Station Bay gives surfers a consistent left-hand break. Nature lovers will be attracted to North Keeling it is covered in untouched, native forest it is home to a rich diversity of nesting seabirds. The protected shipwreck of the German raider, SMS Emden, lies offshore in a watery grave after its encounter with the Australian cruiser HMAS Sydney in 1914. Diving is permitted November to April.

The Climate :

Cocos enjoys a balmy, tropical climate throughout the year. Temperatures rarely exceed 32C or fall below 20C. Tropical cyclone season runs from 1 November to 30 April , during this time you may encounter sultry weather and light winds. The remainder of the year is dominated by the south east trade winds. 

Some of the most popular dive sites are as follows; The Cabbage Patch

 Enter the world of  beautiful green and gold  cabbage shaped coral. Thousands of tiny anthias and chromis hover just above the coral. The pristine dive site is considered by many as a must do dive ! Fan Wall  is a spectacular steep wall dropping to 30 metres before it falls away to great depths. Gorgonian Fans cling to the sides of the walls, swaying in the gentle current. If you keep a close eye out into the blue, grey reef sharks often cruise by. This is also a spot frequented by manta rays.

Two Caves - This is the site of an illegal Sri Lankan boat that was sunk as a dive site. It has enticed a school of bat fish that call it home, along with other smaller fish. “Kat” the  dugong is often seen here along with  Manta’s and sharks. Over the drop off are two small caves where sleeping white tips are often found. 

Rose Wall - Cascading down the wall to about 50 metres is this rosy coloured hard coral. Smaller fish love it - a sanctuary for them to dart into as divers drift past. Coming back up, the scenery changes to a mixture of plates and leather corals. Schools of Surgeonfish and Parrotfish often graze here, rising in a wave of colour to sink back down into the corals to feed.