Cocos: good months/bad months

[Scubajohn]

i've decided to treat myself to a Cocos liveaboard during the next 18 months. This is going to be a 'once in a lifetime' trip, so i don't want to time it badly.

None of the operators have any useful info on seasonality on their web sites - so i would really appreciate any knowledge on times to aim for, times to avoid.

Thanks

John

[ChristianG]

i've decided to treat myself to a Cocos liveaboard during the next 18 months. This is going to be a 'once in a lifetime' trip, so i don't want to time it badly.

None of the operators have any useful info on seasonality on their web sites - so i would really appreciate any knowledge on times to aim for, times to avoid.n

The CG potted general (nothing is certain in this life, especially weather) advisory on things weather and really nasty stuff like Hurricanes, Typhoons and Cyclones:

• If it's right on, or close to, the equator, yes, it will rain but it's going to do that pretty well at any time of year. Places like Chuuk, Yap, Pohnpei, amongst many others, fall into that category.
• A little way further away from the equator, in tropical/subtropical areas things get more interesting. There, if you're unlucky, you'll get to shake hands with a Typhoon, Cyclone or Hurricane and, believe me, you don't want to shake hands with one of those puppies. Essentially, they're the same thing, just named differently depending on location. Oh, and you will, like as not, meet a monsoon, what we Aussies call "The Big Wet". Believe me please, the rain in England, at its heaviest, is a light shower when compared to proper monsoonal rain. You don't want to know about that either. 15 seconds without shelter and you'll be completely, 100%, drenched, moreover you won't be able to see where you're driving never mind windscreen wipers.

Here's the tricky part: in the northern hemisphere this means that you avoid going in your summer months, June through November sounds good to me. The problem is that in the southern hemisphere things are "upside down" and so is the weather. Here you avoid your winter, our summer so in Oz you avoid FNO (Far Northern Oz) between November and May. Please note that you people wishing to dive the Great Barrier or Ningaloo Reefs or points further north than that.

As "Rules of Thumb" those are pretty good ones, even if I say so myself. :D

[Eddie Clamp]

i've decided to treat myself to a Cocos liveaboard during the next 18 months. This is going to be a 'once in a lifetime' trip, so i don't want to time it badly.

None of the operators have any useful info on seasonality on their web sites - so i would really appreciate any knowledge on times to aim for, times to avoid.

Thanks

John

What a great trip. Envy you! :p

Cocos info here with a couple of links to oldish reports:
http://www.bsac.com/divelocations.asp?itemid=991&itemTitle=Cocos+%26+Malpelo+Islands&section=1237&sectionTitle=Americas


HTH

[David Cowan]

None of the operators have any useful info on seasonality on their web sites - so i would really appreciate any knowledge on times to aim for, times to avoid.

Assuming you are inquirying about the Cocos Island in the Indian Ocean.

Have a look at the following link: it suggests that it is wet during the first half of the year and it is windy during the 2nd half of the year with December looking like the best month (i.e. no rain & minimal wind) - http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/cocos_island/climate.shtml. This link suggests that cyclones are not a big issue.

I suggest you contact the dive operators to ask their view on the best time to go. You could also contact the Shire of Cocos (Keeling) Islands (http://www.shire.cc) at info@shire.cc for an opinion.

Also suggest that you search the following websites; there are a lot of hits for Cocos Island - http://wadivers.com.au/forums/index.php & http://www.underwater.com.au/

[ChristianG]

Assuming you are inquirying about the Cocos Island in the Indian Ocean.
David,

I nearly made some sarcastic comments about Cocos Keeling, Cocos (NZ) and Cocos somewhere-off-the-eastern-part-of-South America. However I concluded that the OP meant the latter - most do, especially the ones with a European/US trait.

From memory, which may be distinctly sketchy, a pom mate of mine goes to the Coco Keelings regularly, as in, from memory, five times now.

[ChristianG]

i've decided to treat myself to a Cocos liveaboard during the next 18 months. This is going to be a 'once in a lifetime' trip, so i don't want to time it badly.
Some further advice:

It's a once-in-a-lifetime-trip, so make sure you take enough time to properly do it. Don't stint on time.

I did Chuuk that first time for nine days, but was able to extend it to 14 days no problem at all. That's (mostly, I would think) because I booked direct so the operator was happy to accommodate me. Granted, the accommodation was available in the first place, otherwise it would have proved impossible anyway but it happens that I didn't even have to change (single) cabins.

[Eddie Clamp]

Assuming you are inquirying about the Cocos Island in the Indian Ocean.

]


Ooops! Never thought about that Cocos. :)

Cheers David. ;)

[Scubajohn]

Hi all

its the Cocos off Costa Rica that i'm thinking of!

All the dive operators mention on their sites is the wet/dry season split, but imply that its equally wonderful all year round - which is unlikely!

Cheers

john

[Eddie Clamp]

Hi all

its the Cocos off Costa Rica that i'm thinking of!

All the dive operators mention on their sites is the wet/dry season split, but imply that its equally wonderful all year round - which is unlikely!

Cheers

john

Well thats sorted then :). Found this which may help:


Cocos Island lies in an Intertropical Convergence Zone. This zone is where the weather patterns of the two hemispheres converge near the equator. Here North and Southeast trade winds meet with the north and south equatorial currents. The warm north and south equatorial currents run in a westerly direction, which helps create a humid climate. While between the two, the counter equatorial current runs in the opposite direction. Ascending nutrient rich waters with these currents as they converge.

This high rainforest-clad island, with diverse currents and weather patterns, is rarely seen without some kind of cloud cover and receives 18-24ft (6-8m) of rain annually.

The dry season is from January-April, and the wet season is June-December. Torrential rain and beautiful sunny skies can be expected throughout the year.

Water temperatures are variable, but basically run between 74-87°F (23-30°C). Temperatures can vary dramatically with depth. Nearer the surface the water is warmer and deeper down it gets colder quickly. Air Temperatures range rarely fall below 75°F (20-33°C). It is hard to imagine good underwater visibility associated with an area of such high rainfall but, in fact, it has little effect.

Also found this :(

Today, Cocos Island can no longer be considered a marine reserve. It is now a fishing base. What had been considered a sanctuary for threatened marine species is now just an extended community for fishermen to exploit.

[mike etheredge]

I went the week before Christmas 2003 to test the Evolution with Sea Hunters. Brilliant week with perfect conditions both above and below water. More sharks than you can shake a stick at.:)

[Scubajohn]

Re the conservation issue that eddie raises... i found this from Sea Shepherd which is rather worrying:

Cocos Island Emergency

Every year, 1,250 visitors come to scuba dive Cocos Island, off Costa Rica, attracted by its extraordinary biodiversity of this World Heritage Site.

Today, Cocos Island can no longer be considered a marine reserve. It is now a fishing base. What had been considered a sanctuary for threatened marine species is now just an extended community for fishermen to exploit.

We are confronting a crisis.

The laws that exist to protect this island's marine reserve have ceased being enforced by the Costa Rican government. Both Costa Rican poachers as well as foreign flag poachers are now decimating the area with commercial fishing equipment. Oil, diesel fuel, batteries and floating plastic bags full of garbage are being dumped into the bays. The Cocos Island Park Rangers, lacking a proper patrol boat, are ill-equipped to effectively battle this situation despite the $133 National Park fee that each of the thousands of divers who visit Cocos pay to the Costa Rican government. The Costa Rican government is allowing the destruction of this unique World Heritage Site.

Just imagine 20 poachers fishing in a small bay. That is exactly what has occurred every day of the month since October 2001 in Cocos' Chatham Bay, fundamental breeding grounds for pelagic species. ACTION is demanded of the responsible authorities NOW! In a few more months, it will be too late.

[ChristianG]

ACTION is demanded of the responsible authorities NOW! In a few more months, it will be too late.
Sarcasm mode ON/:

Wot, you didn't know this?

Pray tell, which "responsible authorities"?

Sarcasm mode OFF/:

Easy to say but close to impossible to do.

Clearly you haven't seen "Sharkwater" (http://ecopreservationsociety.wordpress.com/2009/01/26/sharkwater-the-explosive-documentary-film-on-the-costa-rica-shark-fin-trade/). Yes, I deliberately chose that particular URL.

[Julieofthesea]

Scubajohn,
Cocos Island off of Costa Rica is a very special place. It should be on any diver's bucket list. I work for Reef & Rainforest Dive and Adventure Travel. We send divers there all the time. Jenny, the owner calls it one of her favorites.

Contrary to what you might think, the best time to go to Cocos IS the rainy season. The diving is better then. Please give us a call or send an email and we'd be happy to share more.

I've even heard that there is a special discount being offered on a Cocos trip right now.

Julie Clarke, Reef & Rainforest

400 Harbor Drive, Suite D, Sausalito, CA 94965
Phone: 415.289.1760 Ext 303 Toll Free: 800.794.9767 Fax: 415.289.1763
http://www.reefrainforest.com

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