Garden of Eelden

Best months: Jul–Nov

Why dive here

With 231+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, blacktip reef sharks, blue sharks, grey reef sharks and manta rays - Garden of Eelden offers some of Cocos (Keeling) Islands's richest reef diving. Water ranges 27-29°C, warmest January, February, March.

Best timeJul–Nov

WetsuitA 3mm shorty or thin full wetsuit

Marine lifeBarracuda, Blacktip Reef Sharks, Blue Sharks, Grey Reef Sharks and Manta Rays · 231+ species recorded

Water27-29°C · warmest January, February, March

CharacterReef dive · max 5-12m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

Garden of Eelden is one of those sites we always come back to when we need a moment of zen. It’s not about big pelagics here, though you can sometimes spot a lone bluefin trevally patrolling the blue. Instead, it’s all about the sand. Descend to the sandy slopes, no deeper than 20m, and you'll find hundreds, maybe thousands, of garden eels swaying in unison, their heads popping out of the sand like anemones. We love getting low and watching their rhythmic dance, eyes always peeled for a particularly bold individual to extend further than the rest. The shallow reef top, full of cauliflower and honeycomb corals, has some really interesting gullies to poke around in. Look closely and you’ll find plenty of smaller life, like the vibrant Batavian parrotfish grazing on the coral and the camouflaged freckled anglerfish if you’ve got a good eye. Visibility here is usually fantastic, often pushing 35m, making for bright, clear dives. This site is perfect for photographers, especially those who love macro and wide-angle shots of the eels. It’s a very chill dive, ideal for easing into your Cocos trip or unwinding after a day of drift diving.