Ripper

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 - Ripper 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

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

Ripper, on the eastern side of Cocos, is one of those sites that wakes you up. The clue’s in the name; it can absolutely rip, so we’d suggest leaving this one for when you’ve got a few strong drifts under your belt. If the current is running, you’ll drop in and practically fly past a big coral mound, the sandy chute alongside blurring into a streak. We’ve had dives here where we swim hard away from the boat for a good 45 minutes, push out into the blue, then just let the current sweep us back to the anchor line for a mid-water safety stop. The reward for that effort? Often, we find a resident school of Big Eye Trevally hanging out, and they’re famously curious, sometimes circling divers closely, almost playing. You’ll be propelled past a sloping wall of hard corals – lots of Honeycomb and Staghorn – the colours muted by the speed, but the sheer volume impressive. We love Ripper for its raw energy and the chance for an exhilarating, fast-paced drift. It’s a site for competent divers who enjoy a bit of an adrenaline rush and the feeling of being truly part of the ocean’s flow.