Ripper - Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Sunset Reef, just a five-minute hop from Compass Point Dock, is one of our go-to shallow dives when we’re looking for something easy and rewarding. It’s a proper lagoon site, sheltered nicely from the big swells by the barrier reef, which makes for consistently calm conditions. The reef itself kicks off around seven metres and comes right up to a couple of metres, perfect for a long, relaxed bottom time. What we love about Sunset is how much life packs into such a small, shallow space. The coral heads are an oasis; we've spent ages just watching the Goldline Blennies darting about, or spotting an Island Frillfin tucked away. Keep an eye out for the old Spanish anchor resting in the sand, it's a great photo op. We’ve seen Barracuda hanging lazily, schools of grunts and snappers, and even a few hefty Cubera Snappers cruising by. Visibility averages a solid 16 metres, often better on a calm morning. For an easy, long dive with plenty to see without going deep, Sunset Reef is our pick. It’s brilliant for photographers wanting good light, or anyone just wanting to chill out and observe without the pressure of depth or currents.

Location

Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Australia, Australasia

Coordinates

-12.094500, 96.891600

Type

reef