Dirty Rock - Cocos Island
Dirty Rock is a prime spot on Cocos, basically a meeting point for pelagics. We’ve seen huge schools of hammerheads here, often circling overhead or cruising past in the blue. Keep an eye out for marble rays, Galapagos sharks, and even the occasional whale shark making an appearance. It’s a drift dive, so comfortable with currents is a must.
- Location
- Cocos Island, Costa Rica, Central America
- Coordinates
- 5.544999, -87.085190
- Type
- pinnacle
- Maximum Depth
- 15-40m
Marine Protected Area: Parc national de l'île Cocos
Nearby Dive Sites in Cocos Island
- Alcyone - 25-40m (cave)
- Bait Balls
- Bajo Alcyone (pinnacle)
- Bajo Dos Amigos
- Dirty Rock
- Dos Amigos - Big
- Dos Amigos Grande
- Dos Amigos Pequeño - 15-30m (pinnacle)
- Dos Amigos - Small
- Isla Cascara - 15-35m (wall)
- Isla Manuelita - 10-35m (wall)
- Isla Pajara
- Lobster Rock
- Manuelita Deep
- Manuelita Garden (reef)
Marine Life in Cocos Island
Home to 291 recorded species including 245 reef fish, 28 sharks & rays, 8 whales & dolphins, 3 other, 3 sea cucumbers, 1 starfish.
Notable Species
- Agujon Needlefish (Tylosurus acus) - Reef Fish
- Blackfish (Melichthys niger) - Reef Fish
- Salmon (Elagatis bipinnulata) - Reef Fish
- Cortez Rainbow Wrasse (Thalassoma lucasanum) - Reef Fish
- Kawakawa (Euthynnus affinis) - Reef Fish
- Notchfin Blenny (Entomacrodus chiostictus) - Reef Fish
- Ocean Triggerfish (Canthidermis maculata) - Reef Fish
- Giant Hawkfish (Cirrhitus rivulatus) - Reef Fish
- Coral Hawkfish (Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus) - Reef Fish
- Kingston (Decapterus macarellus) - Reef Fish
- Devilfish (Ophioblennius atlanticus) - Reef Fish
- Mexican hogfish (Bodianus diplotaenia) - Reef Fish
- Ring-tailed Surgeonfish (Acanthurus xanthopterus) - Reef Fish
- Scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) - Sharks & Rays
- Giant damselfish (Microspathodon dorsalis) - Reef Fish
- Kihikihi (Zanclus cornutus) - Reef Fish
- Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Bluefish (Kyphosus vaigiensis) - Reef Fish
- Whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus) - Sharks & Rays
- Glasseye Snapper (Heteropriacanthus cruentatus) - Reef Fish