Our first dive and right under the boat we found lots of white tip reef sharks. These guys will just sit around during the day, but at night are vociforous hunters. Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Cindy found this grappling hook on the bottom under our boat. We were at a park mooring as instructed. This was to not harm the healthy hard corals adjacent to the anchorage. I kidded Cindy that this was her “Shark Hook”…. Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Trevally Jack Face Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Coronet Fish at Manuelita Reef Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Cindy with Marbled Ray, Isla Manuelita Reef Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Note the stinger at the bottom left on this Marbled Rays’ tail. They are quite harmless to divers and generally “fly away” when approached. Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Frog Fish profile. These amazing “ambush predators” look like a common underwater sponge. Look closely at the profile of the upper frog fishes mouth, eye and fin (at the bottom). The second frog fish is face on to the camera. These are very difficult to spot. They come in all sizes. The upper one was almost 10 inches long. The lower one was about 7 inches long. Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Wilson Cadavid, our dive guide from “Sea Hunter” poses in this forced perspective with Cindy in the background and a “Starry Flounder” in his gaze. Isla Manuelita Reef. Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Scrawled File Fish at Isla Manuelita Coral Garden. Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Jeweled Moray Eel. The owner of “Sea Hunter”, Avi Klapfer has a wonderful shot of one of these eels with sand hanging on it’s head which he calls, “Cleopatra”. Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Puffer Fish Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Yellow Puffer Fish Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Surgeon fish School Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Schooling Striped Grunts Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Wilson with white tip reef shark. Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Parrot Fish. This one type of fish is one of the main creators of sand in the world. They are constantly munching at the coral, breaking it down and creating the beautiful beaches we see all over the world. Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Bicolor Parrot Fish Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Parrot Fish Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Parrot Fish Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Blue Trevally Jack. These fish are very common on the reef. Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Tiny fish seeking the protection of black sea urchins. Cindy’s favorite. Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Banner Fish. This is a classic “cleaner fish”. The signature animal of Coco Island is the hammerhead shark and these fish are the reason they come. To be cleaned of parasites. In the views to come, you will see these fish on or near the hammerhead sharks. Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Hammerhead Silhoutte. The hammerheads often school and frequent “cleaner stations”. Smaller fish like the banner fish symbiotically pick at wounds, parasites, etc. A classic commensal relationship. Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Here we are in the “land” of Jurassic Park. These are the truly pre-historic animals of Isla Coco. They average between 7-12 feet and aren’t really interested in us at all. Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Hammerhead cruising “Dirty Rock”. We have to be very still and not show aggression toward these sharks or they turn and leave immediately. When we are still on the bottom, behind rocks watching them, they will sometimes approach us for a look see. Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Hammerhead on patrol. Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Spotted Eagle Ray. These rays cruise the reef and are usually quite timid. We have some video of one feeding at Isla Manuelita which we hope to edit and post soon. Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Hammerhead approach. This animal was curious as to what I was. I held my breath and hoped he would approach. About 9 feet long, this shot was taken at about 5 feet away. Isla Coco, Costa Rica
A moment later I could have touched him. This shot was taken with a 17 mm super wide angle lens. Note the eye at the end of the hammer! Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Once he realized I was no threat and his curiousity aswaged, he simply swam on by. Note the iridescence on the body and dorsal fin with the strobe light. Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Hammerhead Reef. At two dive sites in particular, Dirty Rock and Alcyone we were able to view these magnificent animals on almost every dive. Note the gill structure, the eye on the left side of the head and some slight damage to the left pectoral fin. This is why the hammerheads are here. To be “cleaned” of this damage by various types of cleaner fish. The Banner Fish is the primary one, but several species actually clean the hammerheads. Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Hammerheads on parade. Often when one animal would come in for a close view, one or two other would as well. Isla Coco, Costa Rica
It’s acutally quite easy to make them go away. All you have to do is BREATHE. The hammerheads are apparently afraid of or annoyed by Scuba Divers bubbles. Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Often after our hammerhead encounters, we would see huge jack schools above the reef. On several occasions we heard that Silky Sharks would be feeding on the bait schools. We did not see this, but DID see a nice encounter of a Silky being “cleaned” which we will post on video. From the size of Wilson in the photo, you get a perspective of the size of these schools. Thousands of fish! Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Bait balls are very common forms of protection for hundreds of species of fish. Here, no single individual is more at risk as the “ball” offers protection from being cut out of the pack. Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Cindy under Jack and friends…. Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Pellagic Jelly Fish. This jelly is only about 4 inches long. There were hundreds on every dive. One of the reasons we wear full wetsuits even though the water was 85 degrees at the surface and only 78-80 at 100 feet! Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Hammers with Banner Fish approaching. Isla Coco, Costa Rica
What a priveledge to swim and watch these magnificent animals in such close proximity. Alcyone Reef was named after Jacques Cousteau’s second research vessel “Alcyone” in the 1980’s when it’s crew discovered this open water pinnacle 1/2 mile off the island. Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Banner Fish fearlessly approach “dinner”!… Isla Coco, Costa Rica
Often as we swam above the reef at the end of our dives, schools of hammerheads could be seen in the distance. I leave you with this signature shark of Isla Coco and the wonderful week of diving we spent there will always be with us…. Isla Coco, Costa Rica
