August 30, 2005- Dolphin friends at Sharkfin Rock

At 530am, engines were started and the USH was moved. I looked out my porthole to see only open ocean, no Cocos island in sight. That meant we were moving south along the eastern shore. That also meant that the seas were calm and we were going south to Ygelesias Bay! Yeah! Apparently the USH has not been to this part of the island and its southern dive sites in 4 months due to the strong currents in the rainy season.



Dive 13: Sharkfin rock- the southernmost dive site of Cocos, last visited 4 months ago by USH divers.

This rock is named Sharkfin because the exposed tip resembles the shape of a shark fin. Underwater it is the shape of an upside down cone. We descended to 80 feet . I, as usual, was stuck in some current pulling me away from the rest of the group. Thank goodness it wasn’t too strong. I pull myself along the outcrops of the rock to get myself with the rest of the group. Once collected, we each wedged ourselves into some out crop in the cone to watch the sea life go by. Many schools of a variety of fish- big eye jacks, blue fin trevally, black jacks ( these were my favorite- they were really big and a deep green color that I though was gorgeous), blue& gold snapper and many others I am still learning slowly to identify. In a large crevice in the rock, we found some resting white tips. After that we did a drift around the cone at about 60-70 feet ( in the direction that I was struggling against when I first descended). 1 hammerhead spotted in the distance. A few large Galapagos sharks came by. Apparently there were 4 but I saw 2. One came really close and circled around me – from what I understand, a territory defense behavior. I got to observe a few smaller fish ( rainbow runners) batting their bodies against it- cleaning mechanism?

When I surfaced, the dolphins showed up. Went back in with snorkel and got to swim with the dolphins! ( Finally! Been trying to do this since Australia 10 years ago when I went on a dolphin swim trip and saw NO dolphins!) There were about 6 dolphins, one mom & baby pair. I was the first to hit the water and completely exhausted myself splashing and screaming into my snorkel to get their attention. Luckily it worked and they were vocalizing back to my screams. We had a good 10 minutes playing with the dolphins. I guess they are just as curious about us and we are about them. They are smaller than the dolphins we encountered in Rangiroa.



We are at the midpoint of our adventure in Cocos. Sharkfin rock was the best dive yet in Cocos. Beautiful, fun, relaxed and interesting. We took a scenic boat ride on the way back. This part of Cocos is gorgeous. Waterfalls, steep rock cliffs, sea caves and arches. Sally red crabs( ? what are they called again), even spotted a deer in the hills. Many boobies & other seabirds nesting on the cliff faces and we can see their fluffy white chicks everywhere.



Dive 14: Alcyone

The seas are flat today and I am much more relaxed going down the line to Alcyone. We reach the rocky outcrop and find some rocks to hide behind. Large Almaco jacks come by. Many curious fish come by in close range. Tuna, several hammerheads, mostly isolated, 1 school of about 12. Am still waiting for the school of hundreds. Started ascent when no deco time hit 4 minutes.



Dive 15: Manta Point

This is the southern tip of Cocos island proper. Not too much to see here and visibility was not that great. Several green morays with white specks- one quite large. Lobster, small fish, white tips.



Dive 16: Night dive at Pajara

This is the best night dive ever! There is an extensive coral garden here . On first descent at dusk there wasn’t too much going on, but as it got darker, the night life started to awaken. A couple of turtles close range. Played with the flounder in the sandy bottom. Box crab ( also called shamed-faced crab)- funniest looking crab ever! When I first saw it, it look just like a rock on the sand, as it was perfectly circular. Then you notice the short stumpy legs hidden under. And then you notice the unproportionately oversized claws held up close to its face. This crab looks like it is a boxer on steroids. Saw an octopus hiding in a hole. Stuck my finger in and it changed colors from a beige- purple to a deep purple color. Saw a tiny red shrimp in another hole – first caught my eye when I noticed its tiny dual red retinal reflexes shining back at me. Giant hermit crab in a beautiful cone shell. A family of tiny bright red crab hiding in coral. There were also families of tiny very beautiful red and white fish living in the coral.