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Last updated on September 29, 2022
Isla Coco, off the northeastern coast of Isla Coiba, takes its name from the lonely coconut tree overlooking the tiny beach of this small islet. The crystal-clear waters surrounding Isla Coco will bring you wonderful snorkeling adventures in a paradisiacal setting. In these rocky areas, colonized by hard coral, you will come across hawksbill sea turtles and a large diversity of colorful fish.
Isla Coco is a small islet located in Coiba National Park, less than 1 mile off the coast of Isla Coiba. Only accessible by boat, visitors mainly reach this island from Santa Catalina, on the mainland.
Several local operators offer tours in the National Park, including 2 to 3 snorkeling stops on the islets (Isla Coco and usually Granito de Oro), and lunch on the main island.
Water entrance is from the boat, in front of the islet.
All the islets surrounding are worth exploring, but underwater life is at its most abundant along the rocky point west of the beach, and around the northern tip of the island.
In the shallower areas close to the islet (↕3-10ft/1-3m), even though the seabed is poor in corals, you will see many of the archipelago’s most typical fish, such as sergeant-major, parrotfish, jacks and shoals of razor surgeonfish busy feeding on the algae.
Among the most colorful fish that you could see in this spot are the king angelfish and the Moorish idol.
Swim away from the islet to reach the deepest areas (↕10-20ft/3-6m). This is where you’ll have the best chances to spot a resident hawksbill sea turtle, quite common in the archipelago.
Underwater visibility is generally excellent at this location, as well as the sea conditions..
The site is completely natural. There are no restaurants and no water supply on the islet. Tours generally include lunch and drinks.
These spots are accessible to anyone with basic snorkeling skills, and feeling comfortable in the water and with his snorkeling gear. You will enter the water from the shore (beach, pontoon, ladder, rocks) or from a boat. The water height in the sea entrance area is reasonable, but you will not necessarily be within your depth. Moderate currents can occur in the area, even when the sea conditions are good. The distance to swim to reach the most interesting snorkeling areas of the spot does not exceed 200 meters. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
