Ocean First in Cocos

Ocean First   Jul 05, 2022

Cocos Island, off the coast of Costa Rica, is a spectacular migratory corridor for many pelagic animals, most notably scalloped hammerhead, and it remains one of our favorite dive destinations in the world. In 2002, the waters surrounding Cocos Island were designated as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Suspected to be a migratory corridor for large pelagic animals including sharks, rays, tunas, and dolphins, this unique marine habitat is still under siege by illegal fishermen hunting sharks. In an effort to draw attention to the spectacular marine life unique to this area and the violations of various international agreements that protect the marine life of Cocos Island, world renowned oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle of Mission Blue and Dr. Alex Antoniou from Fins Attached have spearheaded an expedition to the island.

Just a few weeks ago, our founder, Graham Casden, while celebrating his 40th birthday, joined Dr. Sylvia Earle and a team of scientists and filmmakers on the research expedition to Cocos to tag these majestic sharks. The scientists were able to tag five hammerhead and replace four receivers, making the expedition a resounding success. Our desire to be a part of this expedition was to document the experience, passion, education, and the teamwork that goes into protecting the wild spaces of this planet and creating Hope Spots for future generations. Stay tuned for footage from the expedition, coming soon…

Experience the legendary “Island of the Sharks” in person on our 2019 trip to Cocos Island!