Bajo Alcyone – Jam-Packed Underwater Action

Located in the eastern side of Cocos Island, this reef was named after the expedition ship of Jacques Cousteau, who nonetheless invented the scuba equipment we know today. His expedition and yours will be pretty much the same as the intensity of underwater action will be jam-packed with hundreds of hammerhead sharks, thousands of jacks and other species that literally covers the reef.

The Dive Profile

Type of Diving: Liveaboard, Seamount and Deep Diving
Maximum Depth: 30 meters (100 feet)
Average Depth: 25 meters (82 feet)
Visibility: 20 meters (66 feet)
Water Temperature: 73 – 75 ^OF (22 – 24 ^OC)

The Usual Dive Plan

Diving in Bajo Alcyone basically starts by descending to an exposed seamount that goes all the way down to 40 meters (130 feet). As mild to moderate currents are usually present, you will do an anchor line descent until you reach the reef and start your journey by swimming towards the edge of a reef ledge near an established cleaning station.

You have to remember that the main reason you are exploring Bajo Alcyone is to observe and possibly interact with hammerhead sharks. So with this, the usual scenario on this particular dive is you will position yourself on the reef ledge while looking to the deep blue open water and holding to a rock or any solid object. The first appearance of hammerhead sharks will come from a distance and will eventually go near the reef where you are situated. Once the school of hammerhead sharks is within the vicinity of the reef, you will be amazed by its huge number where the word “continuous swim-bys” is one of the common observations written in a dive log.

There are instances that your Divemaster will lead your group and swim a bit off the reef in the open water and lets you experience observing hammerhead sharks out in the open. Word of advice: once the hammerhead is within your sight, give the most attention and observation as possible where the school of hammerhead sharks are just passing by the reef and will eventually leave after a few minutes of encounter.

There’s more to see aside from Hammerhead Sharks

If you think the action ends when you touch down at the seamount and observe hammerhead sharks, then you are wrong. As you finished your hammerhead shark observation and may start ascending to shallower depths, you will realize that the reef itself is another feature of this dive where you can find a healthy reef system filled with reef associated species like octopus, eels, marble rays, white tip sharks, eagle rays, sea turtles and a lot more like the whirling school of jacks. Bajo Alcyone is one of the few dive sites in Cocos Island where you can see the endemic Cocos Barnacle Blenny (Acanthemblemaria atrata). If you really have a lucky day, or should we say the environmental conditions are all in the right condition, then whalesharks or manta rays can be included as part of your interaction when diving in this spot which is considered as the best dive site of Costa Rica.

Reference

Undersea Hunter Group: www.underseahunter.com

Dive the World: www.dive-the-world.com

Dive Buddy: www.divebuddy.com

Video courtesy from Jean-Marc Thimon