Isabelle Barbier
• 9 min read
What are the differences between the dive sites, marine life, required experience levels, and terrestrial interests in the Galápagos in Ecuador versus those of Cocos Island in Costa Rica? Which destination is better suited to your diving experience and expectations? We'll tell you everything you need to know before taking the plunge!
Cocos Island and the Galápagos are known for their rich biodiversity and dynamic marine ecosystems, making them great choices for experienced divers from around the world. However, there are essential differences between them that we will reveal to you.
How to get there: the Galápagos vs. Cocos Island
Cocos Island is located in the Pacific, about 500 km from Puntarenas, where you will embark from Costa Rica. Therefore, you can only reach Cocos Island by dive cruise boat. Currently, there are only three boats making the crossing. The city of Puntarenas is about a two-hour drive from San José (SJO), the capital of Costa Rica. You should arrive the day before your cruise in San José. The transfer from San José to Puntarenas is organized by the cruise boat. Once on the dive cruise boat, prepare for a more or less tumultuous journey lasting between 30 to 36 hours, which means two full nights on board before arriving at Cocos Island, and the same for the return trip. Once you arrive at Cocos Island, the boats anchor in a bay and do not move again.
The Galápagos Islands are also located in the Pacific Ocean, about 1000 km off the coast of Ecuador. To reach the islands, you can fly from Quito (UIO) or Guayaquil (GYE). Flights depart daily from both cities and take about 2 to 3 hours to reach the islands. There are two airports in the Galápagos, one on Baltra Island (GPS) and the other on San Cristobal Island (SCY). International flights to Ecuador land in the evening, while flights to the Galápagos depart in the morning, so you will need to spend a night in Guayaquil or Quito before departing the next day.
How many dives will you do? Will you encounter other groups underwater? Is there a lot of traveling each day?
Cocos Island in Costa Rica is very far from the mainland, over 500 km from the coast. This is why cruises are generally long, lasting 8 to 10 nights. Once at Cocos Island, you will travel to the dive sites each day by zodiac, which is convenient for those prone to seasickness.
On 8-night cruises, you will do 15 dives, and on 10-night cruises, you will do 19 dives. For safety reasons, due to the island's distance from the coast, dive cruise boats limit themselves to a maximum of three dives per day with a maximum duration of 55 minutes per dive. The park rangers determine the allocation of dive sites to the cruise boats. You will not encounter other groups underwater.
On Galápagos liveaboards, there is daily navigation as you will travel from island to island, diving around a total of five islands. The longest journeys are between Isabela and Wolf and Darwin, which can take between 12 and 16 hours depending on conditions. Departures generally occur just after the last dive of the day, allowing you to be ready for the first dive the following day, usually around 6 a.m. Most dive cruises in the Galápagos last seven nights. During the cruise, you will do 19 dives, averaging four dives per day, and 45 minutes per dive. You will dive from Day One.
The cruises are therefore very rhythmically structured by the number of daily dives and by the almost daily movement. There are more liveaboards in the Galápagos than at Cocos Island; nine have dive permits in the Galápagos, compared to three at Cocos Island. However, there are more sites visited in the Galápagos, and the liveaboards organize their departure days to avoid being at the same sites at the same times, although it can occasionally happen to encounter another group underwater. Unfortunately, not all liveaboards in the Galápagos have the same experience or level of safety, so don’t hesitate to contact SeaCrush for advice.
What level of diving experience do you need to dive at Cocos Island and the Galápagos?
For both the Galápagos and Cocos Island, it is recommended to have a minimum of 50 dives logged, and an Advanced Open Water or more. Due to strong currents and sometimes challenging diving conditions, both destinations are reserved for experienced divers.
Divers interested in the Galápagos and Cocos Island should have experience in deep diving (with a maximum depth of 30 meters in the Galápagos and 35 meters at Cocos Island), drift diving, and, of course, good buoyancy control.
It is also recommended for divers to use Nitrox, as it can help reduce the risk of decompression sickness, which is essential when diving far from the coast.
What is the difference between the marine life and dive sites of the Galápagos and Cocos Island?
Both destinations offer an incredible diversity of marine life and are very complementary. You can see Galápagos sharks, silky reef sharks, white-tipped sharks, tunas, and other pelagic fish, as well as sea turtles (green and hawksbill), oceanic manta rays, eagle rays, dolphins, and of course, hammerhead sharks and tiger sharks! Both destinations also have seasonal whale sharks.
Both Cocos Island and the Galápagos feature beautiful topography with pinnacles, arches, and more sheltered sites. However, Cocos Island is located further north and has more coral reefs, although this is not the main attraction of the dives.
There are, however, some notable differences between the two destinations.
Cocos Island offers multiple cleaning stations for hammerheads, providing excellent close observation opportunities. At Cocos, you can also expect to see impressive tiger sharks in their natural habitat. Their population is currently expanding, which is a sign of a balanced marine environment. As a result, there are fewer turtles and rays. In the Galápagos, you might occasionally catch a glimpse of a tiger shark at Darwin or Wolf.
Interestingly, Cocos Island at the peak of high season allows you to observe large pelagics without constantly being in the current.
The Galápagos Islands are famous for their endemic species, such as the marine iguana and the Galápagos penguin. You may also see mola mola and sea lions. You won’t see any of these species at Cocos Island. In the Galápagos, don’t forget your reef hook, as the current is stronger.
En résumé, on pourrait dire que l'Ile Cocos est vraiment le paradis des amateurs de requins que vous observerez sur les célèbres sites d'Alcyone, Dirty Rock et Manuelita.
The Galápagos offer a greater diversity of species, and the ultimate goal is to dive around Darwin and Wolf Islands.
Both destinations are within protected marine areas, with strict regulations in place to preserve the marine ecosystem.
SeaCrush's Pick for a cruise to Cocos Island: Cocos Island Liveaboard Trip (10 nights starting from ...)
What is the difference in water temperature between the Galápagos and Cocos Island?
Regarding water temperature, dives at Cocos Island are never cold, averaging between 26-30 degrees Celsius. For Cocos Island, a 3 to 5 mm wetsuit is sufficient.
In the Galápagos, water temperature varies between 22-29 degrees Celsius depending on the season. There is also a site in the Galápagos, near Isabela, where the water temperature will be 14-16 degrees Celsius; this is the location where you can observe mola mola, and you typically do two dives there.
Is it more expensive to dive in the Galápagos or Cocos Island? When should you book?
Due to their remoteness and the limited number of spots, these trips should be planned in advance.
While it is sometimes possible to find last-minute discounts for the Galápagos, this is very rare during high season. This also means you will need to purchase an airline ticket, which is often more expensive... so it's not always a good deal. There are almost never last-minute discounts for Cocos Island, which often books up one to two years in advance.
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Overall, it can be said that liveaboards to Cocos Island are longer and therefore more expensive, and the marine park fees are also higher than those for the Galápagos. As of now, expect to pay $490 (about ... EUR) plus 13% taxes for Cocos Island park fees on a 10-night cruise, while you'll pay only $200 (about ... EUR) for the Galápagos park fees.
Next, for both destinations, you will also need to add the usual costs: Nitrox, rental of diving equipment, and tips for the crew.
A note on tipping: it is recommended to give around 10% of the cost of the cruise per person. This is not negligible, so keep it in mind when calculating the overall cost of your trip. Once you see the hard work of the team throughout the week, you will understand!
Are there land tours at Cocos Island and the Galápagos?
During your cruise to Cocos Island, there are two or three opportunities for land visits: a visit to the ranger station, some waterfalls if the weather permits, and a thirty-minute walk to a beautiful viewpoint. For other land visits and discoveries, you will need to wait until your return to the mainland.
In the Galápagos, a land visit to the main island of Baltra is planned the day before disembarking to see the giant tortoises. It is not possible to set foot on the other islands of the Galápagos during the dive cruise, but there are some zodiac rides organized to observe marine iguanas, penguins, and birds. If you wish to visit other islands such as Isabela, San Cristobal, or Seymour, you will need to plan to spend a few extra days or weeks either before or after the cruise.
Where should I dive first: in the Galápagos or at Cocos Island?
In summary, as you can see, there is no standard answer to whether you should dive at Cocos Island or the Galápagos first. Consider your priorities and preferences in terms of marine life, diving conditions, accessibility, and overall experience, and use these factors to guide your decision!
For personalized advice, contact SeaCrush, the Reef-Friendly Travel Agency, to organize an individual or group trip! We have dived multiple times in these destinations, as well as Socorro in Mexico and many others around the world... and we are able to offer you a cruise tailored to your desires!
