With 27 coral islands and 500+ fish species to its name, it’s no wonder that snorkelling and scuba diving top the list of the best things to do in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
However, the Cocos have much more than that: there are birds from as far as Africa, delicious local dishes such as beef rendang and addictive kitesurfing powered by seasonal trade winds. As we explain in our ultimate Cocos (Keeling) Islands travel guide, this remote Australian territory even packs in its very own golf course.
If you’re trying to pick out the very best things to do in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, then let us help you decide. In this guide, we’ll share the best activities on and offshore, their costs and our favourite insiders’ tips.
Quick Answer – Top 5 Experiences at a Glance
- Snorkelling ($315+): Take your pick from snorkelling directly off beaches or reaching colourful reefs and turtle grazing areas by motorised canoe or boat.
- Scuba diving ($265+): Divers can get stuck into 20 dive sites within the lagoon itself or offshore. These include steep drop-offs, wreck dives and beginner-friendly dives.
- Kitesurfing ($320 – $450): Trade winds from May to June and September to October transform the lagoon into a playground for kitesurfers. Beginners’ lessons are available to book.
- Cultural experiences ($0 – $150): Try a cooking class, basket-weaving or tour historical sites like Oceania House on Home Island.
- Wildlife watching ($0 – $315): Look out for endemic and migratory birds, turtles, red crabs and other species like blue-tailed skink.
Water Activities (The Heart of Cocos)
If there’s one thing that defines the Cocos Islands activities, it’s the water. The Cocos are completely surrounded by one of the world’s largest protected marine sanctuaries.
The Cocos’ shallow, turquoise lagoon is freckled with bright, soft and hard corals… and with corals come tropical fish, reef sharks and gentle green and hawksbill turtles.
Protected by an outer reef, the lagoon is known for being particularly calm for snorkellers. Meanwhile, dive sites further from shore are sometimes a little more challenging but offer chances of spotting bigger creatures like dolphins and manta rays.
Snorkelling: Key Spots, Difficulty, Marine Life and Insider’s Tips
Cost: $315+
It’s no surprise that snorkelling is considered one of the best things to do in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, whether it’s directly from the shore or under the expert direction of a snorkelling guide.
First though, here’s an insider’s tip: run, don’t walk, to the West Island visitor centre to rent snorkel gear that fits; there’s a limited selection of mask, snorkel and fin sizes. It’s often better to bring your own snorkelling gear to the Cocos, especially if you’re visiting the Cocos with kids.
There are many places to go snorkelling and diving in the Cocos Keeling Islands, but these are some of our favourite snorkel sites:
1. The Rip, Direction Island
This drift snorkel is not for the faint of heart. However, as you’re carried along by the strong current, you’re in with a good chance of spotting blacktips and whitetip reef sharks, turtles and a variety of colourful reef fish.
The Rip is accessible from Cossie’s Beach on Direction Island (recommended for strong swimmers only) or by snorkel tour.
2. Trannies Beach, West Island
If you want to take the joeys for a gentle snorkel, the go-to is Trannies Beach at the northern tip of West Island. You may need to hire a bicycle or a car to reach this shallow site, as walking on foot from the town centre is a bit much.
3. Pulu Maraya, West Island
Pulu Maraya is another calm, shallow West Island snorkelling area with decent numbers of turtles, clams and rock cod. Head to Scout Park and make sure to time your trip with low or mid tide to walk across the reef.
4. The Eastern Atolls
Not keen on the idea of snorkelling solo? A short boat trip with a local operator will get you to less-busy snorkel sites like Prison Island and the Broccoli Patches.
Diving: Top Dive Sites, Operators and What to Expect
Cost: Single dives from $265
If you’d rather don a tank and mask, good news: diving is also one of the best things to do in the Cocos Keeling Islands. More good news: the Cocos has an average visibility of 25 metres and 20 mapped dive sites, ranging from shallow coral gardens to steep drop-offs and eerie wreck dives.
The thing is, there’s only one dive operator, Cocos Dive. It’s manned by local guide Dieter Gerhard, so advance bookings are necessary.
Here are our favourite dive sites:
1. Cabbage Patch
If you hear someone talking about the Cabbage Patch on the Cocos, chances are they’re not thinking about their vegetable intake. Most likely, they’re discussing the epic dive site with golden coral, white-tip reef sharks and the occasional garden eel. At just 10 metres in depth, it’s good for beginners.
2. Rose Wall
Rose Wall is a deeper 40-metre dive, known for its surgeonfish schools and colourful tropical fish. The coral garden has a lovely rose-coloured tint, hence the name.
3. Ski Run
If you want to spot trevally, one of the largest reef fish in the world, head for Ski Run. After descending over the edge of a coral reef, keep your eyes peeled for glassfish bommie, white-tip reef sharks and garden eels.
4. Two Caves
This dive site’s a little different. The centre piece is a Sri Lankan shipwreck decked in corals and broken into bits scattered around the ocean floor.
Lagoon Tours: Glass Bottom Boats and Guided Snorkel Trips
Cost: $135 – $300
Exploring the lagoon is a must at the Cocos, and for that, you need a boat to take you to atolls away from West Island and Home Island – the best Cocos Keeling attractions, if you ask us.
There are a couple of operators for lagoon tours, Cocosday (for motorised canoes and boat hire) or Cocos Blue Charters (for glass bottom or polycraft boats)
Kayaking & Canoeing: Routes, Safety, Rentals
Cost: $315+
You can’t rent a kayak for canoeing/kayaking the Cocos yourself. However, it’s nice and easy to book yourself onto a motorised canoe tour with Cocosdays.
These tours spend 2 – 4 hours gliding around the southern atoll lagoons, stopping at snorkel sites or turtle grazing areas. Just take note: tour timings depend on the tides, which change daily.
Kite Surfing – best months, lessons, gear
Cost: $320 – $450
For the adventurous at heart, one of the best lagoon activities at Cocos Island is kitesurfing. From May to June and September to October, trade winds consistently reach 15 – 25 knots. Naturally, kitesurfers descend upon Kite Beach at the south of West Island, drawn by the reliable winds and warm lagoon water.
There are two kitesurfing companies on the Cocos, Zephyr Kite Tours and APEX Watersports Co. If you’re a beginner, you can sign yourself up for a one-off lesson or book onto a longer, custom-made kitesurfing holiday including accommodation, a private chef and lessons.
Already an experienced kitesurfer? Simply pack your own gear as priority luggage; excess baggage won’t always make it to the Cocos on time because the flights operate on a subject-to-load basis.
Nature & Wildlife Experiences
Cost: $0 – $315
That’s the water-based activities covered. However, we’re not done sharing what to do in the Cocos Islands. Island nature walks don’t cost a dime, yet give you the chance to spot blue-tailed skinks, rainbow lizards and birds, whereas turtle spotting is popular by boat.
1. Turtle spotting
Green and hawksbill turtles are among the most common wildlife encounters in the Cocos. If you’re lucky, you might spot them from the jetties around West Island.
However, the best spots are Turtle Beach on Home Island (for green turtles) or turtle grazing areas around the atolls (join a Cocosday turtle grazing tour for this).
2. Birdwatching hotspots
Birdwatchers also have plenty to look forward to. Migrating species swoop into the Cocos between November and March, escaping the cold temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere. This includes birds on the East Asian-Australian, Indian and Western Paleoarctic flyways, including Saunders’s tern, green junglefowl, intermediate egret and white-breasted waterhen.
Endemic species are also present. Look out for the Cocos buff-banded Rail, which often targets picnic sites on Direction Island and areas on Horsburgh Island.
3. Lagoon Marine Life
Of course, there are plenty of wildlife encounters to be had in the lagoon, where there are 500+ species of fish (especially wrasse, parrotfish and cod).
You may spot turtles and reef sharks (whitetip and blacktip), as well as larger creatures like manta rays, dolphins and dugongs. Nudibranchs, crustaceans, echinoderms and molluscs are also present.
When you’re basking on the sand, keep your eyes peeled for crabs: red hermit crab, horn-eyed ghost crab and purple land crab.
Cultural & Community Experiences
Of all the best things to do in the Cocos Keeling Islands, cultural experiences are one of the most underrated.
There are plenty of Cocos Keeling attractions on Home Island that’ll help you understand and appreciate the way of life on the islands: the food, people, religion and history.
Home Island
Before you grab one of the regular ferries from West Island, we recommend you check our in-depth Home Island guide. Around 600 Cocos Malay people live at the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and the vast majority call Home Island home.
Here, there are hands-on activities to try, like basket-weaving and sea-salt making. Sign up for a cooking class to learn how to craft coconut crepes and beef rendang, staples of the Cocos Malay cuisine.
If you’re interested in the island’s history, you may also want to check out:
- Oceania House, a six-bedroom heritage mansion built in 1893, which has survived two world wars.
- Home Island (Pulu Cocos) Museum, which recaps the island’s history since 1826.
Local Malay History
The Cocos Keeling Islands were first found by British sea captain William Keeling in 1609. However, it wasn’t until the arrival of English merchant Alexander Hare in 1826 that a settlement was formed.
Later, Scottish merchant John Clunies-Ross brought Malay workers to work at his copra plantation. They spent nearly 150 years under the rule of the Clunies-Ross dynasty. Two world wars passed, and due to the Cocos’ central location in the Indian Ocean, the islands were flooded with military groups from 1944 to 1946.
Eventually, in 1984, the territory became part of Australia after a vote by the Cocos Malay population. The Cocos Malay people speak the Malay dialect, which is similar to Bahasa Indonesia and Malay, and the vast majority are devoted Muslims.
Community Events
Hari Raya Puasa, celebrating the end of Ramadan, takes place on Home Island every year. Oil lamps line the streets and social feasts take place at the mosques.
Land-Based Adventures
When you’re not busy in the water or experiencing the Cocos Malay culture on Home Island, you can busy yourself with land-based adventures like biking, beach-hopping and soaking in the views.
Biking
Exploring the island on two wheels couldn’t be easier, with bicycles and electric bicycles available to rent from the West Island visitor centre. Pedal down sandy paths to West Island beaches and snorkel spots like Trannie’s Beach and Pulu Maraya.
If you want the know-how on the best cycle routes, there are Cocos Keeling tours by bicycle (ask at the visitor centre). West Island is around 10 kilometres in length, and lovely and flat for peaceful pedalling.
Scenic viewpoints
The Cocos Islands are miraculously flat, which makes cycling easy but finding lookouts a little more difficult. There are no hilltop lookouts, so the nicest scenery can be found while boating around the atolls or unwinding on Direction Island’s powdery sands. Surfer Girl Brewery is hailed as one of the best sunset spots on West Island.
Beach Exploration: The Best Beaches at the Cocos
Naturally, the Cocos are packed with brochure-worthy beaches, but these are some of the best:
Cossies Beach, Direction Island
Cossie’s Beach, with its palm trees and fine white sand, is a clear frontrunner. It’s accessible by ferry from Home Island or West Island, and aside from the pondoks and barbecue areas, it feels like a deserted island.
Don’t forget to check out the Rip if you’re a strong swimmer or north of the jetty if you’ve come armed with a fishing rod. Our Direction Island guide features a complete guide to The Rip and Cossie’s Beach’s family-friendly swimming areas.
Trannies Beach, West Island
Who could possibly resist Trannie’s Beach, with its calm, family-friendly waters? It’s easy to reach from the town centre on West Island; just cycle or drive north. The beach is also a popular spot for locals, which is always a reliable stamp of approval.
Scout Park, West Island
Scout Park may not sound like a beach, but it has shallow water, beautiful white sand and a short reef walk at low tide is all it takes to reach the Pulu Maraya snorkelling site.
Turtle Beach, Home Island
Turtles? Say no more. Turtle Beach on Home Island is one of the best places to see green turtles at the Cocos, and it’s far easier to reach than the turtle grazing areas on the atolls.
Tours & Operators – Who to Book With
It doesn’t matter whether you’re looking for cultural experiences or intent on canoeing/kayaking Cocos as much as possible; there’s almost always a tour that’ll cover the practical details.
Cocos Keeling tours are limited in numbers, so making advance bookings is always wise.
1. Cocosday
Cocosday offers:
- Motorised canoe tour: a four-hour tour around the atolls ($180) or a two-hour turtle grazing areas tour ($135).
- Lagoon fishing tours ($315 – $1,100 depending on guest numbers): moor up on empty islands to cast a line or try to reel in coral trout, bluefin trevally and red bass in the lagoon.
- Boat hire ($250 for a half-day 6H boat rental or $400 for a full-day 20H boat): these 3.7-metre boats allow you to take your own boat to the south end of the Cocos or, for licensed drivers only, into deeper waters.
2. Cocos Dive
Cocos Dive is the only scuba diving operator on the island, open since 1900.
Their tours are suitable for beginners and experienced divers:
- Basic scuba diving ($265) in the lagoon for complete beginners.
- One-day and two-day dives ($265+) for those with their Open Water certification.
- Sea scooter tours ($265) for those who don’t fancy the idea of a traditional dive.
3. Cocos Blue Charters
Cocos Blue Charters organises a variety of boat tours, ideal for non-swimmers or families:
- Glass bottom boat tours ($800 per boat), visiting locations like Direction Island, Prison Island and Home Island.
- Polycraft boat tours ($300+ per person), either inside the lagoon or offshore.
4. Land-Based Fishing
Local fishing guide Anthony runs two-hour fishing tours upon request, taking you to ‘local gems’ around West Island. All fishing gear and bait are provided, and tours can be tailored according to the type of fish you’re set on catching.
5. Ossie’s Cultural Tours
Cultural experiences are what Ossie’s Cultural Tours does best. Their tours cover locations like Oceania and activities like cooking classes and basket-weaving workshops, beginning at $65 – $95.
Best Things to Do for Different Traveller Types
- Families should love snorkelling at the gentle waters at Trannie’s Beach and picnicking at Cossie’s Beach on Direction Island.
- Couples should enjoy oceanfront meals at Surfer Girl Restaurant & Brewery on West Island, after finishing a day of island-hopping by motorised canoe or boat.
- Adventure seekers can get stuck into snorkelling, scuba diving, kitesurfing and surfing.
- Snorkel lovers should make a beeline for the Rip on Direction Island and book onto a snorkelling tour to visit remote snorkel sites around the atolls. Rent snorkel gear from the visitor’s centre to snorkel directly from beaches on West Island.
- Slow travellers can take their time trying cooking, basket-weaving and sea salt making on Home Island.
Practical Tips for Enjoying Activities
It’s all very well dreaming about colourful dives and endless hours on the beach, but it’s easy to neglect the smaller details and wind up underprepared. For example, you don’t want to turn up at Direction Island with just a towel; there are no facilities on the island, so all food, drinks and gear must come with you.
A few small practical tips can set you up for an easy, effortless trip:
- Remember, the Cocos are a popular island destination and local tours are limited. You should book tours, flights and accommodation at least 6 – 8 months in advance. Even dinners require reservations; write your name on the blackboard outside the restaurants on West Island.
- Check the weather. The Cocos Islands don’t always have clear, blue skies, and the rainy season (March to July) can bring heavy rains. Before you go snorkelling, check the swell and current conditions.
- Always pay a visit to the visitor centre on West Island to get the most up-to-date safety information. They also have a list of the opening hours for the restaurants on West Island and Home Island.
- Bicycles and snorkelling gear are available to rent from the visitor centre, but there’s a limited supply, so get there early.
FAQs
Are the Cocos Keeling Islands worth visiting?
The Cocos Keeling Islands are absolutely worth visiting. They have a large range of water-based activities such as snorkelling, scuba diving, island-hopping and kitesurfing. There are also plenty of land-based activities such as biking, birdwatching and cultural experiences such as cooking classes, basket-weaving and sea salt making on Home Island.
Do you need a car on Cocos Island?
Tourists may find it helpful to rent a car on West Island, which is 10 kilometres in length. Snorkelling spots and beaches at the north and south of the island are far from the town centre, and with the tropical climate, walking can quickly feel stuffy. On Home Island, you may want to rent a buggy or bicycle to get around.
