On the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, experiences by the water go hand in hand with art and craft. The Rip, a natural drift-snorkelling spot, is on Direction Island; on West Island, Big Barge Art Gallery is housed in the hull of a restored wooden barge. These places offer different ways to experience the islands: explore the underwater world or view, buy and create art. Home Island adds to the picture with guided tours and traditional crafts.
Snorkelling and guided tours
For snorkellers, The Rip is an easy landmark to find: this natural drift-snorkelling spot is on Direction Island. The waters at The Rip are home to reef fish, colourful corals, reef sharks, Napoleon wrasse and parrotfish. Sightings may vary; check local conditions before entering the water.
On Home Island, local operators run guided cultural tours that include snorkelling, diving, island-hopping and fishing. Current availability may vary; check before making your plans. Unlike a single natural snorkelling spot, these tours focus on guided outings with a variety of activities. This can help you decide whether you would prefer to visit a particular natural spot or choose a guided experience.
Art and culture on West and Home Islands
On West Island, Big Barge Art Gallery is housed in the hull of a restored wooden barge. Visitors can view and buy artworks or create their own. The experience thus ranges from viewing and purchasing art to making it yourself. The gallery offers a distinct alternative to waterside nature experiences and guided tours.
On Home Island, experiences include Ossie’s Culture Tour and traditional crafts such as basket weaving and woodwork. Tour and activity availability may vary; enquire in advance. Together with the opportunity to create your own artwork at the gallery, these examples show different ways to experience culture: through a named tour, a traditional craft or your own artistic creations.
Direction Island: beach, lagoon and planning
As well as The Rip, Direction Island has Cossie’s Beach and a lagoon with crystal-clear water. There are wood-fired barbecues and picnic facilities by the lagoon, and shaded pondoks (shelters) for picnicking and relaxing. Check locally before your trip to see whether the facilities are available. Alongside the snorkelling spot, the beach, lagoon and picnic facilities offer different ways to enjoy the island.
The public ferry runs twice a week, on Thursdays and Saturdays, from West Island and Home Island to Direction Island. Service information may change, so check the current timetable before travelling. If you’re planning to visit Direction Island, take the ferry days into account.
Deciding which experiences matter most to you can help you choose: The Rip and the lagoon offer nature by the water, the tours provide guided activities, and the gallery and crafts offer cultural experiences. These attractions are spread across Direction, Home and West Islands. Arrange them according to your interests, and factor in the ferry timetable if you plan to visit Direction Island.
Discover more destinations: West Island, France, Pitcairn Islands, Mongolia, Venezuela, French Guiana, Brazil, Antarctica.
