Direction Island, Cocos Keeling

Local fauna

The yacht anchorage in the Cocos Island group is to the south of Direction Island, sheltered by the reef from the ocean swell but certainly not from the wind - it's blowing 30 knots as we write!

There is a good white sand beach on the island for walks. Fauna onshore comprises some feral chickens, presumably descendants of some left when the island became uninhabited, numerous small coconut crabs and, if one ventures off the beach onto the heritage trail, voracious mossies and sandflies.

The Rip - looking SE towards the ocean

At the eastern end of Direction Island is "The Rip". Water from the swell breaking over the reef flows into the lagoon. It is apparently a good snorkelling spot.

We took the dinghy into it to assess the possibilities. With the fairly strong wind and sea conditions at present the flow was probably about 5 knots, which would make a drift snorkel rapidly completed - through in the time it takes to get out of the dinghy!

Looking towards the lagoon - looks calm but moving fast