Cocos Island – Facpi Point & Southern Bays

Site Overview

Cocos Island sits on Guam's southern barrier reef, offering pristine fringing coral gardens in warm, clear water that supports abundant marine life including sea turtles, reef sharks, and rays. The island's isolation from the main Guam coastline ensures excellent water quality and minimal disturbance, allowing the coral communities to thrive in exceptional health and diversity. The fringing reef descends gently from the shallows to approximately 25 metres, with dense coral coverage at all depths including massive table corals, staghorn thickets, and colourful soft coral colonies. Green sea turtles are regularly encountered grazing on the reef or resting on sandy ledges, while reef sharks patrol the deeper reef edge. Stingrays glide across the sandy channels between coral formations, and eagle rays make occasional passes during the dry season. The warm, clear water and abundant marine life make this site excellent for wide-angle photography, capturing the vibrant coral landscapes and the turtles that are the signature species of this remote reef system. The boat transit from Merizo pier passes through scenic waters and offers the chance to spot dolphins and other marine mammals en route to the dive site. The fringing reef ecosystem around Cocos Island has been the subject of ongoing marine research due to its exceptional coral health and the high density of herbivorous fish that maintain the balance between coral growth and algae coverage on the reef system.