"best" timing for tiger encounters at cocos?

[leakydrysuit]

I am familiar with the usual information regarding diving seasons at Cocos, but I am specifically curious about tiger shark encounters. Are they completely random, or are they more likely at certain times of the year? Thanks.

 

[rongoodman]

As I recall they’re usually there in the same locations, around Manuelita I think.

 

[michael-fisch]

just dump a couple of hundred gallons of blood from a slaughterhouse in the water, wait 15 minutes and then throw a half dozen skinned sheep carcasses in the water - tiger shark encounters are now guaranteed.

Michael

 

[Dan]

I have only been there 3 times, in September 2018, December 2020, and September 2022. I saw no Tiger Shark in 2018 trip. I saw 2 Tiger Sharks in 2020 trip, each in Submerged Rock & Manuelita Channel (big & pregnant mama Tiger Shark), as shown in the video, below.



I saw 3 Tiger Sharks in 2022 trip, 2 Tiger Sharks in Manuelita Channel twice, a Tiger Shark in Small Dos Amigos once, as shown in the video, below. The Tiger Sharks sighting in Manuelita Channel is shown around 7 minutes of the video and in Small Dos Amigos at 17 minutes: 20 seconds of the video.



Based on that limited data, I would say that you have a good chance to see a Tiger Shark in Manuelita Channel in September.

If you want 100% chance to see one, just go to Tiger Beach, Bahamas.

 

[leakydrysuit]

I have only been there 3 times, in September 2018, December 2020, and September 2022. I saw no Tiger Shark in 2018 trip. I saw 2 Tiger Sharks in 2020 trip, each in Submerged Rock & Manuelita Channel (big & pregnant mama Tiger Shark), as shown in the video, below.



I saw 3 Tiger Sharks in 2022 trip, 2 Tiger Sharks in Manuelita Channel twice, a Tiger Shark in Small Dos Amigos once, as shown in the video, below. The Tiger Sharks sighting in Manuelita Channel is shown around 7 minutes of the video and in Small Dos Amigos at 17 minutes: 20 seconds of the video.



Based on that limited data, I would say that you have a good chance to see a Tiger Shark in Manuelita Channel in September.

If you want 100% chance to see one, just go to Tiger Beach, Bahamas.

Thanks. I have definitely considered tiger beach. It may not make sense to some, but I think I would enjoy the unpredictability of hopefully seeing one at cocos vs the tiger beach experience. I can always keep TB as a backup plan. A friend just went out in October and reported multiple relatively close sightings. Maybe not necessarily a good thing... Definitely not boring though.

 

[Dan]

Thanks. I have definitely considered tiger beach. It may not make sense to some, but I think I would enjoy the unpredictability of hopefully seeing one at cocos vs the tiger beach experience. I can always keep TB as a backup plan. A friend just went out in October and reported multiple relatively close sightings. Maybe not necessarily a good thing... Definitely not boring though.

If you go to Tiger Beach & surrounding by several sharks, keep eyes on the Tiger Sharks around you. Forget about other sharks (Lemons, Caribbean Reef Sharks, etc.). Otherwise this could happen to you:

 

[GGDiver]

If you go to Tiger Beach & surrounding by several sharks, keep eyes on the Tiger Sharks around you. Forget about other sharks (Lemons, Caribbean Reef Sharks, etc.). Otherwise this could happen to you:

Crazy! Thanks for sharing