Cocosdi

The most striking thing about Cocos is the incredibly clear water and the colour the water looks, far better than in any brochure. After the crocodile infested waters of the top end and Kimberley, we couldn't wait to get our gear off and dive in. We soon discovered "the rip", where water rushes down a coral channel between two islands. With snorkel and fins you can swim out into the middle where you get carried along past colourful fish and the odd shark.
Direction Is. is the anchorage for visiting yachts and the recreation Is for locals, many of whom keep tents pitched there permanently.

There's a clubhouse of sorts, similar to the one at West Percy, where passing yachties leave memorabilia, and gather for beach barbacues and sundowners. We became friendly with Bea and Di based there on their cat. and Ian and Jen, locals who run the medical centre on West Is. the home of 150 ex-pat Aussies who run the place.

The only other populated island is Home to 650 descendants of the Malays brought out in the 1820s by the Clunies-Ross family to work their copra plantation. The museum tells the fascinating story of the family's rise and fall, with the BIG HOUSE now in disrepair, a reminder of grand colonial times.
The German warship Emden destroyed the cable station on Direction Is in WW1, and was then sunk by HMAS Sydney off N.Keeling. The crew who escaped stole the beautiful Clunies-Ross Clipper ship and sailed back to Europe. It broke the old man's heart, and the family fortunes declined from then on.
Here jungleboy is busy de-husking coconuts for the next leg of the journey. We enjoyed every mouthful!

Duck was amused by this notice on Home Island, and another which warned you to look out for coconuts falling on your head, adding, they fall often!!
There had been several crusing yachts heading for RSA passing through, but most were heading for Chagos and the easier route down the Mozambique Channel.
Eagle Dancer/ USA Elephant & Libertee [who had moored next to us in the Pittwater] [German] Regain [St Bart] were the only ones going our way.
After walking across the runway at the airport to get the weather forecast from the Cocos Met. Station, and checking out of Customs and Immigration, we decided to set sail on Sunday morning.