Meet the site
Beneath the drift dive at Coconut Point lies a submarine cave system that most visiting divers never see. It was documented during a 2014 scientific survey of Christmas Island's submarine and anchialine caves (Tan, Naruse, Fujita and Tan, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology), which recorded its position and described a cave system with a narrow mouth about 3 m across at 15 m, affected by strong surge during tidal change.
Christmas Island's coastline is honeycombed with caves formed when sea levels were lower, and many of them extend back into the island's limestone to anchialine pools where fresh groundwater sits over seawater. These caves host specialised crustaceans – crabs, shrimps and lobsters – some known only from the island, and the survey team was collecting and documenting that fauna. Coconut Point's cave was one of the sites on their list, alongside Daniel Roux, Thunderdome, Thundercliff and West White Beach caves.
This is not a recreational dive. A 3 m restriction at 15 m, combined with surge that can push and pull divers through the mouth at tide changes, makes it a serious overhead environment, and there is no published account of recreational visits. Anyone intending to enter it would need full cave training, a local guide or operator's support, and a slack-water, flat-calm window.
It is included here as a named, documented feature rather than as a recommended dive. For recreational divers, the reef and eel gardens above make up the Coconut Point drift, and the island's accessible cave experiences are at Thundercliff, West White Beach Cave, Boat Cave and, with a guide, Daniel Roux and Thunderdome.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Coconut Point Cave is recorded as Cave/Cavern in Christmas Island. The listed access is boat. Confirm the actual meeting point, route and permission to visit; a map pin does not establish any of these.
Topics flagged by the stored research
These are questions prompted by the existing notes, not a verified or complete hazard assessment.
- Current and timing
- Ask how the operator assesses the current window for the actual route. Historical tide notes are not a departure instruction.
- Water movement
- Ask how swell and local exposure affect the proposed entry, exit and route.
- Overhead environments
- Ask whether the plan stays entirely in open water. A wreck or cave listing is not permission or training to enter.
Historical access notes exist for this record, but have not been independently verified for current use. Request current directions from the operator or site manager rather than following an old entry description.
Questions, answered
Is Coconut Point Cave suitable for my certification?
The record lists Cave/Cavern certification. That does not establish suitability for every route or day. Share your training, recent experience and equipment needs with the operator and ask about the specific proposed dive.
Can I book Coconut Point Cave through YouDive?
YouDive is an independent research directory. Contact an operator directly to confirm whether it currently runs the trip, the inclusions and the booking terms.
What you might see
Specialised cave crustaceans (anchialine fauna); reef fish, garden eels and gorgonians outside
Location
Submarine cave system with a narrow 3 m mouth at 15 m below Coconut Point, subject to strong surge at tide changes.
Facilities nearby
Departs Flying Fish Cove jetty/ramp.
Before you make plans
Conditions, access and operator schedules can change. This is a location guide, not a dive plan. Ask a local operator about current conditions and suitability for your training and experience.
Sources & further reading
lkcnhm.nus.edu.sgextradivers.com.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.