Cocos (Keeling) Islands

The Cocos (Keeling) Islands are two remote coral atolls in the middle of the Indian Ocean, so far from anywhere that few travelers ever make the trip. Those who do come for the diving and snorkeling — crystalline lagoons, healthy reefs, and a marine park largely undisturbed by crowds. The Cocos Malay community that has lived here for generations gives the islands a distinct, low-key culture found nowhere else in Australia. It's an outpost for people chasing genuine isolation over convenience.