Broccoli Patch is the gentlest dive on Cocos: a shallow coral garden in the north-eastern lagoon where coral heads shaped like giant heads of broccoli rise from a clean sand floor. The official tourism listing gives a range of just 5–10 m, describes the 'breathtaking blooming coral' and an easy descent to the sandy floor, and recommends the site for buoyancy practice. The official snorkelling guide describes the 'Broccoli Patches' as hidden gems of the eastern atoll that visitors reach with a local skipper, and a snorkelling feature notes parrotfish and reef sharks among the coral.

The coral heads are close-set and healthy, with clean sand channels between them, so divers can wander at will without a set route. Whitetip reef sharks rest on the sand, turtles feed and rest among the coral heads, and dolphins are often seen in the area – the official listing mentions them specifically. Parrotfish, wrasse, butterflyfish, damsels and anthias crowd the coral.

Being inside the lagoon, the site is well protected from ocean swell, and it can be dived when the outer reefs are too rough, although strong trades still chop up the surface. The shallow depth means ample light and long, relaxed dives, and it is an ideal site for newly certified divers, returning divers and anyone wanting to practise buoyancy and photography in easy conditions. For snorkellers it is equally good: the tops of the coral heads come close to the surface and the whole site is visible from above in clear water.

Because it is shallow, careful fin control is important to avoid damaging the coral heads and kicking up sand.

Fly to West Island on the twice-weekly Virgin Australia service from Perth (usually routed via Christmas Island; allow 7–10 days on the islands to absorb weather and flight delays). Cocos Dive collects divers from West Island accommodation in the morning (pickup around 8 am, departure about 9 am) and runs its boats from West Island into the lagoon. Broccoli Patch lies inside the north-eastern lagoon just south-west of Direction Island, across the lagoon from West Island.

It is used as a shallow dive and as a snorkel stop by Cocos Dive and by local lagoon-tour skippers, who can drop snorkellers there. It is not reachable from shore; the nearest landing is Direction Island's beach, used for the lunchtime surface interval.

Cocos has two seasons. The south-east trades blow steadily from roughly April/May to October, often 15–25 knots, which chops up the lagoon and pushes swell onto the eastern and southern outer reefs; divers are then kept to sheltered sites. The doldrum season (November to March/April) brings lighter, variable winds, flatter seas and the widest choice of outer-reef sites, and is the best time to dive, though it is also the tropical cyclone season and squalls pass through.

Inside the lagoon, the main factors are wind chop and tide: strong trades make the crossing rough and stir up sand in the shallows, while calm doldrum days give glassy water and the best visibility. Visibility is usually best around high tide and on the incoming flow; the lagoon is shallow and warm, and a falling tide carries turbid water out of the flats.

Descend easily to the sandy floor at about 10 m, then weave slowly between the coral heads at 5–8 m. Use the flat sand to practise buoyancy and trim, and keep an eye out for turtles, whitetips and dolphins. The whole dive can be done shallow, with a safety stop simply at the end.

Cocos Dive (Dieter Gerhard, West Island, operating since 1990) is the only scuba operator on the islands and the only way to dive this site. It runs seasonal two-dive day trips with lunch and a surface interval on Direction Island, maximum 10 divers per trip; sites are chosen on the day according to wind, tide and diver experience. Trips book out well ahead and courses are currently suspended, so arrive certified.

Local lagoon-tour skippers (e.g. Cocos Blue Charters, Cocosday Tours) also visit the eastern-atoll 'broccoli patches' as a snorkel stop.