VK9CV will be active from Cocos - Keeling Islands, IOTA OC - 003, 1 - 15 November 2024.
Team - Members of OM7M and CDXP, OM5ZW, OM4AYL, OK6DJ, OK2ZA, OM3PC, OM4MM, OM4MW, VK5GR.
They will operate on 160 - 10m, CW, SSB, FT8, RTTY and QO - 100.
Band plan:
Band plan
Band CW SSB FT8 FT4 RTTY
160m 1826.5 – – – 1840 – – – – – –
80m 3525* 3790 3578 ? – – –
40m 7025 7170 7056 ? – – –
30m 10105 – – – 10144 ? 10142
20m 14025 14240 14084 ? 14084
17m 18070 18150 18096 ? 18090
15m 21025 21300 21091 ? 21090
12m 24891 24950 24923 ? 24923
10m 28005 28470 28091 ? 28091
* 3504 for Japan and Asia
60m operation is not allowed in VK at this time.
QSL via OK6DJ, LOTW.
A blue lagoon in the Indian Ocean
Despite its small size and lack of developed infrastructure, the Cocos Islands continue to be a tidbit for tourists from all corners of the world who come to the remote archipelago to enjoy a vacation in the lap of pristine nature. The island, located northwest of the Australian continent, has an abundance of coconut palms, which the indigenous people have taken advantage of by producing and exporting copra. Geographers and tour operators often use the second name of the archipelago - Killing, assigned to it by the discoverer.
The archipelago consists of 26 inhabited and uninhabited islands, each of which is of interest to geographers, florists, travelers and biologists studying rare endemics.
Today, the islands are home to nearly 600 people who are from Malaysia, Europe and Australia. The total area of Killing reaches 14 square kilometers. The official language is English, and the monetary unit used is the Australian dollar. The administrative center is located in the small village of West Island, where most of the islanders (more than 150 people) live. The main source of income is servicing European tourists who come to the island alone or with whole families. 90% of the indigenous population is Muslim.
Types of recreation available to the tourist
Killing is a place where a traveler can relax from the noisy, smog-soaked metropolis and feel like a real Robinson Crusoe. All you need for a vacation is a swimsuit, sunglasses, a camera, a mask for diving and a good mood, which, however, is inevitable, because the democratic prices for accommodation, transfer and food will not cause much damage to the family budget, unlike the price list for vacations in European countries or fashionable resorts.
Near the islands are massive coral reefs, in the thickets of which live myriads of exotic fish with bright coloring. At dusk, they take on a fairy-tale shape and the island is enveloped in an atmosphere of magic. It is a meeting place for diving and snorkeling enthusiasts who come to the Cocos Islands every year to admire the underwater flora and fauna. The only danger that awaits divers in the kingdom of Triton are poisonous moray eels, which become active during the summer.
Many travelers rent yachts or boats, as the huge coral reef prevents navigation in coastal waters. For lovers of outdoor activities, hospitable islanders can offer canoe safaris, underwater or overwater fishing. For a reasonable fee, they will provide you with fishing gear, hold a master class for amateurs and tell you about the "bait spots" abundant with tuna. Caught fish you can cook yourself, following the recommendations of the Malays, who will gladly share with you the secrets of local cuisine.
The origins of the history of the Cocos Islands
The first discoverer of the archipelago was the captain of the ship "Red Dragon" William Killing. The remarkable event took place in 1609 during his third voyage around the Great Zond Archipelago. The next visitor to the Cocos Islands was an Englishman John Clunies-Ross, who founded a small settlement in the area. Two years later, the enterprising navigator declared the feudal belonging of the area to his family. Thus, in 1857 the Cocos Islands became the property of the British Queen. In the XX century, Australia bought the rights to own the archipelago.
For almost 10 years a small airfield has been working properly on the island, which, despite its shabby appearance, has received the status of "International Airport". Its passenger turnover is more than 5000 tourists a year, most of whom come from Indonesia and Australia. The main air carrier is the company "National Jet". The infrastructure of Killing is represented by five small hotels, which are more like well-appointed bungalows.
Coconut paradise on earth
The islands are hot all year round. The air temperature reaches 30 degrees Celsius. The only joy of "sun-weary" islanders is wet winds bringing long-awaited rains. In early October, small cyclones are possible, which, however, do not cause much damage to the local population.
The main attraction of the Cocos Islands are huge beaches with white-pink sand and crystal-clear waters of emerald color. In the north there is Pulu National Park, where more than 300 species of exotic plants, turtles and sea birds live. The best time to visit the archipelago is from the beginning of June to the end of September.