Coiba · Panama · Reef · Drift
El Faro
A canyon and swim-through back to the island from 30 m
El Faro is dived off Canales Island, dropping to almost 30 metres before a canyon leads back up and a swim-through returns you to the island. Current is strong and the site is stacked top to bottom: schools of fish and whitetip reef sharks in the shallows, bull sharks over the sand deeper down, and hammerheads at depth.
Also known as Faro, Light House.
Where it is and how deep
No published position for this site — the map shows Coiba and its other sites; operators know the mooring.
The dive
The dive starts directly on Canales Island and can be run from either side. From the island the profile drops to almost 30 metres, and the deep part of the site is sand — the ground where bull sharks roam — with hammerheads reported at depth. This is the section that sets the certification bar, and the current is strong enough that the plan is built around it rather than against it.
From depth a canyon brings you back up, and a swim-through returns you to the island to finish. The shallows are the busy part of the site: massive schools of fish and whitetip reef sharks over the rock. Plan the gas for the deep sand first, and expect the guide to work with the current rather than fight it on the way back through the canyon.
Marine life and season
- Reef sharks
- Bull sharks
- Hammerheads
- Reef fish swarms
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Good |
Season follows Coiba: Jan-Mar's dry season brings the clearest water alongside whale sharks; humpback whales pass through Jun-Oct during the wetter season, with a quieter gap in Nov.
Know before you go
- The current is strong enough to define the dive plan; stay with the guide through the canyon and swim-through rather than working back against it.
Photos from El Faro
LASZLO ILYES from Cleveland, Ohio, USA · CC BY 2.0
Dive videos
Diving EL FARO, Coiba Island, Panamá · Submarino Sport Club on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is El Faro in Coiba?+
The dive drops to almost 30 metres off Canales Island before a canyon brings you back up through a swim-through to the island. The deep sand is where bull sharks are seen; the shallows hold the fish schools and whitetip reef sharks.
Sources
- Diving Coiba National Park — Scuba Coiba
- The Best Dive Sites in Panama — PADI Blog
Photo credits
- Whitetip reef shark gliding over a sandy, rocky bottom underwater by LASZLO ILYES from Cleveland, Ohio, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Large shark swimming close to a coral-covered rock in blue water by LASZLO ILYES from Cleveland, Ohio, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
In The Logbook
- When and where to dive with hammerheadsBig animals · 16 min read
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