Gulf of Chiriquí · Panama · Pinnacle · Wall
Lighthouse
A pinnacle divers descend on a weighted line, current permitting
Area photo: Mónica Mora · CC BY-SA 2.0
Lighthouse is a pinnacle southeast of Barracuda Island, three miles from the Islas Secas dock, with a big drop-off and a profile running from 6 m to 24 m. Current is the defining feature: the boat is positioned on GPS, divers go down a weighted line, and the site is dived only when conditions are favourable.
Where it is and how deep
7.9667° N, 82.0333° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The pinnacle lies southeast of Barracuda Island, three miles from the dock, and the boat is positioned over it on GPS. Descents are made on a weighted line rather than free, because the strong current across the site makes the descent challenging and can separate divers. The dive goes ahead only when conditions are favourable, which is the operator's own standing instruction for the site.
Once you are down, the shallow top of the pinnacle sits at 6 m and the big drop-off falls away to 24 m on the deep side. A cleaning station on the rock is the feature to find and settle near: green and hawksbill turtles come in to be worked over, and green morays, zebra morays and spadefish hold on the structure around it.
Marine life and season
- Sea turtles
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Fair | Good |
Season follows Gulf of Chiriquí: Dec–Apr is the dry season with the calmest crossings; Sep–Oct is rainier but overlaps the southern humpback migration.
Know before you go
- Current across the pinnacle can be strong enough to separate a group, which is why descents run down a weighted line and the site is dived only when conditions are favourable.
Sources
- Diving in Panama - Islas Secas — Islas Secas Resort
More dive sites in Gulf of Chiriquí
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