Panama Dive Adventure: Explore the Reefs of Isla Contreras
Plan a diving vacation to Isla Contreras, one of the most beautiful and virgin spots for a panama dive adventure. The Island is part of the Coiba Marine Park and is loaded with coral reefs, massive schools of fish including pelagic mammals and an area frequented by mantas and hammerhead sharks during the season. The archipelago is one of the most remote areas in the park so meeting another diver is very rare. An 11-m drill-core collected from the reef at Contreras suggests that reef initiation occurred between 6180 and 5810 year ago.
Isla Contreras
Isla Contreras, is part of the Coiba Marine park. The reef at Uva Island is one of the best-studied reefs in Panama. This 2.5-ha reef, located in the northern side of the island, is dominated by pocilloporid corals, but massive Gardineroseris planulata colonies are also abundant .
The Island is located 70 minutes from to the resort and is a must dive location for the more advance divers. There are a wide variety of dive sites; including shallow protected coral reefs, and pinnacles and seamounts that rise deep from he the ocean floor.
While diving Isla Contreras it is possible to see black coral as well as other types of coral, sponges, and sea fans. You may see massive schools of jacks and snapper, lobsters, moray eels, starfish, seahorses, pipefish, harlequin shrimp, and frog fish. Reef sharks such as nurse, white-tip and black-tip swim in these waters and in season hammerhead sharks and giant manta rays. We have 10 dive sites surrounding Contreras Island.
Interactive Dive Map
Isla Contreras Dive Locations:
Dive Site: Contreras Pinnacle 1, Coiba National Park
Contreras Pinnacle is boat dive located close to Isla Montuosa, travel time is 75 min from Cala Mia Island Dive Resort.
To reach this spot we need to use GPS as the pinnacle is not visible from the surface. The seamount is covered with soft corals and the diving is limited to this area. The depth from the surface to the top of the pinnacle is 49ft/15m, advanced divers can reach to a couple of more meters. The total height of the pinnacle reaches depths that are not considered for recreational diving. The visibility is more than 65ft/20m, thermocline can be felt but the temperature is around 27-29 C/ 80-85 F. Schools of Jack swim by, as well as Barracudas, Rainbow Runners, Manta Rays, Whale sharks, Sea turtles, White-tip sharks, Bull sharks, and colorful reef fishes.
Suitable for advanced divers
Dive Site: Contreras Pinnacle 2, Coiba National Park
Contreras Pinnacle 2 is boat dive located close to Coiba National Park, travel time is 80 min from Cala Mia Island Dive Resort.
GPS is required to reach this spot as the pinnacle is not visible from the surface. The isolated pillar-like elevation is covered with soft coral. The depth from the surface to the top of the pinnacle is 39ft/12m. The total height of the pinnacle reaches depths that are not considered for recreational diving. The visibility is more than 65ft/20m, thermocline can be felt but the temperature is around 27-29 C/ 80-85 F. It’s a really productive and busy site where you can spot Schools of Jack swimming by, as well as Barracudas, Manta Rays, Rainbow Runners, Whale Sharks, Sea turtles, White-tip sharks, Bull Sharks, and colorful reef fishes.
Suitable for advanced divers
Dive Site: Sidewinder, Coiba National Park – Islas Contreras
Sidewinder is boat dive located close to Islas Contreras, travel time is 80 min from Cala Mia Island Dive Resort.
Dive Site: Finger Wall, Coiba National Park – Islas Contreras
Dive report coming soon
Dive Site: Southern Canal, Coiba National Park – Islas Contreras
Dive report coming soon
Dive Site: Coral Point, Coiba National Park – Islas Contreras
Dive report coming soon
Dive Site: Jack Point, Coiba National Park – Islas Contreras
Dive report coming soon
Dive Site: The Fridge, Coiba National Park – Islas Contreras
Dive report coming soon
Dive Site: Contreras Ridge, Coiba National Park – Islas Contreras
Dive report coming soon
Dive Site: Fishermen Dream, Coiba National Park – Islas Contreras
Dive report coming soon
