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                                         ABOUT COIBA ARCHIPELAGO

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Coiba is the largest uninhabited tropical island in the world. Also known as the Devil's Island of

Central America, Coiba Island is covered by a carpet of lush primary tropical rainforest, mangroves

and adorned with white deserted beaches. While diving Coiba Island, you will encounter large

schools of big fish, several species of shark, giant mantas, schooling rays, whales and dolphins

plus healthy coral reefs. Large numbers of migrating humpback whales mate and give birth to their

calves in Coiba Island's calm and warm waters from July to October.

Coiba National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the neighboring islands and

archipelagos of the Gulf of Chiriquí, offer some of the best adventure and exploratory diving in the

world. At any time, on any dive, it is possible to encounter an amazing abundance and variation of

marine life, from whale shark to ornate sea horses and everything in between.

Its marine environment is extremely dynamic and boasts over 760 species of fish, 33 species of

shark including the white-tip reef shark, scalloped and great hammerhead, whale shark,

Galapagos, bull, tiger, and the bizarre guitar shark. Add to this, a variety of rays, giant manta rays,

mobula rays, Thurston’s devil rays and stingrays. Schooling species include the spotted eagle ray,

cow-nosed and golden rays.

A great variety of marine mammals, including several species of dolphins, pilot whales, orcas, fin,

Bryde's and sperm whales, as well as large schools of predators, barracudas, jacks and snappers

can be observed, along with a great variety of schooling reef fish. Recent scientific studies have

indicated that the migration route taken by the Antarctic humpbacks whales to this region is the

longest animal migration of any kind. Their haunting songs can be heard whilst diving around the

park.

The area's protected beaches are the nesting grounds for four species of marine turtle, including

the giant Pacific leatherback. The irregular volcanic underwater landscapes are adorned with an

abundance of hard and soft corals, marine sponges and sea fans which provide habitat to an

amazing array of benthic life (bottom dwellers), including lobsters, crabs, octopuses, several types

of eels, sea stars, blennies, stargazers, sea horse, nudibranchs, pipefish, sea pens and exotic

creatures such as the harlequin shrimp and frog fish.