After three days of exploring the wonders of Costa Rica it was time to move on to the next country and after exploring the tropical rain forest we were anxious to venture in the under water. We were motivated yesterday when Gustavo, our expedition leader, explained to us the possible sightings we were going to enjoy in Panama; therefore , this morning as soon as the sun was up we started to pick out, eager to cash the check of wonder given to us the previous night.
Coiba National Park exceeded our expectations! In the morning National Geographic Sea Lion dropped anchor near the island of “Canal de Afuera”. This place seemed like it was never visited by humans before, completely pristine and secretive. On the way to the island on our expedition landing crafts we could see the crystal clear water and the large area covered with corals, as we approached with great care.
Once in the water, the rocky formations and the corals in between conforms the perfect home to hundreds and hundreds of colorful fish. We got to see fish like the king angelfish, bicolor parrot fish, damsel fish, and the chancho razor fish. Many of us went snorkeling, but that was not it! We also participate in kayaking and stand up paddle boarding as well; the setting was surreal with a pristine beach and little islands covered with emerald rainforest.
The afternoon the tide was ideal to explore the best snorkeling site in this region, the island of “Granito de Oro” which has golden sand, emerald warm waters and incredible rocky reefs around it, providing a paradise for more snorkeling or just to read a good book under the shade of some trees. There was also an opportunity to explore a trail in the main island of Coiba, this island host a number of endemic species and exuberant tropical rain forest.
The day ended with a video review of the different fish observed and an explanation of some of the incredible interactions in the reef.
