reef

Log This Dive

Pailas

Pailas, just a short boat ride from Potrero Beach, is a site we always enjoy when the conditions are right. You start on the western side of the rock island, dropping down to follow the formations as they stretch south. The average depth hovers around 14 meters, making it a comfortable dive for most, though we've pushed a little deeper to 17m on occasion. What really makes Pailas sing are the schools of fish – the sand grunts and herring can be so dense they create shimmering walls, especially when the water has a cooler edge to it. We particularly love looking for the small stuff here, the Panama triplefins tucked into crevices and the quick movements of a yellow blenny. Keep an eye out for speckled morays peering from their rocky homes and, if you're lucky enough to hit it during the season with cooler water, the cleaning station can bring in mantas. Visibility averages around 11 meters; it's not always gin-clear, but we find that just adds to the atmospheric feel of the schools. It’s a great spot for photographers keen on fish portraits and those who appreciate the subtle details of a bustling rocky reef.