Punta Ballena - Caribbean Coast
Sorido Wall, just a quick boat trip from Soul Scuba Divers, is one of those spots that always delivers. We’ve drifted this wall countless times, and there’s always something new to catch our eye. The reef drops away to 22 metres, but it’s the overhangs and small caves that we love exploring, torch in hand, scanning for the smaller stuff. This place is alive, not just with the usual suspects like snappers and barracuda, but with an almost endless list of the tiny, intricate critters that make Raja Ampat so special. We've spent an entire dive searching for Denise’s pygmy seahorses, tucked away on gorgonian fans, or spotting a zebra eviota darting into a crevice. Look closer and you might find a lined-lip cowrie or a seastar shrimp camouflaged on a sponge. Keep an eye out into the blue for passing white-tip reef sharks; they’re regular visitors here, cruising the current. The average visibility of 18 metres usually means you’ll have a clear view of the action. This site really suits divers who enjoy a slower pace, those who appreciate stopping to really observe the details rather than just swimming through. It's a fantastic spot for photographers too, offering both wide-angle reef scenes and plenty of macro subjects.
- Location
- Caribbean Coast, Costa Rica, Central America
- Coordinates
- 10.592700, -85.683400
- Type
- wall
Marine Protected Area: Santa Rosa
Best Time to Dive in Caribbean Coast
The warmest water temperatures in Caribbean Coast occur in March, averaging 29.8°C. The coolest conditions are in November at 27.6°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.9°C
- February: 29.6°C
- March: 29.8°C
- April: 29.6°C
- May: 29.1°C
- June: 28.4°C
- July: 28.6°C
- August: 28.5°C
- September: 28.5°C
- October: 28.1°C
- November: 27.6°C
- December: 28.4°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Caribbean Coast
Nearest Dive Centres to Punta Ballena
Marine Life in Caribbean Coast
Home to 218 recorded species including 198 reef fish, 11 hard corals, 5 whales & dolphins, 3 other, 1 seagrass & algae.
Notable Species
- Sleeper (Gobiomorus maculatus) - Reef Fish
- Lesser Starlet Coral (Siderastrea radians) - Hard Corals
- Barred Livebearer (Poeciliopsis turrubarensis) - Reef Fish
- Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Lettuce Coral (Agaricia agaricites) - Hard Corals
- Spotted Sleeper (Eleotris picta) - Reef Fish
- Lamarck's sheet coral (Agaricia lamarcki) - Hard Corals
- Pointed Pencil Coral (Madracis asperula) - Hard Corals
- Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
- Bridled Dolphin (Stenella attenuata) - Whales & Dolphins
- Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) - Hard Corals
- Giant goby (Gobiomorus dormitor) - Reef Fish
- Mulet (Mugil curema) - Reef Fish
- Scroll Coral (Agaricia undata) - Hard Corals
- Yellowtail Parrotfish (Sparisoma rubripinne) - Reef Fish
- Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
- Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) - Hard Corals
- Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
- Graham's sheet coral (Agaricia grahamae) - Hard Corals
- Sleeper (Eleotris amblyopsis) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Punta Ballena
Based on average water temperature of 28.8°C, currents 3 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories