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Punta Ballena

Punta Ballena is one of those sites where we genuinely get excited. Sure, the visibility can be a bit hit-and-miss, averaging 10m. But when it’s good, maybe 15m on a calm morning, it transforms. We love dropping down onto the coral fingers, which are an underwater extension of the peninsula separating Playa Hermosa and Playa Panama. Keep your eyes peeled for the resident Panama sergeant majors darting through the coral, they’re everywhere. This is a cracking spot for macro lovers; we’ve spent ages here finding tiny wonders like the White Pygmy Venus tucked into crevices or the quirky Barnacle Blenny peeking out. Then you might look up and see the dark shapes of eagle rays gliding past, or a stingray settled on the sand. On our favourite dives here, we’ve been swarmed by schools of fusiliers so thick they block the light, then stumbled across a chameleon wrasse trying its best to blend in. For divers who enjoy a site with a bit of everything, from the small and intricate to larger pelagics passing through, Punta Ballena delivers. It’s a site that rewards patience and a keen eye.