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Isla Frijoles

Isla Frijoles is one of our favourite spots in Coiba, primarily because it delivers on both the small stuff and the big picture. We often do it as a drift, letting the current carry us around the island's rocky base. The reef drops to a sandy bottom around 21 metres, where we've spent many dives scanning for a passing shark, often a white-tip reef shark cruising past. Look closer, though, and you'll find plenty to hold your attention. We’ve spotted everything from the intricate patterns of a masked moray peering from a crevice to the unusual shape of a dusky flounder blending into the sand. We love how the schools of snapper and jack swirl in the blue, sometimes so thick the light dims for a second. Our tip? After you've watched the larger fish, spend some time exploring the corals for scorpionfish or a well-camouflaged frogfish. Visibility averages about 15 metres, which is decent enough to appreciate the scale of the fish groupings. Isla Frijoles is a solid dive for those who enjoy a gentle drift and appreciate both pelagic encounters and finding hidden reef critters.