Local and foreign people visit the Panamanian islands to do diving and snorkeling because this country has 250 km of coral reefs with a diversity of 58 species in the Caribbean and 19 species in the pacific. Panamanian coral reefs have at least 10 thousand years and it dates from the glacial or pleistocene period.

Benefits of the coral reefs

Besides its amazing beauty, the corals offer benefits such as:
• The option to develop tourist activities mainly for the fishing sector
• It works as breakwater, protecting the coastal areas during storms
• It is a very important source of proteins for inhabitants of coastal countries
• Provide important organic substances for the pharmaceutical industry.

The Caribbean is rich in coral reefs

The Caribbean has different types of escleractinian corals such as: Acropora, Agariicidae, Diplora, Favia, Millepora, Porites y Stephanocoenia.  You can also observe 9 species of octocorals and ahermatipic corals. The most important coral in the Caribbean are located in Bocas del Toro, Colon and San Blas. These coral reefs had a very good development due to their large extension, reach high depth and there are mostly associated with mangrove swamps and marine plants.

The coral reefs in the region have a diverse variety of species and associated fauna, were we can find mollusks, crustaceans, fishes and invertebrates. For beginners and children you can practice snorkeling at Isla Mamey, which offers a sandy line with shells and from the shore you can look a large variety of corals and fishes.

Bright and colorful corals on the Pacific coast

Coiba, the Archipielago de las Perlas and the gulf of Chiriqui offer the largest extension of coral reefs in the American continent. These corals surround the islands and they are located just below the surface of water. Despite that there are just a few species, its fauna is numerous.

The predominant coral specie in the Pacific is the Pocillopora damicomis along with Pocillopora elegans, Pocillopora capitata, Porites lobata, Pavona spp, Psammocora stellata and Gardinoseris planulata. There are also 11 octocoral species and seven ahermatipics.

Deterioration of coral reefs

There are several factors that affect the coral reefs, such as:
• Extreme low tides clear up the coral on their upper levels.
• Hurricanes and typhoons also affect the corals formation
• The sediments on costal areas, deforestation and the constructions can cause the death of corals
• Aquaculture also affects coral reefs
• Oil spills form ships

The ecologic reserves in Panama offer orientation about the care/treatment of coral reefs. For more information about diving websites please contac Interpanama Travel at (+507) 2026556 or visit our webpage http://www.interpanama.com/en/

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