Northwest Wall

The exposed northwest face of Isla Muertos presents a vertical basalt wall from 3 m to 28 m, beyond which the seafloor slopes steeply to sand at 40 m. The wall is thickly colonised by giant barrel sponges, sea fans, and orange cup corals that feed in the nutrient-rich Papagayo current. Moray eels and large hawksbill turtles rest in the crevices. From June through October the current wraps the corner and pushes bull sharks and whitetip reef sharks up the wall face — hanging neutral at mid-wall and watching sharks cruise below at 20 to 28 m is the signature experience here. Surge and swell can make the top of the wall uncomfortable from July through September.