Scalloped Hammerhead Shark

Photo: Kris Mikael Krister · CC BY

Scalloped hammerheads appear at Roja Piedra from July through October, drawn by the cold, oxygenated upwelling water along the exposed face of the rock. They are typically encountered in small groups of 3 to 10 individuals cruising at depths of 15 to 35 metres, and occasionally descend to inspect divers hovering on the wall before returning to open water. The Humboldt Current system supports hammerhead populations that connect with those further north in Galapagos and the Gulf of California, and Roja Piedra represents the southernmost reliable encounter point in their range.