Location: Bocas del Tora District Map
Area: 13,000 ha
Tel. 758 6802
Closed: Sat & Sun
Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park is a nature reserve situated in the Bocas del Tora District in the North- West Panama. Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park covers an area of 13,000 ha of Archipelago Bocas del Toro. This biosphere reserve was created in 1988 to protect coral reefs, mammals, birds, reptiles, birds and multiple crustaceous that live here. Occasionally sea turtles come to the sandy shores of the national park to lay their eggs. The closest large settlement is Bastimentos and other city across the Canal de Bocas del Toro channel, Bocas del Toro has a small airport.
In the best case, the visibility was, of course, very
different from point to point and depending on the proximity of sandy
beaches, etc., at 10 m clear / 15 m diffusely clear vertically and
sometimes over 15 m horizontally. The underwater world is dominated in
the shallow water area by seagrass meadows (Thalassia testudinum), in
places the lawn-forming coral Porites porites and Porites astreoides, as
well as mainly red and brown algae. The main part of the corals are
Millepora complanata, some brain corals (Collophyllia natans, Diploria
labyrinthiformis, Diploria strigosa and Diploria clivosa) are also
found, Montastraea sticks (Montastraea annularis and Montastraea
cavernosa) are found at greater depths. In contrast to the archipelago
around Colón, the massive, reddish-brown hemispherical coral sticks of
the Siderastrea siderea, which grow up to the area of low water, are
rather rare in the more southern coastal area. They often form typical
"mini-atolls" with an annular bulge of living coral polyps and a central
dead plateau. There are also Meandrina meandrites and several sea
urchins (Echinonetra lucunter). Porolithon pachydermun (calcareous red
algae) overgrows dead coral areas on many, especially due to the sewage
plume of inhabited islands. In current areas, the antler coral Acropora
cervicornis occasionally forms larger areas, and some table corals
(Acropora spicifera or Acropora palmata) also seem to prefer this
habitat. On the entire Caribbean coast, the species richness and
quantity of the fish world has decreased enormously in recent years.
The real jewels of the underwater world in the archipelago of the
Colón Island are colorful sponges, which are often confused with corals.
A study by the University of Stuttgart (see references) provides
invaluable services in determining the following: the yellow sponge
(Mycale laevis), the red finger sponge (Amphimedon compressa), the
yellow-brown Xestospongia subtriangulis, the blue-gray Nihpates erecta,
the brown sponge with a bumpy surface Icricina strobilina, yellow-green
Iotrochota birotulata and wine-red Monanchora arbuscula. Relatively
rare, but even to be found in the shallow water area, are the vase
sponges (Xestospongia muta) and funnel sponges (Ircinia campana) up to 2
meters in size. Furthermore, tubular sponges such as Callypongia
vaginalis and the squat, purple and yellow tubes of Pseudoceratina
crassa and Verongula rigida can be found in larger depths.
However, the study by the University of Stuttgart points out that the reefs in this area were still in relatively good condition at the time, but on the verge of the possibility of life. This also indicates the absence of reefs in front of banana plantations. Pollution from garbage, sewage and freight transport has increased significantly since then and has rather worsened since the study. It should also be noted that the stock of starfish and sea cucumbers has almost completely collapsed due to the overexploitation of Asian buyers! Many large sea snails (especially Panam. cambute = Strombus raninus) are especially consumed by the local population, offered to tourists as a specialty and are now also on the verge of extinction. Contrary to the laws, even sea turtle eggs are offered to the public in many markets. In recent years, tourism has become a threat, but also an opportunity for the reef – if they lead to appropriate reactions.
There is an educational trail. Visitors can observe the egg-laying of the turtles in the corresponding seasons. The Isla Bastimentos has several beaches for surfing (including Wizard & Paunch) and can be reached from the main island Colón Island by boat taxi in a few minutes.