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Teiki Mathieu Baillan surfing a self-made Alaia surfboard in Lances Left, Mentawaï, Indonesia. Photo by C. Naslain, 2009.
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Silver Back
Panama
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Datum: WGS84 [ Help ] |
Latitude: 9° 21.667' N |
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Access
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Best by boat at North Western tip of Isla Bastimentos in Bocas Del Toro. A 40 minute boat ride from Isla Colon. Can be accessed by land after a long walk and very long paddle. DistanceDon't know WalkGood walk (15-30 mn) Easy to find?Easy to find Public access?Public access Special accessPaddle > 20mn or Boat |
Surf Spot Characteristics
Alternative name Silverbacks / Bastimentos
Surf Spot Quality
Wave qualityWorld Class
ExperiencePros or kamikaze only...
FrequencySometimes break
Wave
TypeReef-coral
DirectionRight
BottomReef (coral, sharp rocks etc..)
PowerHollow, Fast, Powerful
Normal lengthShort (< 50m)
Good day lengthShort (< 50m)
Tide, Swell and Wind
Good swell directionNorth, NorthEast
Good wind directionSouthWest, South
Swell sizeStarts working at 1.5m-2m /5ft-6ft and holds up to 5m / 16 ft and over
Best tide positionAll tides
Best tide movementRising and falling tides
More details
Week crowdEmpty
Week-end crowdEmpty
Dangers
- Rips / undertow
Additional Information
Best to get here by boat, a jet ski with sled would be great to have handy to save you from drowning. Definitely bring a gun, at least a 7 footer. Bring an extra leash and board because you might break both.
+
It only breaks when Dumpers passes 8ft.
Atmosphere
VOLUME, the wave is extremely heavy, breaks in deep water over a cavernous reef, the peak keeps changing position, the currents are strong and pull you all over the place. Hard to judge, jacks up very quickly, long hold downs. If you are going to surf here, have your life insurance policy paid up.
General
Big, powerful, heavy, heavy wave. You can't even see the big ones coming until it's too late, then you have about 6 seconds to paddle towards the channel, or just pray for the best. When a big one came through, my friend was drug over 100 meters and held down 40 seconds, another guy's board was broken into 3 pieces. Short, fast, but exhilarating ride.
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Photos
Silver back |
Silver back |
Silver back |
Silver back |
Comments
By VB local , 27-04-2006
Will a 6'2 work - Im going to come down soon to see this wave, Im from VB and need to see this thing. Its massive. I have 6 boads 4 6'2s, 1 5'6, and 1 7'2 single fin, will the 6'2s work or the 7'2
By koozie72@yahoo.com , 22-04-2006
Scary - The peak is very shifty. You can guage your position from the nearby Island of Bastiementos but thre is just so much water that the currents push you all over the place.Beginners beware, this wave is for experienced surfers only. One of my crew snapped his gun in 2 places. Very long hold downs. Thick, heavy seriously powerful wave.Overall a great experience but not epic. For longer rides go to Caranera across the channel.
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By Anonymous , 24-02-2008
- I was introduced to this wave back in '98 by a local keen to share these waves. Can't beleive this still happens these days. I visited this area a year or 2 ago and was shocked by the level of tourism in the are. In 10 years this place has gone from a chilled out back water to something I'm not sure I like. Silverback is the main event here but out of reach of the many.