The Surf Window

Silverbacks

Veraguas, Panama

Reef breakExpert

One of Central America's most powerful and seldom-surfed big wave breaks, Silverbacks near Santa Catalina, Panama, is a massive open-ocean reef that detonates on the biggest south swells and has only recently come to wider attention.

Typical Conditions

The Surf Window

Swell Window

N
OptimalW (270°)
WindowSSW–NNW (210°–330°)

Wind

N

Offshore

Tide

mid tide

LowMidHigh

Season

August

JFMAMJJASOND

The Wave

Type

Right

Bottom

Deep water reef

Shape

Enormous, heaving right, thick, open-ocean faces with massive walls and dangerous hold-downs

Length

100–200m

Skill Level

  • •Who it's for: Expert (big wave specialists only)
  • •Why: One of Central America's heaviest waves, only the most prepared, experienced big wave surfers should paddle out at size.

Hazards

  • •Extreme wave size, hold-downs of 20+ seconds are common
  • •Remote location, emergency access is extremely limited
  • •Boat access only
  • •Hammerhead and bull sharks are present in the area

Local Tips

  • •Silverbacks is accessed by boat from Santa Catalina, local captain knowledge is essential for reading the lineup.
  • •The wave is rarely crowded simply because so few surfers are capable of surfing it at size, an exclusive big wave experience.

Location

Map showing the location of Silverbacks in Veraguas, Panama

7.8594, -81.2956