Scalloped Hammerhead Shark

One of the most stunning underwater spectacles in the world. Hundreds of hammerhead sharks form enormous schools around the Coiba islands, offering one of the most memorable diving experiences on the planet.

Sphyrna lewini, the scalloped hammerhead shark, is one of the most recognizable sharks thanks to its T-shaped head with eyes at the ends, providing stereoscopic vision and enhanced ability to detect the bioelectric fields of its prey. It reaches up to 4 meters long. It is famous for forming large schools—sometimes hundreds of individuals—that make daily migrations between deep and shallow waters. In Panama, Coiba Island and the Pearl Islands archipelago are world-class sites for observing these sharks. It is critically endangered due to overfishing for its fins.

Habitat

Oceanic and coastal waters of the Panamanian Pacific, especially Coiba Island and Las Perlas