Reef
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Level 7/10

Silverbacks

Bocas del Toro, Panama
🪸Sharp reef🏝️Remote🦈Sharks

Silverbacks is Bocas del Toro's heavy-hitting secret—a powerful left-hand reef break that comes alive when Caribbean swells push into Panama's island archipelago. Named for the gorilla-like power of its waves (and the bull sharks that occasionally patrol its waters), this is not a spot for the faint-hearted. When winter storms send energy through the Caribbean, Silverbacks transforms into a serious wave, demanding respect and rewarding commitment with thick, grinding barrels. The boat ride out adds to the adventure, passing through Bocas' reggae-tinged island paradise before arriving at something altogether more primal.

3-Day Forecast
Today
15
26
Poor
1.6m
@9s
6km/h
Mon
16
37
Poor
1.7m
@10s
5km/h
Tue
17
32
Poor
1.6m
@10s
6km/h
+7
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Today's Conditions

Swell
1.6m
ENE(60°)
Score: 12/25
Period
9s
Short period / windswell
Score: 8/25
Wind
6km/h
NNE(28°)
Score: 16/25
Weather
26°C
0.0mm34%
Secondary Swell
0.1mENE
Forecast Confidence
100%
Sources: open-meteo-marine, open-meteo-weather
Best Session
morning

Location & Conditions

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0°45°90°135°180°225°270°315°NESW
Swell
Wind
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Tide Times

1:30 am
Low tide - 0.08m
9:00 am
High tide - 0.26m
4:30 pm
Low tide - 0.06m
6:30 pm
High tide - 0.08m
Times shown in spot-local time.+1 more tide events

Strike Score Breakdown

26
Poor
Components
Swell Direction0/25
Swell Size12/25
Swell Period8/25
Wind16/25
Raw Score36/100
Adjustments
⚠️ Weak Component-10
Adjusted Score26/100
Confidence
Multiplier×1.00
Final Score26

Spot Details

Swell Requirements

Optimal direction
N (350°)
Direction range
320° - 30°
Size range
1m - 3m
Ideal size
2.5m
Height multiplier
1.03×
Ideal period
12s+

Wind Requirements

Optimal direction
S (180°)
Offshore range
140° - 220°
Best window
morning

Tide Requirements

Optimal tide
mid
Optimal range
0.3m - 1.2m

Water temp

28°C

Wetsuit

Boardshorts / Rashguard

Difficulty

7/10

Crowd level

2/10

Access: Boat from Bocas Town.

Best Season

Peak: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar

Secondary: Jun, Jul

November-March Caribbean swells. June-July can work.

Getting There

Airport
BOC
Drive time
0 min
Boat required
$50
Data quality
community

Strike Log

Community Discussion