4-5 boats being lost on reefs there is average for any year. There are a lot of boats running backpackers between Panama and Colombia with drunk or drugged operators who often leave a backpacker on the helm while they go below to pass out or mess around with other backpackers (these are extremely sleazy operations- unlicensed, illegal, unseaworthy). Most of the wrecks have been these boats. However, in the past two years, cruising boats have been bricking up at a high rate.

The wrecks seem to occur mostly in the same couple of places, since these are some of the obvious entry points into the region. What amazes me is that boats plow into reefs that contain several other wrecked hulls - often ending up right beside them!. I have no explanation for how that could happen, but it does. I do know that the charts show those reefs in a different place...

ALL charts here are a joke at best and getting into and through most of the area can be tricky and full of hazards. This is not the Bahamas - much trickier navigation. However, simply keeping your wits about you and using some common sense is all that is required. Heck, we are Jon's typical "kroozers", and we have managed to explore parts few people go to without incident (knock on wood).

BTW, the CSSN info is out of date. A Bene 55 just bricked up and was lost the other day.

Mark