On the underwater topography of the southeast Azuero Peninsula

First, for context, a colored bathymetric map of Panama.

Zooming in, a simplified diagram showing the 200, 1000, 2000 and 3000 meter isobaths.

Zooming in further, the Google Earth image showing two notable points of our September 11 deep water pelagic trip: our stops that produced Tahiti Petrel and Wedge-tailed Shearwater.

These stops were not serendipitous, but were carefully planned atop seamounts, underwater mountains.

The most productive one, 45 km east-southeast of Punta Mala, has its summit at 91 meters deep, but is surrounded by 1000-meter depths. The Wilson's and Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrels were seen about halfway to that spot, maybe at 300 m depths. We suspect the other mound, with a 37-meter deep summit was not in deep enough waters (around 500 m). There is a third seamount, about 45 km west-southwest of Punta Mala, also at the 1000 m isobath, that remains unexplored. Heading in that direction would allow us to swing by Islas Frailes, as a bonus.

Finally, some eye candy: the data from the final map overlaid on the pretty colors of the first.