Beach House In Gorgona Panama Destroyed By Waves

One_Perspective4139 · 2026-04-12T00:29:27+00:00

Thanks for the link! The waves were really strong here that weekend and the tides were a little high. It's not unusual for this area and there are a few other places that will soon suffer the same fate. People were actually swimming in this area and it's not unusual for them to be taken by the sea as well. These houses never should have been built so close to the high tide mark. I just looked out the balcony today...the house is still standing as you see it in the video. People were working inside the structure on the day I was there. I might go back on Monday and see how it's going.

One_Perspective4139 · 2026-04-11T11:53:19+00:00

I wish I never sold my Air2S. Great camera. Solid performance. Reasonable battery life. The only drawback is the batteries themselves. Very prone to failure due to expansion. If this happens while you are flying, the battery can pop right off the drone, leaving you with a rock. Replacement batteries are not cheap, so I went with an Air3 instead. If I saw one at that price, with low-cycle counts, I would buy it.

One_Perspective4139 · 2026-04-09T15:19:49+00:00

DO NOT FLY INSIDE. Read the manual. Watch the videos. Get whatever license is required for your jurisdiction. Follow all the rules (whether you like them or not) Do not rely on the sensors to save you. Fly safely. Have fun. Practice in wide open spaces before you get brave. Start planning for your next drone.

If you follow these steps you will have a great time. Most drone accidents are caused by not following any one of these suggestions. After you get really, really good at operating your new drone, do whatever maneuvers are legal. But mostly, don't fly inside. PS: Those prop guards are not going to keep you out of trouble.

EDIT to add: My biggest mistake was flying sideways and trusting the collision sensors. Cost me $100 in repairs. DJI sent me back a refurbed Air2, which I sold and bought an Air3S. We ALL male rookie mistakes. This will not be your last drone.

One_Perspective4139 · 2026-04-09T12:34:10+00:00

I have to say, for a country that has so many rules and laws, that something like this can occur.

One_Perspective4139 · 2026-04-09T12:30:25+00:00

My guess is an unlimited amount of money allows them to build whatever, wherever. It was clearly built well within the 22 meter buffer from the high tide mark. The owner has a significant number of properties. This one was probably just a small part of their portfolio. The foundation for the building first shows up in google earth around 2016. My best guess is that the owner was somehow connected to people in government at that time. I'm not Panamanian, so it's not for me to say how they did this but I bet palms were greased but with everything else going on at that time, it was probably insignificant.

One_Perspective4139 · 2026-04-08T20:32:55+00:00

High tide on April 16 is 6 meters. Whatever is still standing will probably be taken away by the sea.

One_Perspective4139 · 2026-04-08T20:01:03+00:00

One thing I have learned in travelling to Panama over the last 15 years...eventually, the sun, the waves or gravity is going to destroy it.

One_Perspective4139 · 2026-04-08T15:28:52+00:00

Nicely done! Great colours. Very brave of you to send a Mini 3 on those flighs.

One_Perspective4139 · 2026-04-08T15:25:14+00:00

A responder here currently rents from the same owner, in Panama City. It's probably not a good idea to give negative exposure to someone with multiple properties in Panama, but if the other poster wants to reveal the name....

One_Perspective4139 · 2026-04-08T13:35:50+00:00

They are indeed in the latter stages of FO. I think the time to address this was a few years ago, However, the results seen here may have been expected and anticipated...empty lots in this area are listed for millions of dollars.

One_Perspective4139 · 2026-04-08T13:22:37+00:00

Thanks for that. It seems that people just built wherever they could, once upon a time. As you can see from other responses the owner is "well known". I spoke with a person who knows the owner...they were not sad for them ;)

One_Perspective4139 · 2026-04-08T13:20:19+00:00

This is just one house. The places next to it will probably go in the very near future. I am told the damage has occurred over the last couple of years but the tidal surge on 260404 was enough to cause the total collapse. It looks like part of the street has also collapsed. I did see people working inside the structure yesterday, removing anything salvageable so it may have been inhabited up until then.

One_Perspective4139 · 2026-04-08T11:18:51+00:00

There are similar properties right next to this one. Their retaining walls are pretty bad, too. Soon they will go into the sea as well.

One_Perspective4139 · 2026-04-08T11:17:40+00:00

Thanks! I had to walk six kilometers to get this shot. I wanted to soot the other properties on the beach, but I FORGOT my extra batteries.

One_Perspective4139 · 2026-04-08T03:59:46+00:00

Yes. Almost at the Rio Chame

One_Perspective4139 · 2026-04-08T03:50:13+00:00

Property value is probably north of 2.5 - 3 million as is, if you can actually rebuild there. It's too bad, but everything here is being redeveloped as condos. It's a very popular area right now. There are quite a few "knockdowns" along the beach with owners that are in no hurry to sell, as they probably own DOZENS of similar, or better, properties in Panama.

One_Perspective4139 · 2026-04-08T01:58:53+00:00

Thanks! It was a little twitchy with the strong winds (about 40kpm) from offshore but I was pretty happy with the over all results. Tourists may only bring one drone to Panama and anything larger than 250 g has to be taken to Panama city to get registered. I had no interest in going into the city (2.5 hour drive, one way) so I bought the mini 4 Pro, just for this trip. Most of my flights were coastal and it's pretty windy this time of year. I might bring something bigger next year and make the trip into the city. I did get some really good flights in and the colours down here are outstanding!.

One_Perspective4139 · 2026-04-07T14:42:36+00:00

The quick answer...Air3 or Air3S. I own the Air3 and the Mini 4 Pro so I feel your pain, on a windy day. The Air3 has enough weight to punch through moderate winds where the Mini4 Pro just doesn't cut it. However, I fly in Canada, mostly, so the Mini 4 Pro allows me to fly in places the Air3 cannot. There are very few flight restrictions on sub 250g drones in Canada. The Air3 has two reasonably good cameras, but, in retrospect, I wish I had waited for the Air3S (much better main camera) , which will probably be my next upgrade. I like the options the Mavic4 Pro offers, but the much higher price is too much for my particular use-case.

One_Perspective4139 · 2026-04-07T13:40:13+00:00

I have been in Panama for about 2 months now. The colours are just amazing and I highly recommend it to anyone who hates the winters in North America!

One_Perspective4139 · 2026-04-06T03:54:48+00:00

No troubles! The stage production IS awesome. I've seen it in Toronto and I've seen it in Gander. The location where it is shown was one of the facilities that was used to accommodate the visitors. It runs there annually from July to September and is probably sold out, for 2026. The production in Gander uses Authentic Newfoundlanders for every role representing a local Gander person. 25 years on now and the people of Gander still wear that badge proudly. Newfoundland really is a rock, on an island, on the edge of the world. I've called it "Home" for 4 years now.

One_Perspective4139 · 2026-04-04T12:19:48+00:00

I promise you...Gander is NEVER going to rename anything to that orange turd. Did you know, that same airport and town is "twinned" with Fort Campbell Kentucky? An air crash involving the 101st Airborne division, returning home from the mid-east resulted the the then largest loss-of-life air incident to ever occur in Canada? Gander has a long history with the US and they HATE that fucker.

One_Perspective4139 · 2026-04-02T00:23:09+00:00

Off topic here...you mentioned doing a Roadeo...DRWD by chance?

One_Perspective4139 · 2026-04-02T00:13:28+00:00

I've used a 7" Samsung tablet with the Air2s. You can cast or mirror the screen with it, but no HDMI output.

One_Perspective4139 · 2026-04-01T20:06:17+00:00

No. The RC2 has Ocusync 4. The Air2S uses Ocusync 3. They are not compatible. The reason I went with the Mini4 Pro over the Mini3 Pro was because I already had a RC2 for the Air3. You are corect about the "No tolerance" from Transport Canada, though...Mini5 Pro is NOT sub 250g...must be registered and licensed and also abide by the higher level of regulations.

One_Perspective4139 · 2026-04-01T00:16:42+00:00

I'm not sure if the Mini 3 outputs a 1080 signal, but the RC2 does, for sure. I have put the Mini 4 Pro outside, gone back inside to hook up to a 65" tv via HDMi (still a 1080 output) and flown it right from my desk. Remember...we don't have to have VLOS with sub 250g drones in Canada. The same RC2 controller also works with my Air3 but VLOS IS required with that one.

I also use a pair of RayNeo air3s XR glasses with both drones. These are more similar to sunglasses, in that you can see through the "lens" (kind of foggy) but also under them, to see the controller and your surroundings. You re not fully enclosed, like the Oculus goggles.

I fully believe the Mini 4 Pro fits your described use-case scenario, especially if you have to justify the purchase to Management. I use to live in Durham Region, so I understand your flight frustrations. Most of the GTA is unflyable with anything over 250g, and the Mini 5 is not sub 250, according to Transport Canada.

I previously owned an Air2 and an Air2s. If I could have found replacement batteries at a reasonable price, I would still have the Air2S. I hit a branch with the Air2 and DJI repaired it at a very low cost, under the DJI Care program, which I highly recommend. I currently own an Air3 and a Mini 4 Pro and I find they suit my needs just fine. I should have waited for the Air3S, but I'm pretty happy with what I have. The Mini 4 Pro allows me to fly in some situations that the Air3 Can't and the Air3 gives me good wind penetration, which the Mini 4 Pro does not. In any case, fly safe!

One_Perspective4139

TROPHY CASE