Diving in Panama

[Amberrenae]

Hi everyone,
I am new to the forum and scuba diving. I am planning a trip in December to Central America, and wanted to scuba dive there. After looking online, it seems some of the best diving places are Bocas del Toro and Santa Catalina. Has anyone ever been diving in these or other areas in Panama and how was it? After looking through the forum, it seems alot of people hadn't been scuba diving in Panama, which made me think that it isn't that great down there.

Are these areas ok to dive for beginners? I will also be in Puerto Viejo in Costa Rica, so maybe any diving there? Does Panama not stack up to Belize or Costa Rica?

Any recommendations or suggestions are welcome. Thanks!

[kd5gje]

I just got back from that area. We were working inland for a few days and decided to spend one night in Bocas Town before heading to Panama City. On the morning before we left I took a two tank dive. I thought it was great, but then again, even though it has been three years since I have been certified, this was my first dive.

I went withLa Buga Dive Center & Adventures, Bocas Del Toro, Panama and really enjoyed the group. Ricardo was our guide and he seemed pretty knowledgeable about the area and diving. They all were great people to be around.

The first dive we did was a wreck dive. It was a small ferry that could probably only hold one or two cars in it's prime. There was no way to get into the ferry, it just had a few holes you could look into. I saw a few large red snapper but other than that, there were no large fish. The whole area has been over fished so much. There were plenty of small jellies, tons of little colorful fish, and quite a bit of coral as well as slight thermalclines between the sand and coral areas.

The second dive was called Play Ground. It was almost solid coral and our max depth was only about 40 feet. Again, this was only a small fish dive.

I enjoyed the area and really enjoyed the atmosphere of the town. There are no resorts and when you pick a restaurant, chances are there will be a few locals eating there too.

The dive cost me $60, the hotel was pretty nice (built on a dock over the water) and it was about $45 a night.

I can't compare the dive to anything else, but hey, I had a good time.

[SammyJ]

I recently returned from Bocas. I also visited PV in CR but didn't spend much time there. It seemed like it was more of a beach bum hippy town, so I don't know about diving there.

In Bocas, I did a dive with Starfleet (in bocas town proper, next to Lily's Cafe). I really enjoyed the dive. It was around $75 with instruction, since I hadn't been diving before. Cost included the instructor taking us off the dock and showing us how to use the equipment underwater and what not.

I only did one dive with them, a wreck close to the shore. I think it was the same one as mentioned above. I skipped the second dive because my sinuses were bothering me and I had to fly the next day. I really enjoyed my experience with Starfleet.

I agree about Bocas, great town, you'll really like it. Good places to eat:

Lily's Cafe
The Casbah
Guari Guari (the one near the gas station)

The last place was probably one of the best meals I've ever eaten in my life.

[SammyJ]

Also, for drinks, The Toro Loco is cool, Mondo Taitu and La Iguana are all fun. Iguana on tuesdays gets hopping.

[Travelnsj]

I've looked into the diving in Panama and Santa Catalina from all the reports and people I have known that have dove there....they say Visability is a major issue and some areas have been fished out. But they say it is a wonderful country.