Category: Diving in Panama

Diving in Panama is one of the best in the Americas with famous diving spots such as Coiba National Park on the Pacific side and Bocas del Toro on the Caribbean side. The most famous dive sites include Punta Faro and Sueño del Pescador in Coiba. Panama is an excellent destination for scuba divers who love shark diving. A little less known, you can also give a try at diving in Portobelo on the Caribbean side or Taboguilla Island near Panama City on the Pacific side.

The marine life in Panama is mostly about whale sharks, mobula rays, eagle rays, turtles, hammerhead sharks, and white-tip sharks. It’s the right place to go for both beginners and experienced divers. Due to the water temperatures, regarding scuba gear, it is most common to scuba dive there in a 5 mm wetsuit on the Pacific side, while a 3mm shorty is enough on the Caribbean side. The best time of the year is from January to April, but Bocas del Toro best season is in October. The best dive sites can be reached by boat.

Below you will find all my best scuba diving stories from diving in Panama. I share my top tips on how to organise your trip, my favourite dives, what is the best itinerary or how to do it without breaking the bank. From a travel budget point of view, Panama is a mid-range budget destination, so you may need to save up but not as much as you think.

scuba diving Bocas del Toro Panama Casa Blanca reef

Where is the best diving in Bocas del Toro, Panama?

I decided to end my three months in Panama by spending a month in the Caribbean Archipelago of Bocas del Toro. It gave me enough time to dive, snorkel, mountain bike, kayak and hike across it, from Boca del Drago to Cayos Zapatilla. Bocas del Toro is home to the Bastimentos Marine National Park, Panama’s first marine park, created in 1988 and covering an

diving in coiba - Pacific spadefish

Diving in Coiba, the Panamanian pearl of the Pacific

It was my first big adventure in Panama. A month later, after living in Panama City, I was already back. Coiba Island is the largest island on the Pacific coast of Central America. With 38 other islands and islets over a marine area of more than 1,700 km², they form the Coiba National Park. Officially created in 2004, it became a UNESCO World Heritage

Panama Canal scuba diving boat Bridge of Americas

The ultimate Panama City layover guide scuba divers will love

After living for a month in Panama City, I’m glad to sum up my favourite moments in the most modern city in Central America in this Panama City layover guide. As part of my 7-month adventure to explore some of the best dive sites in Latin America, I will keep using Panama City as a connecting hub. Let me show you that Panama City