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Scuba diving in Panama: Best spots and prices
Scuba diving in Panama will be a unique experience. Don’t miss all the details in this guide we’ve prepared for you.
Scuba diving in Panama is a must, as it’s one of the few countries in the world with two seas for this sport. With both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean on its coasts, you get to choose where to begin your underwater adventure.
Before you pack your bags to go to Panama, we want you to read this guide carefully, so you’ll know which diving centres and courses are available in the country, the best places to dive according to your experience level, and the costs you will have to pay to enjoy this activity.
Diving Centres and Courses in Panama
We want to show you 4 diving centres in Panama, which offer not only diving experiences but also courses for all levels so you can learn or specialise in diving. We have selected 2 centres focusing on the Caribbean Sea and 2 in the Pacific Ocean.
Bocas Dive Center
If you want to experience diving at the highest level, Bocas Dive Center offers all the amenities you need. This centre is one of the most complete and luxurious in Panama, providing everything from boats specifically for diving to snacks and top-quality equipment.
They are located in Bocas del Toro on the Caribbean Sea, focusing on dives in this part of Panama. You’ll also find their hotel, which has its own pier.
You can book any of the following diving experiences: night diving, fun diving, or refresher courses for divers who haven’t dived in a while and want to learn new techniques.
They also provide full theory, practice, and PADI certifications to offer courses at all levels of diving, such as:
- Introduction to Diving
- Open Water Diver (Basic and Advanced)
- Rescue diver
- Specialties such as Deep Diver, Nitrox, Reef Conservation, Night Diving, Drift Diving, and Peak Performance Buoyancy
Dive School
On Carenero Island in Bocas del Toro, you’ll find this diving centre, where you can enjoy Caribbean Sea dives with 1, 2, or 4 tanks and explore different dive sites in Panama.
These experiences are aimed at people with basic or advanced PADI certification. They also offer charters so you can move to your preferred dive destination, and you can even do night dives.
Courses are PADI certified and conducted near their base in confined waters, ideal for beginner divers. You’ll have peace of mind exploring and seeing the variety of marine life in the area. The courses they offer include:
- Introduction to Diving
- Basic Open Water Diver
- Advanced open water diving
- Rescue diving
- Dive Master training program
Panama Dive Center
This is the first diving centre in Santa Catalina on the Pacific Ocean, where you can take your diving baptism or experience deeper dives if you have the experience and necessary certifications.
This centre is also the gateway to Coiba National Park, where you can dive to see all the wildlife in this UNESCO World Heritage site.
Courses range from beginner to professional levels, as well as specialties such as:
- Open Water Diver (Basic, PADI)
- Open Water Diver (Advanced, PADI)
- Side Mount Diver
- CPR and First Aid
- Rescue Diver (PADI)
Scuba Panama
Located in Panama City, this diving centre offers experiences in both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Its location provides a variety of dive spots depending on your interests.
The most popular spot is Taboga Island and its surroundings, where you’ll find shipwrecks, reefs, and a variety of marine life. Their service is one of the most luxurious in the capital, with high-quality diving equipment.
Scuba Panama offers day and night dive tours across Panama’s dive sites. They also provide courses to learn to dive, improve skills, or specialise, all PADI certified:
- Open Water Diver (Basic and Advanced)
- Basic and Advanced Diving
- Specialties: Nitrox, Buoyancy Control, Depth, Night Diving, Underwater Photography, and Navigation
- Dive master
- Rescue diving
Best Places to Dive in Panama
Panama offers many diving spots thanks to its two coasts with very different characteristics. This makes it a destination with many alternatives, and we have selected 2 points in the Pacific and 2 in the Caribbean that you cannot miss.
1. Portobelo
This bay is located in Colón Province, about an hour and a half from Panama City. It’s perfect for beginners due to the calm waters. It’s an ideal spot for novice divers or anyone wanting to overcome fear of the sea.
You can see a variety of species in Portobelo, including giant sponges, turtles, moray eels, eagle rays, pufferfish, and tropical fish. There is also a wide variety of coral.
Its accessibility is a key advantage as it’s very close to the capital and offers a great diving experience with both wrecks and reefs.
2. Bocas del Toro
This archipelago has 9 islands and hundreds of islets, creating a unique and biodiverse environment. Many coral reefs are protected by Bastimentos Marine National Park, helping preserve the ecosystem.
Marine life here includes moray eels, blacktip reef sharks, nurse sharks, and manta rays. At The Wreck dive site, you can see squid, octopus, and various Caribbean fish.
This area is important for advanced divers due to the abundance of marine life and the variety of medium and deep dive sites.
3. Islas Secas
This volcanic archipelago has 14 islands and is just over an hour from Panama City, making it less crowded and better preserved, with calmer diving conditions.
At this point, you’ll have an incredible experience with humpback whales if you visit during the season when they arrive in this part of Panama. You may encounter humpback whales during their migration season, along with turtles, dolphins, rays, and colourful fish.
Visiting Islas Secas for diving is a true luxury, thanks to the stunning land and marine landscapes the area offers. Its tranquillity might mislead you into thinking it’s suitable for beginner divers, but it’s actually an ideal spot for advanced divers.
4. Coiba National Park
Departing from Santa Catalina by boat, in just one hour you can reach the exclusive Coiba National Park, one of the most protected natural areas in the world, offering an exclusive diving experience.
You’ll see a high concentration of marine life, from white-tip reef sharks, bull sharks, tiger sharks, and nurse sharks to octopus, turtles, dolphins, and schools of fish.
Between May and November, humpback whales and orcas arrive at this park as part of their migration southward. This makes it an unmissable and highly attractive destination for divers of all experience levels.
Connectivity While Diving in Panama
Holafly offers monthly subscription plans, providing between 25 GB and unlimited data. You can share the data with other devices like your tablet, laptop, or another mobile phone. These plans work in over 170 countries worldwide without changing your plan.
You can also use the Panama eSIM, giving you unlimited data for only the days you need. It’s ideal for short stays and helps avoid roaming costs or SIM card changes.
Important: If you are a frequent traveler and want to stay connected without worrying about expensive roaming or looking for a new SIM at every destination, Holafly’s subscription plans are for you. With a single eSIM, enjoy internet in more than 160 countries for a fixed price and no surprises on your bill. Travel without limits and connect easily and securely! 🚀🌍
How Much Does Diving Cost in Panama?
These are approximate costs for diving in Panama. Keep in mind other costs like accommodation and food if you want to take a course, as classes usually take 3 to 4 days. Dive equipment is included in all cases.
- Uncertified diving experience: For two dives, the cost can range from $100 to 180 (€93 – 170).
- Certified diving experience: With two tanks, it costs $110 (€105), and for up to 10 dives with 2 tanks per 5 dives, the price can be $390 (€365).
- Open Water Diver course (Basic): Between $300 and 340 (€280 – 315).
- Advanced open water diving courses: Between $250 and $350 (€235 – 330).
- Specialties: Depending on the speciality, the cost can range from $260 to $400 (€240 – 375).
Frequently Asked Questions
There are two periods when diving in Panama can offer special experiences, depending on your interests. During the rainy season in the Pacific Ocean, from May to November, you can dive to see large species that arrive at that time. During the dry season, from December to April, visibility is higher in both the Pacific and Caribbean, allowing you to see marine life more clearly.
No, when you take a course or book a diving experience in Panama, the centres provide all the necessary equipment for the dives.
In Bocas del Toro, in the Caribbean Sea, you’ll find ideal conditions for beginners. There are several dive sites with calm, clear, shallow waters and a great variety of marine life.
No, diving in Panama is not dangerous if you follow the safety measures recommended by the instructors. Risks are reduced when you choose dive sites suitable for your experience level.
To become PADI certified, courses can last from 3 to 5 days, depending on the diving centre, your learning pace, and the chosen method.
