read an article about diving with us in Panama, published
in DIVER May 2005 by Jacquie Cozens
and another one published in UNDERCURRENT March 2006
in DIVER May 2005 by Jacquie Cozens
and another one published in UNDERCURRENT March 2006
DIVING IN COIBA AND SANTA CATALINA / PANAMA
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diving conditions and dive sites in Coiba and the
Chiriqui gulf of Panama
Tidal exchange of 4 - 7 meters / 12 - 21 ft is present in this area of Panama and causes at
some times currents at several places, what can affect the diving in Coiba as well as
around Santa Catalina. The visibility around Coiba is usually between 15 and 20 meters /
55-70 ft, closer to the Pacific coast of Panama it is between 10 and 20 meters / 35-70 ft,
but can be worse, depending on currents, thermoclines and tides. The water temperature
at the surface is around 27-29 C / 80-85 F all the year. At depth it can drop to around 24 C
/ 75 F, sometimes lower. For more detailed information about diving conditions here
checkout our logbook page.
Chiriqui gulf of Panama
Tidal exchange of 4 - 7 meters / 12 - 21 ft is present in this area of Panama and causes at
some times currents at several places, what can affect the diving in Coiba as well as
around Santa Catalina. The visibility around Coiba is usually between 15 and 20 meters /
55-70 ft, closer to the Pacific coast of Panama it is between 10 and 20 meters / 35-70 ft,
but can be worse, depending on currents, thermoclines and tides. The water temperature
at the surface is around 27-29 C / 80-85 F all the year. At depth it can drop to around 24 C
/ 75 F, sometimes lower. For more detailed information about diving conditions here
checkout our logbook page.
diving in Coiba
"Think of the number of fish you have seen elsewhere and double it. Think
about the size of the fish you have seen and double that as well. That sums
up the promise of diving... ...Coiba" (DIVER May 2005).
"So many fish swam over, under and around us that I gave up naming and
counting and just enjoyed them" (UNDERCURRENT March 2006)
The national park includes the islands of Coiba, Rancheria, Jicaron, Jicarita, Afuerita,
Canal de Afuera, Uvas, Contreras, Pajaros, Brincanco and covers an area of 270.125
ha, of which more than 80% is sea and it contains the largest coral reef in the tropical
Eastern Pacific. Just a short distance off its west coast, at Hannibal Bank and Jicaron,
the sea drops down to several 1000 feet / meters. Because of the upwelling of deep-sea
water and the mixture of different Pacific currents you will find here an incredible
abundance of fish and other marine life.
Encounters with whitetip reef sharks, mantas, eagle rays and turtles is quite normal, as is
swimming with schools of surgeon-, butterfly- and angel fish, barracudas, Pacific spade
fish, jacks and tunas. Also sightings of humpback (July to September) and pilot whales,
orcas, dolphins, tiger-, bull- and hammerhead sharks, as well as whale sharks are possible
at certain times.
Diving can truly be called spectacular and is often compared to Cocos Islands and
Galapagos. The Lonely Planet for Panama describes it as the best between Mexico and
Colombia.
We offer daily 2 tank dive trips, as well as special multiple days trips to the national park.
During the multiple days trips we are using the ANAM scientific station as our camp. Except
otherwise outlined in trip descriptions we are sleeping and eating (breakfast and dinner,
lunch sometimes at the station, sometimes at a beach) at the station. There are no other
accommodations in the park. Check out the usual trip outline at our itinerary page for more
information.
Every cabin has 2 dormitories for 5 to 6 people each and a bathroom per dormitory. The
accommodation is basic, though the rooms have air condition. But as electricity is provided
by a diesel driven generator, who breaks down from time to time, or the rangers are short
on fuel, or both, air condition as well as light is not always available the whole time.
Due to the unique terrestrial flora and fauna as well as beautiful beaches and snorkeling
spots, it is also a very worthwhile destination for non-divers. We gladly can organize also
eco adventure trips to the national park for non divers or in addition to your dive
experience.
Check out a more detailed description of selected dive sites,
as well as log book remarks of recent dives done and our photo gallery to get a better
idea.
Check out our ITINERARY for upcoming trips.
"Think of the number of fish you have seen elsewhere and double it. Think
about the size of the fish you have seen and double that as well. That sums
up the promise of diving... ...Coiba" (DIVER May 2005).
"So many fish swam over, under and around us that I gave up naming and
counting and just enjoyed them" (UNDERCURRENT March 2006)
The national park includes the islands of Coiba, Rancheria, Jicaron, Jicarita, Afuerita,
Canal de Afuera, Uvas, Contreras, Pajaros, Brincanco and covers an area of 270.125
ha, of which more than 80% is sea and it contains the largest coral reef in the tropical
Eastern Pacific. Just a short distance off its west coast, at Hannibal Bank and Jicaron,
the sea drops down to several 1000 feet / meters. Because of the upwelling of deep-sea
water and the mixture of different Pacific currents you will find here an incredible
abundance of fish and other marine life.
Encounters with whitetip reef sharks, mantas, eagle rays and turtles is quite normal, as is
swimming with schools of surgeon-, butterfly- and angel fish, barracudas, Pacific spade
fish, jacks and tunas. Also sightings of humpback (July to September) and pilot whales,
orcas, dolphins, tiger-, bull- and hammerhead sharks, as well as whale sharks are possible
at certain times.
Diving can truly be called spectacular and is often compared to Cocos Islands and
Galapagos. The Lonely Planet for Panama describes it as the best between Mexico and
Colombia.
We offer daily 2 tank dive trips, as well as special multiple days trips to the national park.
During the multiple days trips we are using the ANAM scientific station as our camp. Except
otherwise outlined in trip descriptions we are sleeping and eating (breakfast and dinner,
lunch sometimes at the station, sometimes at a beach) at the station. There are no other
accommodations in the park. Check out the usual trip outline at our itinerary page for more
information.
Every cabin has 2 dormitories for 5 to 6 people each and a bathroom per dormitory. The
accommodation is basic, though the rooms have air condition. But as electricity is provided
by a diesel driven generator, who breaks down from time to time, or the rangers are short
on fuel, or both, air condition as well as light is not always available the whole time.
Due to the unique terrestrial flora and fauna as well as beautiful beaches and snorkeling
spots, it is also a very worthwhile destination for non-divers. We gladly can organize also
eco adventure trips to the national park for non divers or in addition to your dive
experience.
Check out a more detailed description of selected dive sites,
as well as log book remarks of recent dives done and our photo gallery to get a better
idea.
Check out our ITINERARY for upcoming trips.
Islands around Sta. Catalina
(Octavia, Pelonas, Cebaco, Cativo)
We are diving our "house sites" in daily dive trips, including 2 dives on 2 different spots. If
possible, we are resting between the dives at a secluded sandy beach, what makes these
trips also very popular for non-diving family members and friends.
The dive sites are outside the national park of Coiba, closer to Santa Catalina;
some of the spots can be reached in as less as 15 to 30 minutes.
Diving outside the national park does not mean, that it´s worse.
"Our dives around Santa Catalina...where notable for their huge
aggregations of schooling fish. There were enormous schools of oversized
jacks, snappers and grunts and numerous moray eels" (DIVER May 2005).
"Again, splendid fish action, plus green and brown morays that squirmed
around the rocks" (UNDERCURRENT March 2006).
Many of our dive spots can be compared to sites within the national park. Besides tons of
snappers, jacks, tunas, butterfly-, angel- puffer fish and free swimming moray eels, what
you can see here at almost every dive, we have seen here also whale sharks, whitetip
sharks, bull sharks, manta- and eagle rays, dolphins, humpback- and pilot whales, as well
as turtles at certain times.
At these dive sites you guaranteed don´t meet other divers in the water and as we still are
discovering regularly new spots, you well might be the first human diving here.
Check out a more detailed description of selected dive sites, as well as log book remarks
of recent dives done and our photo gallery to get a better idea.
(Octavia, Pelonas, Cebaco, Cativo)
We are diving our "house sites" in daily dive trips, including 2 dives on 2 different spots. If
possible, we are resting between the dives at a secluded sandy beach, what makes these
trips also very popular for non-diving family members and friends.
The dive sites are outside the national park of Coiba, closer to Santa Catalina;
some of the spots can be reached in as less as 15 to 30 minutes.
Diving outside the national park does not mean, that it´s worse.
"Our dives around Santa Catalina...where notable for their huge
aggregations of schooling fish. There were enormous schools of oversized
jacks, snappers and grunts and numerous moray eels" (DIVER May 2005).
"Again, splendid fish action, plus green and brown morays that squirmed
around the rocks" (UNDERCURRENT March 2006).
Many of our dive spots can be compared to sites within the national park. Besides tons of
snappers, jacks, tunas, butterfly-, angel- puffer fish and free swimming moray eels, what
you can see here at almost every dive, we have seen here also whale sharks, whitetip
sharks, bull sharks, manta- and eagle rays, dolphins, humpback- and pilot whales, as well
as turtles at certain times.
At these dive sites you guaranteed don´t meet other divers in the water and as we still are
discovering regularly new spots, you well might be the first human diving here.
Check out a more detailed description of selected dive sites, as well as log book remarks
of recent dives done and our photo gallery to get a better idea.
updated May 2006
