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Panama Diving Reviews:
Dive Resorts & Liveaboards

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Average Overall Ratings
(over last 3 years, 2 of 37 reports
Advanced:  4 stars Beginner:  4 stars
UW Photography:  4 stars
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Coiba Dive Center Full report   Isla Coiba   "Good (not great) Eastern Pacific Diving"
We drove six hours from Panama City to Santa Catalina where we spent the night in a nice, small hotel up on the hill, the Sol y Ma... Full report  
3 stars
3 stars  
1/2016   Sean Bruner
500+ Dives
 
Bocas Dive Center/ NA   Bocas del Toro   "Fun dives in Bocas del Toro, Panama on New Yearr's Eve"
Nice but ordinary Caribbean fare with the exception of amazing numbers of brittle stars that shone like gold sometimes on the spon... Full report  
4 stars
4 stars  
12/2022   John Yavorsky
1000+ Dives
Photos available 
Boca Dive Center/ Hotel Palma Royale Full report   Bocas del Toro   "Decent Caribbean Diving"
Bocas del Toro is a run- down town on the Caribbean side of Panama. It looks like some backwater out of a Graham Greene novel. Th... Full report  
3 stars
4 stars  
1/2016   Sean Bruner
500+ Dives
2Helpful vote(s) received
Zapatillas Dive Club/ Al Natural Full report   Bocas Del Toro   The Bocas del Toro archipelago is still a (relatively) hidden gem. Described as "the Caribbean 30 years ago", it's a collection o... Full report  
3 stars
5 stars  
9/2013   Elise O Lovell
500+ Dives
 
Bocas Water Sports/ Punta Caracol Agua Lodge Full report   Bocas del Toro   Bocas del Toro is on Isla Colon. Diving around the island is shallow with generally poor visibility. There are approximately 40 ri... Full report  
1 stars
3 stars  
7/2005   Harold and Jan Bedoukian
250+ Dives
 
Starfleet Scuba/ rental home Full report   Bocas del Toro (Caribbean)   We traveled via Panama City and spent two days there touring the locks, etc. That was worth the time on this three week trip. Re... Full report  
2 stars
4 stars  
9/2011   David Ritchie
250+ Dives
 
panama divers and dutch pirate Full report   bocas del toro and portableo   We went to Panama for fun, I am a multi sport type and Panama is a good place for a lot of activities. We also attended spanish ... Full report  
3 stars
3 stars  
1/2006   bill mashek
250+ Dives
 
various/ traveled the country Full report   Caribbean and Pacific Coast   I have been to Panama several times before so this trip was an attempt to sample most of the areas in the country with my family, ... Full report  
4 stars
3 stars  
1/2006   Harvey Monroe
500+ Dives
 
Coiba Dive Center/ Lost Coast Explorer Full report   Coiba   To begin with, the Boat operation and the Dive operation were run by totally separate companies. Therefore, they will be discusse... Full report  
2 stars
2 stars  
3/2008   Dana Fisher
1000+ Dives
 
Scuba Coiba/ Sol Y Mar Full report   Coiba   If you go to Coiba expecting Cocos and Galapagos on a budget, you are bound to be disappointed. Although the ocean topography i... Full report  
3 stars
2 stars  
12/2006   David Shem-Tov
250+ Dives
 
Scuba Coiba Full report   Coiba / Santa Catalina   I found the diving to be below average. I've heard all kionds of grat thikng but didn't find that to be the case. The dives got gr... Full report  
1 stars
1 stars  
11/2007   Chad Engler
1000+ Dives
 
Scuba Coiba Full report   Coiba Island   "Solid diving, smooth operation"
(I posted the same review on Tripadvisor. ) Our family took the standard three- day, nine- dive trip to Coiba Island, through Scub... Full report  
4 stars
3 stars  
1/2015   Jennifer Widom
500+ Dives
2Helpful vote(s) received
Scuba Coiba Full report   Coiba National Park   "Accommodating service and a great dive experience in Coiba"
Our second trip to Coiba National Park with Scuba Coiba – we did 2 dives in June 2018, and 4 dives in January 2020. We dived aroun... Full report  
5 stars
5 stars  
1/2020   Keith Willmott
100+ Dives
Photos available
5Helpful vote(s) received
Golden Frog SCUBA/ El Bongo   Coiba/Portobello   "Off the beaten path. Panama is an interesting destination"
I was working in Panama City and had a chance to go diving. I chose to dive the Caribbean side in Portobelo. Rey from Golden Frog ... Full report  
3 stars
4 stars  
5/2024   Elissa A Mayo
1000+ Dives
 
Panama Divers/ Coral Lodge Full report   Colon   Coral Lodge is a new resort in an unspoiled, remote area of Panama. Since the only access to the resort is by boat, we combined t... Full report  
5 stars
4 stars  
3/2006   David Savage
<100 Dives
 
Marina Las Perlas/ Barcelo Playa Blanca Full report   Gulf of Panama   The all- inclusive Barcelo Playa Blanca resort is in an area that was once a restricted military base of first, the Americans and t... Full report  
3 stars
3 stars  
12/2004   Ken Robertson
100+ Dives
 
Liquid Jungle Lab/ Liquid Jungle Research Lab Full report   Isla Canales de Tierra   "Coiba Island"
Our group of 14 flew into Panama City and stayed at the Hilton (great hotel) for one night going and coming. In the morning we bo... Full report  
5 stars
2 stars  
9/2016   Tracy E. Johnson
500+ Dives
1Helpful vote(s) received
Scuba Coiba Full report   Isla Coiba   I have traveled in Panama before, and have traveled around the world for almost 30 years, both for diving and adventure, so I have... Full report  
2 stars
1 stars  
12/2008   David Richardson
250+ Dives
 
Scuba Coiba Full report   Isla Coiba   - While the drive from Panama City to Santiago is quite easy (via the Panamerican Highway), getting from Santiago to Santa Catalin... Full report  
4 stars
2 stars  
11/2007   Laszlo Ilyes
250+ Dives
 
MV Coral Star Full report LiveAboard Isla de Coiba   This was my 5th Panama live- aboard on two separate boats (Coiba Explorer & Coral Star) and I have received free trips before to sh... Full report  
5 stars
2 stars  
4/2004   Tracy Johnson
250+ Dives
1Helpful vote(s) received
Caribbean Jimmy's Dive Resort Full report   Nombre de Dios   This was my third trip to Panama to dive with Jimmy . He owns a remote place that is for people who are adventure driven and who wa... Full report  
5 stars
5 stars  
9/2008   Sally Byrd
<100 Dives
 
Scuba Coiba Full report   Pacific   Sea life and variety was amazing!!! Dive sites were far and boat quite uncomfortable- not even cushions on seats. Could be ch... Full report  
4 stars
2 stars  
4/2006   Susan DeCanio
1000+ Dives
 
Inula Full report LiveAboard Panama + Colombia   Panama – Coiba + Colombia – Malpelo trip on catamaran Inula Central America on the Pacific side still was a white spot on my de... Full report  
5 stars
1 stars  
8/2013   Michael Joest
1000+ Dives
Photos available 
Coral Dreams Full report   Pearl Islands/Islas Perlas   "Pleasant diving among stunning islands"
This was our second trip to the Pearl Islands/ Islas Perlas diving with Guillermo of Coral Dreams, after which we again dived at Is... Full report  
2 stars
4 stars  
12/2019   Keith Willmott
100+ Dives
Photos available
1Helpful vote(s) received
ScubaCaribe Full report   Playa Blanca   "Surprisingly good place for a couple of dives"
I booked a 2- tank dive one day, just to stay in practice for warm- water scuba. Based on what few reports I could find on the Web, ... Full report  
4 stars
4 stars  
12/2016   Harvey S. Cohen
250+ Dives
1Helpful vote(s) received
Bocas Dive Center/ Red Frog Resort Full report   Playa del Toros   "Wish the weather was better"
Excellent service. Very few divers in June. 1- 3 divers on the boat with two dive masters. Due recent rains vis was poor to fair... Full report  
3 stars
4 stars  
6/2017   William Wallis
100+ Dives
1Helpful vote(s) received
Golden Frog Scuba Full report   Portobello   "Diving in Portobello Panama"
Ray Sanchez owner of Golden Frog Scuba made the arrangements for a hotel and meals in Portobello. The hotel (El Bongo) was comfort... Full report  
3 stars
3 stars  
11/2017   Jim Tompkins
1000+ Dives
 
ScubaPanama Full report   Portobello   I called ScubaPanama while staying in Panama City, Panama. I asked for an english- speaking associate and was immediately transfer... Full report  
4 stars
5 stars  
1/2009   Julie T Tayloe
250+ Dives
 
Panama Divers Full report   Portobelo   The operation was friendly and well managed. I was picked up at my hotel and dropped back there at the end of the dive. The drive ... Full report  
3 stars
4 stars  
6/2006   Jack Adams
500+ Dives
 
Scuba Coiba/ Sol y Mar Full report   Santa Catalina   Diving was mediocre. The long (hour to hour and a half) boatrides to the dive sites were very uncomfortable because the captain dr... Full report  
3 stars
1 stars  
1/2007   Janice R Melara
100+ Dives
 
Scuba Coiba Full report   Santa Catalina   This is for divers only, non diving spouse had to sit at the cabin because beach was not designed to accomodate tourists, it's a f... Full report  
5 stars
5 stars  
6/2006   Larry Polster
1000+ Dives
 
Scuba Coiba Full report   Santa Catalina & Coiba   Although there were many email exchanges with Scuba Coiba owner, Herbie Sink responses were lacking in accuracy. Despite pointed ... Full report  
1 stars
1 stars  
11/2007   Loretta Engler
1000+ Dives
 
Scuba Coiba/ Sol y Mar Full report   Santa Catalina/Coiba   Very little good to say on this trip. I have travelled all over the world and have been to many third world countries to dive. T... Full report  
1 stars
1 stars  
11/2007   Steve Pittman
1000+ Dives
 
Scuba Coiba Full report       "Coiba--great diving"
I went to Coiba on a liveaboard 15 years ago, so I was leery that the diving had degenerated- - It had not! Scuba Coiba i... Full report  
5 stars
3 stars  
5/2015   Terry H Anderson
500+ Dives
1Helpful vote(s) received
Scuba Coiba Full report       Before arriving in Santa- Catalina I had high expectation on that dive destination. I ended up with no deception. You never know wath... Full report  
5 stars
1 stars  
3/2011   Richard Gauthier
500+ Dives
2Helpful vote(s) received
La Buga Diving/ Playa Tortuga Hotel Full report       After many years of not diving in the Caribbean, I wanted to try it again. I didn't want to repeat the same good places, like Bona... Full report  
1 stars
2 stars  
9/2010   Stanley Zuk
1000+ Dives
1Helpful vote(s) received
MV Coral Star Full report LiveAboard     This was my sixth trip on a Panamanian live- aboard. I love watching the big animals. Lots of white tip sharks resting in caves ... Full report  
5 stars
1 stars  
4/2006   Tracy Johnson
250+ Dives
 
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