Dive Review of Scuba Coiba/Sol y Mar in
Panama/Santa Catalina

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Scuba Coiba/Sol y Mar, Jan, 2007, by Janice R Melara, TX, United States . Report 3284.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity	N/A
Dive Operation		Shore Diving
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$	N/A
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	Diving was mediocre. The long (hour to hour and a half) boatrides to the dive sites were very uncomfortable because the captain drove excessively fast and there were no cushions on the metal bench seats. We had read that there were amazing amounts of fish to be seen in Panama, but we found the amount of fish to be average or below average. We specified before making our reservations that we did not want to dive in strong currents or do any difficult dives because my husband is a novice diver. Ernie, the owner of Scuba Coiba, assured us that he could accomodate our needs. Currents were so strong that divers had to be pulled on a rope by the captain from the point of entry to the anchor line for descent. While descending on the anchor line, it took all my strength to hang on and not be swept off the line. On the first day of diving, the divemaster sat on my husband's mask and broke it. She promised to have it repaired, but never did so. On our second day of diving, things went from bad to worse. The crew forgot to load our wetsuits and we had to wait on a beach for an hour and a half while they went back to get them. Before we started the trip we made it clear to the divemaster (a different one that day)that we did not want to struggle against heavy currents. Since we were the only people on the boat, it seemed likely our request would be honored, but instead we were taken to a rocky point with currents so strong that we were flying straight out like flags in a strong wind as we descended on the anchor line. My husband had to abort the dive after about 20 minutes because he was exhausted trying to struggle against the current. The divemaster seemed very inattentive-he didn't even notice that my husband was in distress until I signalled repeatedly with my noise maker. By that time, we were already about halfway to the surface. We cancelled the rest of our dives. Accomodations at Sol y Mar were primitive at best and yet the rates were quite high for Panama. The only hot water was in the shower-none for the sink-and it was supplied by a small heater at the showerhead with exposed electrical wiring running along the waterpipe from the wall to the showerhead. The lights in the room dimmed whenever we used the shower. The breakfasts provided by the owner's wife in the owner's home were delicious and really the best part of the dive trip.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	101-250 dives
Where else diving	Cozumel, Bonaire, Curacao, Roatan, Dominica, Hawaii, Zhuatenajo
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	choppy, currents
Water Temp	78-80°F / 26-27°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	50-60 Ft/ 15-18 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	depth
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	None	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	None	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter	N/A	Boat Facilities	N/A
Overall rating for UWP's	N/A	Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	[None]

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Dive Review of Scuba Coiba/Sol y Mar in Panama/Santa Catalina

Scuba Coiba/Sol y Mar, Jan, 2007,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of Scuba Coiba/Sol y Mar in
Panama/Santa Catalina