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Panama Scuba
Diving Bocas del Toro
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 Scuba Diving in Bocas del
Toro is one of the most popular area activities. You
will have the opportunity to
visit the most popular dive sites and can take all levels of PADI scuba diving
instruction, from Resort Certification to Divemaster.
The dive boats are custom
made 25 ft. center console fiberglass v-hulls, equipped
with new 100 hp Yamaha four cycle outboard engines.
Complete with an overhead canvas cover to protect you
from the strong tropical sun, your dive excursions are
safe, comfortable, and reliable.
Visibility varies
throughout all of the dive sites, depending on the time
of year and weather patterns. Traditionally, the water
conditions are calmest during the September-November
months, however, most dive sites are situated in calmer
areas not more than 20-30 minutes from our office.
Some of the more popular dive sites include:
Tiger Rock - The farthest dive spot from Bocas down,
with the boat ride lasting approx. one hour. It lies
just off the mainland,
to the right of Zapatilla Cays. There is a large rock
formation that stands above the surface, and descends
well below 100 feet. Your dive will begin with a descent
to approx. 35 feet, where there is a sandy shelf,
littered with stones and coral.
From here you'll head north
and to the right, around the rock, descending as you do
to between 80-100 feet. The rock wall itself has a steep
slope, and you can cruise alongside the rock at whatever
level you feel most comfortable. The rock is covered
with plentiful amounts of soft and hard coral, and has
numerous small crevices or caverns.
One can expect to see morey
eels, bristletree worms, anemones, sponges, and small
schools of groupers, etc. Once circling the rock and reaching the far
side, you'll return back around the rock at a shallower
depth, perhaps 50-60 feet en route to the anchor.
Depending on your air consumption, extra time can be
spend near the anchor, looking through the crevices and
coral formations that litter the floor and make up the
rock wall. The dive lasts approximately 45 minutes for
most.
Crawl Cay - This dive site is situated just off the
southeast portion of Isla Bastimentos, near the famous
Crawl Cay restaurant 30 minutes from Bocas
Town. It's a shallow water dive, perhaps 20-35 feet,
over an enormous garden of soft and hard coral,
separated by sandy bottom. It's much like a drift dive,
in that the pick up point is far from where you enter
the water. Your dive will last upwards of one hour and
will be spend gliding along the coral formations. This
dive is wonderful for those interested in macro
photograph, as there is plenty of bristletree worms,
crabs, anemones, and christmas tree worms. There is not
much here in the way of large pelagic fish.
Hospital Point - This dive spot is located just at the
tip of Isla Solarte, only 5 minutes by boat from Bocas
Town. Frequented by snorkelers for its shallow reefs,
the rocky point descends along a subtle slope to
approximately 40 feet where it reaches the maritime
channel. Along the slope you can find lobsters, morey
eels, squid, and various species of soft and hard coral.
Nurse sharks have been seen here, as have puffer fish,
groupers and other colorful fish species.
Caves - there are a series of caves at Zapatilla Cays,
situated at about 40 feet. These caves go back a few
hundred feet and requires underwater lights. This dive
site is the furthest from Bocas town, and is often
combined with a trip to Zapatilla Cays for snorkeling or
relaxation.
Ola Chica - a shallow cruise dive through a myriad of
natural volcanic rock formations, slides and overhangs,
non threatening for even the novice diver due to the
natural light available and shallow depths.
Wreck Dive - a 35 foot wreck dive, which features a
vintage LCM (Landing Craft).
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