Coiba Island Diving

The Hidden Dive Secret of the Decade!

6 Day Itinerary

Our clients rave that one dive in Coiba is like 10 dives anywhere else! Coiba was a prison colony for nearly 100 years before it was made into one of the most extensive marine preserves in the world –7 islands and 1.1 million acres. The presence of the penal colony combined with its remote Pacific location (outside of the hurricane belt) is why Coiba's reef is so pristine. Coiba’s remarkable proliferance of rare corals and abundance of marine life resulted in it being named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. All this, and Coiba is only recently starting to see dive tourism!

Three World-Class Dives Each Day - Upon arrival at Coiba Island
Lodging on Coiba Island - at the National Park Ranger Station
Expert Dive Masters
All Meals - from Lunch on Day 1 to Breakfast on Day 6

Day 1 Panama City / Santa Catalina

In the morning our representative will be at the lobby of your Panama City hotel
to transfer you to Santa Catalina, located in Veraguas Province. Santa Catalina Beach is a major break, where you can nearly always find a decent wave to ride. This area is comparable to Oahu’s Sunset Beach. From here you will begin your trip to Coiba National Park to explore the beautiful underwater environment in your diving tours. Punta Brava Lodge

Day 2 Santa Catalina / Coiba Island

In the morning after breakfast you will begin your trip in boat to Coiba Island. The national park consists of the islands of Coiba, Rancheria, Canal de Afuera, Afuerita, Uva, Brincanco, Pajaros, Jicaron, Jicarita, and many more small islets. Around 80% of the area is ocean and contains the largest coral reef of the tropical East Pacific. Coiba was uninhabited except for a prison colony which was closed in 2004, so the terrestrial flora is mainly virgin primary rain forest with more than 1,450 identified plants and home to 36 mammals and 147 species of birds, including the only population of Scarlet Macaws in Panama. Encounters with white tip 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.

Day 3 - 4 Coiba Island

In the morning you will have two dives at Coiba Island. A mid-day break allows you time to visit some of Coiba’s brilliant white sand beaches and observe the nesting sites for Green, Olive, Ridley and Leatherback turtles. Dolphins are always present, and at least four different species of whales (Humpbacks, Orcas, Pilot and Sperm whales) migrate through the waters of the park at certain times of the year and whale watching encounters are both common and spectacular. You’ll enjoy one more dive in the afternoon.

Day 5 Coiba / Santa Catalina

Today at the appropriate time transfer to Santa Catalina. Optional tour in Santa Catalina: visit some spots that can be compared with Coiba National Park. Besides tons of snappers, jacks, tunas, butterfly-, angel- puffer fish and free swimming moray eels, that you can see here at almost every dive, we have also seen whale sharks, white tip sharks, bull sharks, manta- and eagle rays, dolphins, humpback- and pilot whales, as well as turtles at certain times. Punta Brava Lodge

Day 6 Santa Catalina / Panama City

In the morning at the appropriate time you will be transferred to Panama City.