Panama: Coiba National Park
- Apr 9
- 1 min read
Jan 2026
While riding to Panama City, I stopped in Santa Catalina. There, I learned it’s a renowned diving destination—though even more famous for surfing—thanks to nearby Coiba National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. So, I did the logical thing and signed up for a day trip with Coiba Dive Center: three dives at the outer islands for $225, with an advanced-only group.
The next day, I got fitted for gear and joined a group of about eight divers from Canada, Argentina, Chile, and Europe. We walked from the shop to the boat, then made the 90-minute journey out to the dive sites.
The dives were decent, with large schools of jacks and barracuda, plenty of whitetip reef sharks, moray eels, smaller reef fish, and one brief sighting of a larger shark. As with other Pacific-side sites in Central America, the reef itself felt fairly barren, with limited coral. Visibility was decent at around 15 meters. Lunch—a packed meal on a small, uninhabited island—was a nice touch.
Overall, it was a good day out, but not spectacular. I’d rate the diving a 6.5/10. Given the steep price, I wouldn’t rush to dive there again.
That said, I do recommend Coiba Dive Center. They were professional, well-organized, and the dive master handled a group with varying experience levels very well.
Dive Center: Coiba Dive Center
Cost: $225 for 3 dives w/ rental gear
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