Diving & Snorkeling:

Our underwater excursions are designed to explore as many different realms as possible while focusing on habitat and species diversity.

Tranquilo Bay is centrally located in the archipelago and only a short boat ride away from a variety of depths and currents to accommodate all skill levels. Full PADI instruction is available upon request and should be reserved at time of booking.

All excursions depart directly from our facility where our staff will handle the preparation, maintenance and portage of the equipment. From the moment you arrive we will take care of your equipment for you. Save your energy to explore a new reef. Our boatmen will wash your gear and store it each day... You enjoy your vacation!

Generally, following breakfast there will be a one-tank dive, after which you will return to the facility for lunch. Following lunch you will make two more dives exploring three different sites each day.

It is not necessary to bring tanks or weights; we will provide them for you. On most dives wetsuits are not needed due to our warm tropical waters. Dive skins, thin wetsuits and shorties are comfortable and can provide protection from the wind while traveling between sites. Scuba Pro BCDs, regulators and wetsuits are available to rent and should be reserved at time of booking.

If diving or snorkeling is the primary objective of your trip, note that the Caribbean Sea is calmer and there is less rain from February through June and September through November, September and October being the most consistent of all months.

The visibility, while most times is good, does not compare with that of other well known dive destinations such as Cayman Islands or Cozumel. That being said, most of the interesting formations here in Bocas del Toro are in shallower water. In many areas the maximum depth is 40 feet and the light penetration is excellent.

Just remember, you're not coming here because it is the clearest ocean you can find, you're coming to explore the most biologically diverse Caribbean marine park in Central America.

Bastimentos National Marine Park

Tranquilo Bay is surrounded by the extremely diverse 28,600 marine acres of Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park. Panama’s first marine park is one of the most spectacular in all of Central America. In a protected corridor no wider than seven miles, the oceanic diversity in its sub-sea topography, marine ecosystems, life zones and species is extreme.

Our underwater excursions are designed to explore as many different realms as possible while focusing on habitat and species diversity. Much of the marine park has never been explored under the surface, and many of the known dive sites are yet unnamed. Within the marine park sea fan gardens, vibrant coral reefs and over 200 species of tropical fish live amongst a dramatic sub-sea terrain, which seems to transform every few hundred yards. Oceanic formations in the area include walls, freshwater caves, tunnels, pinnacles, coral spires and towers, groove and spur, ocean impact reef, sandy ledges and protected patch reef.

Cayos Zapatillas

These two unspoiled islands are protected by the National Park and home only to a park ranger and a couple of seasonal research scientists who place radio tags on sea turtles to track their global movements.

There are many dive sites to explore in this area and most are no deeper than 60 feet. The shallow nature of this reef provides extended bottom time and great light penetration, making this an excellent place to practice your underwater photography.

Reef encircles the islands with oceanic formations consisting of walls, freshwater caves, tunnels, pinnacles, coral spires and towers, groove and spur, ocean impact reef, sandy ledges and shallow protected patch reef.

Large formations of brain and elkhorn corals are covered in a tapestry of colors from soft corals and tropical fish. Various snappers, groupers, hogfish, Bar Jacks, barracuda, rays, grunts, margates, squirrelfish, puffer fish, blue tangs, parrot fish, doctor fish, angel fish, butterfly fish, wrasses, damselfish and silversides can be observed in the area.

Distance from Tranquilo Bay – 6 miles

Maximum depth – 60 feet

Interesting elements – Walls, towers, tunnels, hard and soft corals, schools of tropical fish, macro

Shark Hole

A stunning four-mile distance along the windward coastline of Isla Bastimentos is protected by the National Marine Park. The coastline in this area consists of beautiful beaches and dramatic rock cliffs.

Under water, this area's most interesting element is the sub-sea topography. Spur and grove reef zones blend with crevasses and other remarkable rock formations. We will follow some of these crevasses along the sandy bottom looking for snappers, groupers and other tropical fish hiding within. We may also encounter patches of fresh cold water flowing from sub-sea springs. 

Distance from Tranquilo Bay – 8 miles

Maximum depth – 70 feet

Interesting elements – Rock formations, groove and spur zones, freshwater springs

Cayo Gallego

On the leeward side of Isla Bastimentos, hundreds of mangrove Cayes dot the National Marine Park where beds of sea grass cover shallow flats of white and pink coral sand. These flats are covered with beautiful patch reefs, soft corals, and tropical fish. We might encounter spotted eagle rays, nurse sharks, sea turtles or dolphins.

The outer edges of these flats nearly reach the surface before beginning to descend to a depth of about 80 feet. Various brain and lettuce corals cover the slope, which are alive with soft corals and invertebrates, providing a vivid collage of colors.

Distance from Tranquilo Bay – 3 miles

Maximum depth – 70 feet

Interesting elements – Sandy shelf, reef slope, soft corals, macro -- fish and invertebrates