Hotel Santa Catalina Panama
★★★
Google 4.5/5 (425 reviews)
less than 1 km away as the crow flies
Dive centre · Santa Catalina · Panama
4.9281 Google reviewsDiving Coiba
Explore the Coiba National Park with the area's first SSI dive centre, located right on the main street of Santa Catalina.
What sets this centre apart
- First SSI dive centre located in Coiba
- Direct access to the Coiba National Park marine reserve
- Opportunities to see whale sharks and manta rays
- Frequent sightings of hammerhead sharks
- Rich macro life including frogfish and seahorses
- Instructor experience spanning New Caledonia to Indonesia
- Located on the Santa Catalina main street
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Diving Coiba about the centre
Situated in Santa Catalina, Diving Coiba serves as a gateway to the Coiba National Park, an archipelago of 38 islands that hosts some of the most significant marine life in Panama. The centre is positioned on the main street, directly in front of the local church.
The park lies along major migratory routes, making it a premier destination for those seeking large marine species. Whether you are looking to encounter pelagics or prefer the detailed world of macro photography, the proximity to these protected waters provides an exceptional diving environment.
The club and its team
The centre is led by Boris, an instructor with a diverse background including experience as an SSI Open Water Instructor and a former Freediving Instructor. His professional history includes diving in locations such as New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Indonesia, and the Caribbean.
Kony serves as the lead instructor, ensuring the team provides professional guidance for all levels of experience. The centre operates under the SSI affiliation, providing a structured curriculum for both recreational and introductory divers.
The centre at a glance
- Affiliation
- SSI
- Certification level
- Platinum|Premier
- Website available in
- English · Spanish · French
- Access and transfers
- Santa Catalina main street in front of the church. It is advisable to fill up with petrol and withdraw cash in SONA before arriving in Santa Catalina, as it is a dead-end village with limited services (a hospital open only in the morning, a pharmacy, and not always sunscreen, mosquito repellent or good wine).
- Phone
- +507 6730-7208
Courses on offer
Diving Coiba offers a complete range of SSI training programmes. For those new to the water, they provide Discover Scuba Diving, Basic Diver, and Open Water Diver courses.
Experienced divers can continue their progression through the SSI certification levels, building on their skills within the diverse ecosystems of the Coiba National Park.
Marine life around Santa Catalina
The waters surrounding Coiba are famous for large pelagics. You can encounter whale sharks, manta rays, and hammerhead sharks, alongside whitetip sharks patrolling the area.
Whales are also known to frequent these waters, adding to the scale of the marine life on display. These large species are a primary draw for divers looking to experience the ocean's most iconic inhabitants.
For those with an interest in macro life, the area is incredibly rich. You can find frogfish, seahorses, and a variety of nudibranchs tucked into the reef structures.
Small, detailed creatures such as various species of nudibranchs provide endless interest for photographers and observant divers alike.
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