Any decent diving near Panama City?

[scubaNYC16]

Will be in Panama City, Panama for 4 days in mid July and don't have time to head anywhere far from the city. Are there any good dive sites nearby? Thanks.

 

[VivaCaribe]

There is diving on the S. (Panamá City) coast, Ive not heard it's great but you can get wet and try it. The GREAT diving is at Santa Catalina, a 4 hr drive from the city. There you dive Isla Coiba with ScubaCoiba (scuba diving in Coiba in Panama - bucear en Coiba en Panamá - tauchen in Coiba in Panama). Good luck.

 

[nankivell]

You might also try Jimmy's Caribbean Resort--it's a couple of hours drive from Panama City--and they will pick you up. Jimmy is quite a character. Diving is OK--not the best. Very dependent on weather conditions. He might also be able to take you to the San Blas Islands--where the diving is much better. We there there last November--not the best time to go.

 

[Jim Baldwin]

Will be in Panama City, Panama for 4 days in mid July and don't have time to head anywhere far from the city. Are there any good dive sites nearby? Thanks.

Contact any of the local shops and see if they are doing offshore trips. The sites are deeper and the vis usually much better. I have dove the Acokee (sp) and a number of other offshore wrecks and the vis is normally much better.

 

[Jim Baldwin]

Contact any of the local shops and see if they are doing offshore trips. The sites are deeper and the vis usually much better. I have dove the Acokee (sp) and a number of other offshore wrecks and the vis is normally much better.

I was clearly not paying too much attention when I submitted this post. I know the difference between the two Panama Cities. Sorry.