LAS PERLAS ISLANDS, PANAMA

[Captain Lisa Longshadow]

Heading to Las Perlas Islands , Panama tomorrow for a week. The marina manager in Panama City told us that Isla San Jose has some good potential spots but he didn’t know for sure. And we saw a National Geographic map that shows Isla Contadore having 2 dive spots on the northwest side of the island, but nobody seems to be able to confirm that!!!

Please let me know if you have any info on dive spots in the Las Perlas Islands.

We have our own boat and dive gear

Gracias.

 

[Pedro Burrito]

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[wetb4igetinthewater]

I'll be going to Panama for two weeks early next year, so I hope to read a trip report from you.

 

[RyanT]

@Captain Lisa Longshadow, unfortunately, I don't have any recommendations for you in the Perlas. The one time I tried to dive there, the dive shop folks never showed up for the dive...typical Panama

@wetb4igetinthewater, lemme know before you go, I've been working and diving in Panama for 20 years, I can make some recommendations.

 

[Captain Lisa Longshadow]

Just returned from the Las Perlas Islands in Panama. We discovered the following:

Isla Contadora - despite the maps, there is no dive sites there.

Mogo Mogo - nada

Chapera - despite the Navionics Boating App, there is no dive site where they geo tagged. And we searched this twice!!!

Isla San Jose - the Navionics Boating App dive site is spot on. 20' viz. Lots of big reef fish. Rocky bottom. No coral. Tricky site to anchor. Big swell. Not for a beginner. It's a long way to travel.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

@Captain Lisa Longshadow

Any protected areas good for wading with a 3 year old? She loves the water, just not waves.

 

[Captain Lisa Longshadow]

The channel between Mogo Mogo and Isla Chapera has 3 nice beaches with easy wading clear water with sandy bottom. A lot of daytrippers go there with their families and kids.