Trip Report The Arc Divers Lodge

[Wanda.S]

I discovered an absolute amazing calm and peaceful paradise for diving at Pixvae, Coiba in Panama!
Just in the middle of a nearly untouched national park there is that really small diving lodge, The Arc Divers.
The diving spots around Coiba are exceptionally beautiful, and there are not many others there (I didn't saw another diving boat in September 24). It is definitely and rightfully a place for advanced open water divers, because of the current and depth. But it is worth it!
I saw hammerheads, bullsharks, black tips and white tips in just 3 days. Also big schools of barracudas and some humpback whales. Of course also a lot of beautiful smaller fish.
They offer up to 3 dives per day with very good equipment. I felt safe with them at every moment. Such a nice and familiar atmosphere!
I will definitely go back there, it came to be one of my most favorite places in the world!

 

[RIHappyDiver]

Thanks for the write up! I’ve been considering this as a possible dive trip with my wife and another couple.
I’m curious about the type of dives, as I’m not a big fan of drift dives, unless the are a mild drift. I like being able to stop and check things out without having to fight the current.
Also, one of our group is a non-diver. Are there many things for her to do on her own topside?

Erik

 

[Cornbread O'Malley]

@Wanda.S

Thanks for sharing your experience! The Ark Divers and the diving in that location seem like great options!

 

[onionpatch]

My husband and I just returned from a two-week trip to Panama. We had a very enjoyable trip all around, but the highlight (and main reason for going) was to dive near Coiba Island. We had read about the former penal colony that is now a UNESCO World Heritage site, and were curious to visit. During my research I came upon The Ark Divers all-inclusive dive resort, an eco-lodge that is located on the mainland closest to Coiba and the surrounding islands. Situated on a hillside above the town of Pixvae, which has no electricity or cell towers, Ark Divers is a place like no other. Owners Mike and Audrey Ritter created the place from the ground up; it is run on solar power and fresh spring and rain water; they are inspiring hosts and made us feel very welcome and comfortable. Toucans called every morning and afternoon and perched in the trees above our cabin; howler monkeys fed outside the kitchen window. The resort is simple, elegant and simply unforgettable and they provide little touches everywhere that make it magical. With only 8 guests at a time (and we were 4-6 during our six-night stay), the experience is intimate. Mike is the divemaster and Audrey the gourmet chef. Our food was beautiful, healthy and delicious. The diving was bountiful. We dove three times a day, which I sometimes find to be too much but at Coiba it did not feel this way. During our surface intervals we were treated to healthy snacks and/or lunch on one of the many deserted beaches nearby. We saw schools of hundreds of fish, including barracuda and many kinds of jacks, as well as many white-tipped reef sharks and moray eels. We missed the whale shark reported in the area during the time we were there so we will have to go back for that. The diving was memorable but it was really the whole experience that will draw us back. It is unlike any place we have been. It is a six-hour drive from Panama City (shorter from David) with the last hour on a steep and winding road with incredible vistas. This road is only a year old so who knows what it will bring in the way of development in the future. We would highly recommend the Ark Divers to those who seek an idyllic setting and a holistic experience in nature.