Trip report: Panama Divers, Portobelo, Panama

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What's August like in Boca Del Toro? (or Panama diving overall)

Thinking about a two week honeymoon down there and looking around Panama in general. Anyone know where the best diving would be that time of year?

Thanks!
 
What's August like in Boca Del Toro? (or Panama diving overall)

Thinking about a two week honeymoon down there and looking around Panama in general. Anyone know where the best diving would be that time of year?

Thanks!

August is usually a great time to dive BDT. To be totally honest, September and October are the best months for diving here, but late August can be just as good. The reason these months are best is that during this time the seas on the outside reefs flatten out and we gain access to more sites.

During the rest of the year we dive 12-15 sites on a regular basis. Most sites average about 45' maximum depth. Our inside reefs offer great sea conditions with virtually no current and flat calm seas. Visibility averages about 40' but can be lower if we experience significant rainfall. Our reefs are very healthy and we have approximately 90 species of coral and 140 species of tropical fish. We also have lots of invertebrate life, including crab, lobster, shrimp, octopus, squid, seahorses, anemones, etc.

Our boats go out daily (Sundays by prior arrangement) at 9:00 AM and 2:30 PM and it is $60 for a 2-tank dive, including all equipment. We also offer night dives (by request) and a full day tour of the islands that includes 2 dives ($70).
 
August is usually a great time to dive BDT. To be totally honest, September and October are the best months for diving here, but late August can be just as good. The reason these months are best is that during this time the seas on the outside reefs flatten out and we gain access to more sites.

During the rest of the year we dive 12-15 sites on a regular basis. Most sites average about 45' maximum depth. Our inside reefs offer great sea conditions with virtually no current and flat calm seas. Visibility averages about 40' but can be lower if we experience significant rainfall. Our reefs are very healthy and we have approximately 90 species of coral and 140 species of tropical fish. We also have lots of invertebrate life, including crab, lobster, shrimp, octopus, squid, seahorses, anemones, etc.

Our boats go out daily (Sundays by prior arrangement) at 9:00 AM and 2:30 PM and it is $60 for a 2-tank dive, including all equipment. We also offer night dives (by request) and a full day tour of the islands that includes 2 dives ($70).
Sweet! Thanks for the scoop.

Sidenote: As a potential customer, I love that you include gear rental in the price. I HATE getting nickled and dimed to death for renting gear..
 
mastakebob, Do you recall on your dives out of portobelo if you saw any big shells- live?- like Triton Trumpets or large conchs?

Could be. Don't really remember at this point. Also, I wouldn't know a Triton Trumpet from a clam, so I'm not the right person to ask.
 
What are the conditions for a Christmas in Bocas del Toro?

Thanks cappyj for your previous posts - wish we could make it in October.
 
This December was unseasonably dry, light rains at night and occasionally in the early AM, but not enough to ruin the visibility. Viz averaged better than 40 feet most days. Water temp 84, flat calm seas, and no current (except on Sachen, one of our more advanced sites). Amazingly, we were able to get out to Polo Beach a few times, one of the sites we normally only access in September and October. We were also booked solid for the week between Christmas and New Years.
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/peregrine/

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