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Dive Review of Panama Divers in
Panama/Portobelo

Panama Divers, Jun, 2006,

by Jack Adams, On, Canada . Report 2527.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 4 stars Food 3 stars
Service and Attitude 4 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving 3 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments The operation was friendly and well managed. I was picked up at my hotel and dropped back there at the end of the dive. The drive to the site took about an hour, from Panama City to Colon and then to Portobelo on the Caribbean side. I had most of my own gear but you could rent very good quality gear for $US25 for the two dive trip. The boat was excellent for the purpose - with a small cover just aft of forward for the driver and twin 140HP outboards. The water operation was managed very professionally, all the crew helping with gear putting on and removal. The boat driver was competent, friendly and helpful. Most of the crew spoke English and Spanish as well. A great lunch and lots of water/sodas provide for lunch as we took our surface interval between dives. I was in Panama anyway and this was a pleasant way to pass a day. One of the dives was on a ditched aircraft at about 60 ft, a twin Beech which was apparently running drugs. There were some nice canyons nearby. A pleasant day's outing with a friendly, enthusiastic,crew and group of tourists like myself. I would go again if I were in Panama.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving Honduras, Costa Rica, Belize, Jamaica, Colombia, Bonaire, Saba, Fiji, Vanuatu, Australia, Truk, Guam, Philippines, Tanzania, Zambia, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Alberta
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather rainy Seas calm, noCurrents
Water Temp 81-83°F / 27-28°C Wetsuit Thickness 0
Water Visibility 20-45 Ft/ 6-14 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions We dove in two groups of five divers, with an Instructor in charge of one group; a Divemaster in Training looking after the other.Within each group we were paired off with a specific buddy.Each group dived the same profile.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles None Whales None
Corals 3 stars Tropical Fish 3 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish 2 stars
Large Pelagics 3 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 3 stars Boat Facilities 4 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 3 stars Shore Facilities 3 stars
UW Photo Comments There was one camera (digital)among the group. At one time I thought of bringing my Nikonos setup and was offered a fresh water tank on board. In the end I decided against the camera - simply because of baggage considerations on the flights to and from Bogota. The dive boat, about 25ft fibreglass was not set up for photographers but one could have made out if necessary.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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