Diving Panama
Some of the best diving to be found in Central America can be found in the protected waters beside Panama’s Coiba Island. Divers looking for something different might want to consider diving in the Panama Canal; not only are there wrecks to explore but also all kinds of submerged equipment left by the French when they worked on the railroad many decades ago.
Panama offers great diving opportunities. In Bocas del Toro alone, you will find about 74 of the 79 known types of coral in the Caribbean, lots of colorful sponges, reef fish like the Queen, French and Grey Angels, Parrot fish, Hogfish, Triggerfish, and many more. Nurse sharks, spotted eagle rays, and southern rays are often seen as well as crabs, lobsters, moray eels and less usual fish like Toadfish, Batfish, and Spotted Drums.
Best time to dive
The best diving is June through December.
Visibility
Visibility averages 50 to 100 feet.
Water temperatures
Caribbean water temperatures remain constant throughout the year in the low to mid 80s F. In the Pacific the water temperature at the surface is around the low 80s F however thermo clines are common at depth dropping the temperature to the mid 70s F.
Weather and climate
Panama has two seasons. The dry season lasts from January to mid-April and the rainy season from mid-April to December. Rainfall is heavier on the Caribbean side of the highlands, though most people live on or near the Pacific coast. Temperatures are typically hot in the lowlands (between 70 and 90 °F) and cool in the mountains (between 50 and 64 °F). The temperatuers vary little throughout the year.
Language
Spanish and English
Passport/Visa requirements
UK, Germany and Switzerland citizens and many other nationalities need only a passport to enter Panama, while people from Australia, Japan, New Zealand, USA, Venezuela and some other countries need a tourist visa or tourist card as well. Contact an embassy or consulate for current details.
Currency
Balboa – Get exchange rates at http://www.xe.com/ucc/
Electrical current
110 volts, 60 cycle, U.S. standard
Capital
Panama City
General information
The Isthmus of Panama is the umbilical cord joining South and Central America. It borders Costa Rica to the west and Colombia to the east. At its narrowest point, it is only 30 miles wide, but it has a 720-mile Caribbean coastline on its northern shore and a 1,048-mile Pacific coast to the south. The famous canal is 50 miles long and effectively divides the country into eastern and western regions.
There are hundreds of islands near the Panamanian coasts. The two major archipelagos are the San Blas and Bocas del Toro chains in the Caribbean Sea, though the best snorkeling, diving, and deep-sea fishing are to be found in the Pacific near Coiba Island and the Pearl Islands. Panama has flat coastal lowlands and two mountain chains running along its spine. The highest peak is Volcan Baru at 11,400 feet.
Panama City has numerous tourist attractions including world-class hotels and restaurants. Panama’s privileged geographic location has made it a melting pot of different cultures. Nowhere is this more evident than in the wide variety of fine restaurants available in the country. In Panama you can sample some of the best cuisine in Central America.
Map
Get a map of Panama from WorldAtlas.com.