Best Diving in Panama's Chiriqui Marine Park
The Gulf of Chiriqui is an emerging dive destination that is almost as great as the Galapagos Islands, but not as remote! Cala Mia Island Resort is situated on Panama’s southern coast and lies only 20 minutes from the National Marine Park, one of the richest and most abundant eco-regions in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Study the dive map below and come dive Panama soon, we are a Naui Dream Destination!
Diving the Gulf
Across three days you can visit the best Panama dive location, while on a single day in the Chiriqui Marine National Park, you can see one of the largest coral reefs in the Pacific, as well as multiple fish species, turtles, manta ray, dolphin, numerous species of sharks, and more exotic marine mammals.
The Gulf of Chiriqui is relatively remote and mostly pristine wilderness. The presence of an infamous prison on Coiba Island deterred the development of the region, and after the prison was shut down, conservation agencies recognized the area as one of the most ecologically important in Central America.
Isla Secas
Isla Secas is the closest dive to Cala Mia Island Resort, 40 minutes from the resort. The 16 volcanic islands make up what is known as Isla Secas. Visibility in this area is superb and great for all levels of divers.
Colorful reef fish such as parrotfish, golden phase, moorish idol, barberfish and surgeonfish abound. Turtles are very abundant in the area while our shark dive is great to see the local white tip population.
The area has 15 + dives sites, explore our dive site using our interactive dive map.
Isla Ladrones
Isla Ladrones, is a great Panama diving location thats is 50 minutes from to the resort and is another best Panama dive spot. It is possible to see species of jack and snapper, white tip sharks as well as Pacific barracuda and needlefish.
Species of manta ray, such as devil, mobula and eagle can be spotted quite frequently, as well as turtles. Reef sharks such as nurse, white-tip and black-tip swim in these waters. The area has 4 + dives sites, explore Ladrones dive site details in our interactive dive map.
Isla Coiba
Coiba Marine Park is the considered the best panama dive sport for big marine animals and it is located 90 minutes from our dive center.
Coiba is a UNESCO world heritage site that is protected because of its incredible biodiversity. It is connected to the Galapagos islands in Ecuador and Isla Coco in Costa Rica by an underwater mountain chain.
The reefs of Coiba is the largest reef system in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Depending on the season divers can see exotic species such as whale sharks, several species of shark including hammerheads and manta rays.
The area has 10 + dives sites, explore Coiba dive site details in our interactive dive map.
Isla Montuosa
Isla Montuosa, is an advanced diving location thats is 90 minutes from to the resort. The area is a top sport fishing site and the structure has steep undersea pinnacles and gullies where you can find black marlin, sailfish, and large sharks.
While diving Isla Montuosa Panama it is possible to see species of jack and cubera snapper, white tip sharks, scallop shark, whale shark, Galapagos shark, the bull and shark.
Montuosa has pelagic conditions that are experienced close to shore resulting in Marlin and sailfish sightings as well as Pacific barracuda and species of manta ray, devil, mobula and eagle rays will be be spotted quite frequently.
The area has 2 + dives sites, explore Montuosa dive site details in our interactive dive map.
Isla Contreras
Isla Contreras, is part of the Coiba Marine park. The Island is located 70 minutes from to the resort and is a must dive location for the more intermediate to advanced divers.
While diving Contreras it is possible to see black coral, sponges, and sea fans. You may see massive schools of jacks and snapper, lobsters, moray eels, starfish, seahorses, pipefish, harlequin shrimp, and frog fish. Reef sharks such as nurse, white-tip and black-tip swim in these waters and in season hammerhead sharks and giant manta rays frequent these waters.
The area has 10 + dives sites, explore Coiba dive site details in our interactive dive map.
Panama Scuba Dive Map - Where to dive in Panama
