Scuba Diving in Bocas del Toro: Guide & Review

Bocas del Toro is becoming more known for its diving while offering some of the most affordable diving in Central America and the Caribbean.

The warm waters are great for year-round diving, with colourful reefs and shipwrecks a quick 5-10 minute boat ride from town.

When I dove at Casa Verde, I was lucky to spot a stingray not too far away. Plus, the diving here is accessible and relaxed, making it great for those who casually enjoy the sport.

Let’s get right into everything you need to know about scuba diving in Bocas del Toro, including the shallow dive sites, tips, and when to go.

This post may contain affiliate links. We may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) on qualifying purchases so we can continue to create helpful content. Thank you, and we appreciate it. See our disclosure policy for more information.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post on behalf of La Buga Dive & Surf. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Scuba Diving in Bocas Del Toro Panama

Known for being one of the best diving spots in Central America, scuba diving in Bocas del Toro offers something for divers of all skill levels. From shipwrecks to caves to colourful reefs.

Most Bocas del Toro diving sites are within Bastimentos Marine Park. The marine park’s protection along with calm waters helps keep these shallow reefs alive.

And most dive sites are only a 5-10-minute boat ride away. from town Cheaper too than diving in places like Antigua.

During my trip to Bocas, I did a two-tank dive.

When to Scuba Dive in Bocas Del Toro

The best time of year to go diving in Bocas Del Toro is during the two drier seasons.

While you can go diving year-round, the best conditions are between February – May and September – November. In drier weather, you’ll find calmer water and higher visibility which will provide better diving.

For cave diving, you’ll need to visit between August and November for the right conditions.

I went diving in October and the weather had been wet, so the visibility was so-so.

5 Beginner-Friendly Dive Sites in Bocas Del Toro

There are almost 20 dive sites in the area, with quite a few of them being great for beginners or those with open-water certification.

I dove at Casa Verde and Mystic Winds.

1. Casa Verde (Green House) 

• Depth: 15-20ft (4.5-6m)
• Location: Isla Solarte

Green House is a reef dive site off the coast of Isla Solarte, named after the green-coloured house nearby that marks the dive location. This 15-20 ft depth site contains colourful sponges and corals. In the dive area, you can see sting rays, schools of fish, sea lettuce, spotted moray eels, and toadfish. 

During my Green House dive, I saw a massive stingray, colourful fish, and plenty of beautiful coral ranging in colour from yellow to purple. 

2. Mystic Winds / Lunch Box / Buoy’s Line

• Depth: 50-60ft (15-18m)
• Location: Solarte Island

Mystic Winds in a shipwreck dive site off Solarte Island, Bocas, near Casa Verde. Having a few different names, this dive site features the trimaran shipwreck Mystic Winds, which was purposely sunk in 2015 to create an artificial reef. In the reef and shipwreck area, you may find sea horses, stingrays, tropical fish, and vivid-coloured coral. 

During my Mystic Winds dive, in addition to seeing the shipwreck, I saw a stingray, schools of fish, and bright-coloured coral in orange, purple, and green. Mystic Winds was my favourite of the two dives in Bocas.

3. Pandora

• Depth: 60 ft (18m)
• Location: Isla Solarte

For a colourful reef that will remind you of the movie Avatar, visit the dive site Pandora. A local favourite, it got even better in 2019 when a sailboat was sunk 60 ft to help create an artificial reef. It’s rare to find sailboat wrecks when diving, so this is a unique treat for divers. In the reef and shipwreck area, you can find spiny lobsters, colourful fish, and sleeping nurse sharks.

4. Mayday

• Depth: 16ft (5m)
• Location: Bocas Town

Mayday is a shore dive done from Bocas town to see a plane wreck. In 2006, an Air Panama plane crashed into the bushes. No one was hurt, but the plane was later sunk to create an artificial reef. At this site, you can find schools of sardines, colourful fish, and upside-down jellyfish.

5. Casa Blanca (White House)

• Depth: 45ft (14m)
• Location: Isla Solarte

Similar to Casa Verde, Casa Blanca is a reef dive off the coast of Isla Solarte. This 45ft depth site contains colourful sponges and corals. In the dive area, you can see colourful fish, spotted moray eels, and toadfish. 

What It’s Like Scuba Diving in Bocas with La Buga

From the moment we walked into the dive shop to sit down with the dive master all the way until we were back from the dive, the staff were professional, easy to deal with, and caring.

Whether you are a licensed diver or looking to try a fun dive, the caring and professional staff at La Buga will ease any nervous feelings and help you feel comfortable. The dive master was patient, which I really appreciate as someone who needs extra time to descend.

I would choose La Buga again, especially if we could go with other licensed divers vs only students. It’s fun to dive with students, except that they use up their oxygen tanks faster while learning. I was just excited and wanted to spend more time seeing the shipwreck, taking in all the beautiful corals and marine life.

All in all, I had a positive diving experience and would recommend diving in Bocas del Toro with La Buga.

Prices

Prices for diving with La Buga start at 55 USD for single-tank dives and 85 for two-tank dives for licensed divers. They also offer night diving starting at 60 USD for a single-tank dive.

Want to try scuba diving for the first time? Discovery dive prices start at 85 USD for a single tank or 109 USD for a two-tank dive. Scuba diving is the best way to experience Bocas’s beauty under the water.

Dive Shops in Bocas Del Toro

• La Buga Dive & Surf – who I went diving with
• Bocas Dive Center
• Diving Pirates
• Panama Dive School
• Bastimentos Scuba Diving
• Bocas Tec Diving
• Zapatillas Dive Center

Where to Stay in Bocas Del Toro

• Casa Acuario – an overwater hotel with its own aquarium below it (I stayed here)
• La Selva – a jungle tree house hotel outside of Bocas Town (I stayed here)
• Divers Paradise Boutique Hotel – a dive hotel right in Bocas Town

Tips for Diving in Bocas del Toro 

• Scuba diving in Bocas is possible year-round, but the best visibility is between February-April and September-October.
• If motion sickness affects you, plan to take medication before boarding the boat to go scuba diving. While a pretty steady boat, the ocean waves can still affect you if you are prone to motion sickness. If the boats to get you to Bocas didn’t get to you, you should be fine.
• The underwater current is higher in the afternoon, so choose to dive in the morning for smoother diving.
• Bring an underwater camera or rent a GoPro to capture the underwater world. I brought my GoPro and used one from the dive shop to take pictures and videos.
• Drink plenty of water before, in between dives, and after to stay hydrated. 

Final Thoughts on Bocas Del Toro Scuba Diving

While it can’t be compared to diving in Thailand or Roatan, Bocas del Toro scuba diving is enjoyable.

The best time to dive is February-May and September-November. You can see stingrays, colourful coral, eels, and even nurse sharks.

Diving is an incredible experience that everyone should try at least once, especially when you already enjoy snorkelling and being in the water.

But scuba diving is just one of many fun activities you can try in Bocas.

Happy travelling!