Isla Coiba Scuba Diving and Snorkeling Tours

Coiba Island is the largest of the 38 or so islands of the Coíba National Marine Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Coiba is among the most biodiverse places on the globe. The islands span over 120,000 acres, making visitors feel like they are returning back in time to an era when Mother Earth was still virgin nature. Coiba boasts over 1,450 plant species with rain forests filled with all types of animals. Its marine coast is lined with pristine coral reefs and beautiful beaches, plus it is very exposed to the south swells that create perfect empty waves for the surfers willing to go the extra mile.

Coiba was once a prison island only visited by prison guards and deadly criminals, until 2004, when the penal colony was closed indefinitely. This accidental case of conservation turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as today Coiba is among the best-preserved, virgin rainforests on the American Continent.

Scuba divers, snorkelers, whale watchers, bird watchers and nature lovers visit the Coiba National Marine Park on a daily basis. Panama has a very tropical, warm climate, with only two seasons, the wet season being from May to November, and the dry season from December to April. The water temperatures are warm all year long.

Thanks to its geographic location in relation to Coiba National Marine Park, Santa Catalina has become the go-to spot to transport visitors a short 1 hour boat ride to Coiba, where they delight an incredible variety of underwater sea life, amazed by the impressive schools of fish, turtles, squid, eels, sharks, dolphin, whales, and more.

Day tours to Coiba are currently the only option for visitors due to a ban on overnight stays on the island. Scuba and snorkeling tours to Coiba and surrounding islands are available daily from Santa Catalina.

The trips to Coiba National Marine Park depart from the village beach at Santa Catalina at 8:00 am and return to Santa Catalina at 4:00 pm. There are a variety of professional tour operators with reliable boats & equipment, with strict safety practices required by law.