Scuba diving in Panama City

Panama City is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Panama and is located between the Pacific Ocean and tropical rain forest in the northern part of Panama. The city is the political and administrative center of the country, and is also one of the safest cities in the Americas. The city has numerous tourist attractions: Panama Canal, Las Bóvedas (the Vaults), The Cathedral at Plaza de la Catedral, Palacio de las Garzas (Heron's Palace), Casco Viejo, and Panama Viejo. A visit to the Panama Canal is a unique experience, which can’t be reproduced anywhere else in the world. It is also called the 'eighth wonder of the world'. The islands of Contadora and Taboga in the Archipelago of las Perlas (the Pearl Archipelago), are the diving sites nearest to Panama City. West of Panama City on the Pacific side of the country, Coiba Island is another ideal offshore destination where scuba diving in Panama can be enjoyed at its best. Salmedina is the best-known dive site in Panama City. The reef is full of marine life and was the cause of many shipwrecks. The average depth is 15m/49ft, and the maximum depth that divers can reach is 28m/92ft.

Panama City has a tropical wet and dry climate. The wet season spans from May through December, and the dry season spans January through April. April is the warmest month with an average temperature of 33C/91F at noon. January is the coldest month with an average temperature of 23C/73F at night. The water temperatures remain constant throughout the year, averaging around 27C/81F. What to see In the Pacific waters, divers can even expect to possibly see humpback whales, giant sailfish, tiger sharks, and giant turtles, among other species. In the Atlantic waters, grouper fish, sea anemones, moray eels, and various kinds of sponges are among the variety of sea life. And most dives have turtles, schools of large fish, angelfish, butterflyfish, and dolphins.