Dive· Portobelo· Other Caribbean

Portobelo Dive Centres & Airplane Wreck Dive

9° 32.5′ N · 79° 40.5′ W

Portobelo is where to go diving on the Colón coast: several small dive centres on the road along the bay run short boat trips to Drake's Island, Buenaventura, Salmedina and an old sunken airplane, all about 10 minutes away.

Belize Barrier Reef

Practical

Position is the OpenStreetMap node for 2 Oceans Divers (dive centre, node 2462429107) on the Portobelo bay road. Operators named in sources: Scubapanama (+507 261 3841, scubapanama@scubapanama.com, 8 am to 6 pm per Wikivoyage; 'Diving at Portobelo (all inclusive)' listed at US$176.55 and an 'El Faro' dive trip, prices checked 2026), Panama Divers (Octopus Garden, +507 448 2293), 2 Oceans Divers, and Panamore (next to Captain Jack's, +507 6739 1685, snorkel and kayak tours). The airplane wreck is a shallow, sheltered dive (sites 25 to 60 ft, ScubaBoard 2011); no published position, so go with an operator. Visibility 10 to 50 ft, lower after rain and in the Dec–Feb trades; open-coast wall dives resume from late August in a rough year. Expect lionfish, French angels, morays and rays. Bring cards/cash: tours US$110 to 280 per the tourism board (verify locally). Remember: tanks must stay stowed once you enter Guna Yala.

Best for

Booking scuba, refills and courses near the San Blas

Season

Year-round; Aug–Sep calmest

Nearby