Diving school in Panama
Come be part of the ultimate diving adventure in Coiba – explore the stunning underwater world like never before!
Embark on a one-of-a-kind scuba diving adventure in Coiba National Park
Our location gives us complete acces to the Coiba National Park and The Archipelago of Contreras.
Expert guides take you to the best dive sites in Coiba National Park.
Professional ScubaPro and XDeep dive gear. For more comfortable and enjoyable dives.
Dive in crystal clear waters and discover reefs, sharks, manta rays and impressive marine biodiversity.
Diving with Dive Base Coiba
Dive Base Coiba is the first dive center in Pixvae, just 20 short minutes from Coiba National Park.
We are dedicated to guiding divers on an unforgettable journey through the spectacular underwater world of Coiba National Park, the best diving in Panama. Whether you are an experienced diver or a curious adventurer taking your first step, you have chosen the perfect place!
We pride ourselves on being one of the largest and most prestigious dive centers in Panama, offering professional PADI courses and dive trips to Coiba Island, tailored to all levels of divers.
Our commitment to superior customer service and safety guarantees unforgettable dive excursions.

How to get to Pixvae?
Pixvae is an excellent place for divers to explore Coiba and the Contreras Archipelago. With easy access to local dive sites, the area offers a wide variety of marine life for all levels. Non-divers can enjoy the beaches, mangroves and local culture. Pixvae is a quiet town with friendly people and delicious cuisine, making it the ideal place for an unforgettable adventure in Panama.
Discover our diving services in Coiba Island. Jump into our crystal clear waters and discover why Coiba is among some of the best places to dive in the world.
In addition to our range of dive packages and excursions, we also offer individual and multi-day guided tours to discover Coiba National Park and the local Pixvae area. Both areas have an abundance of wildlife and places of interest, both natural and cultural.

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Testimonials from our diving school
What our customers say
My son and I dove this weekend with Dive Base Coiba and it was the experience of a lifetime. Quick backstory before the review. DBC was founded by Kevan Mantell,... read more a British expat who made Panama his home and protecting the Coiba island chain (a UNESCO World Heritage site) his life's work. We became great friends with Kevan over the years and were impressed and amazed with his knowledge of the sea life, his commitment to protecting the marine environment, and his care and love for the local population (mostly small fishing villages and artisanal fishing communities) along the extremely remote coast.
Kevan passed away unfortunately and unexpectedly in 2021, which was a huge blow to Coiba, the local communities he supported, and the hundreds of divers, environmental, and research organizations, in the area. We used to joke that diving with Kevan was like diving with Jacques Cousteau. He knew more about Coiba than just about anyone... And he knew everyone, from the local fishermen to the research scientists from the Smithsonian, National Geographic, BBC, and even the European Space Agency that have been studying the area for years.
I'm happy to report that Kevan's two Panamanian sons, Will and Joshua, are now carrying on his legacy and have taken over DBC. We dove with Will and Joshua for two days and they are consummate professionals. Like their father, they put a premium on safety. Each morning they gave us a full briefing on what to expect, reviewed all of the safety procedures, made sure we were fully informed and answered all of our questions. They are outstanding guides - friendly, professional, knowledgable, and like their father, experts in all of the secret diving spots and the sea life.
As for the dives themselves, what can I say, they were spectacular. We saw bull sharks, white tip reef sharks, huge schools of snapper, dolphins, eagle rays, and even the elusive guitar ray or guitarfish. Between dives Will and Joshua took us on hikes to Coiba and the remote islands where we saw dozens of howler monkeys in the trees and enormous 3 meter caymans. It's as wild as you can imagine, like entering Juraisac Park.
Coiba and Pixvae, the small fishing village where DBC's office is located, are very remote. You feel like you're literally at the ends of the earth because you are. The charming little town is about 90 minutes from Sona, or about 5 hours from Panama City. The road is now paved and the drive in is spectacular. Expect basic accommodations, but all provided by very cool, laid back and very friendly locals. The rooms were clean at Hostal Yosi and guests have access to the kitchen. We ate fresh fish, lobster, patacones and rice across the street each night prepared personally by the owner of Donde Tena as we watched extraordinary sunsets across the bay.
Another huge plus, Pixvae is just a 20-25 minute ride by ponga to Coiba, contrasted to at least a 90 minute ponga ride from Santa Catalina, where many of the other dive operators stage from.
Bottom line, if you're looking for an absolute first rate dive experience from start to finish, want to experience "authentic" Panama in a spectacularly beautiful and untouched area of the world, you won't do better than DBC. It's an unforgettable experience.

May 29, 2023





