








Our proximity to the Coiba National Park and The Archipelago of Contreras cuts navigation times down to a fraction of the time normally spent to arrive and return from Coiba National Park. We can spend up to two/three hours more in the park each day, giving us time for additional dives, exploring or even just relaxing on one of the parks spectacular beaches. From our location, we also have daily access to a much larger area of the park and can offer day trips that include other very productive dive sites around Archipelagos out of the park’s limits. And /or a mixture of both.
Itinerary: Dive Adventure Retreat
-Arrival Day.
-Days of Diving and Activities
Morning:
Afternoon
Evnening
-Departure Day
Included in each of our Multi Day packages.
Not included in any of our Multi day packages
As an additional service, we provide exclusive shuttle transportation that can pick you up from any location across the country and take you directly to Pixvae. If you’re interested in learning more about this service and wish to inform us about your preferred pickup location, please feel free to inquire for additional details.
For more information about Personalized Packages, please contact us.
Each area and island group offers something a little different. From calm protected shallower reefs to deeper Open Ocean, “pelagic” marine environments. Our proximity to Coiba and Contreras, shorter navigation times, allows time for additional dives or to pursue terrestrial adventures!
Scuba trips
We kick off our dive trips to Coiba National Park from Pixvae. We meet at the dive center at 7:25 a.m. for a briefing, waivers, payments, and equipment setup. Afterward, we head for a quick 20-minute boat ride to the park. Enjoy two or three dives based on your preference. We usually wrap up between 2:00 pm and 3:30 pm. Our dive sites are located in Coiba and Contreras. Our surface intervals take place on Coiba’s pristine white beaches or at the rangers’ station, home to a variety of wildlife and a diverse range of bird species.
Diving Profile and Marine Life you an See
Dives typically last 45 to 60 minutes, adjusted for conditions and air consumption. Depths range from 10 to 32 meters, suitable for all levels. Site selection considers experience, season, weather, and sea conditions. Water temperature is usually 26 to 30 degrees Celsius, except from mid-March to early June when thermoclines may bring it down to 18 to 24 degrees Celsius.
You can encounter white-tipped reef sharks, turtles, dolphins, rays, lobsters, sea horses, and an array of fish including jacks and barracudas. Moray eels, wahoos, snappers, butterflyfish, and parrotfish add to the spectacle. Keep an eye out for magnificent whale sharks and giant mantas if plankton is in abundance. From July to September, humpback whales often grace the surface with their presence. And from July and June you can spot hammerhead sharks.
Our Day Packages Include.
Not included in Day Packages.
-As an additional service, we provide exclusive shuttle transportation that can pick you up from any location across the country and take you directly to Pixvae. If you’re interested in learning more about this service and wish to inform us about your preferred pickup location, please feel free to inquire for additional details.
EXCLUSIVELY BY RESERVATION.
Given our restricted seating capacity, we strongly suggest making advance reservations to secure your place on the boat. Please be aware that walk-in bookings are not accommodated. Securing a reservation is essential.
Coiba is a good choice for inexperienced divers, as there are many dive sites suitable for beginners and the area is known for its clear waters and diverse marine life.
Absolutely! If you are new to diving, we recommend the PADI Discover Scuba Diving experience which does not require certification. If you want to get certified, we offer the PADI Open Water Diver course.
For those who require internet access, Pixvae provides Wi-Fi connectivity
Our primary payment method is cash, although we do accept other options such as Yappy or Panamanian transactions for added convenience.
When packing for your trip to Coiba, keep in mind that we provide water, sandwiches, and snacks for our guests. However, you are welcome to bring your own water and snacks if you prefer.
The check-in time for the dive center is 7:00 AM. However, we recommend visiting the dive shop on the day before your booked trip to try on rental equipment, complete payments, and sign any necessary waivers for a smoother check-in process.
To enter the Coiba National Park, foreigners need to pay a daily fee of $20, while Panamanians and residents are required to pay $5. When you arrive at our dive shop, we will collect the fee and ask to see your proof of nationality or residency, so please remember to bring it with you.
In addition to diving, there are several other activities available in Pixvae. Visitors can enjoy snorkeling, fishing, kayaking, and birdwatching. The area is also known for its beautiful beaches and hiking trails, making it a great destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
Yes, there are several restaurants in Pixvae that offer a variety of cuisine, including seafood, traditional Panamanian dishes, and vegan and vegetarian options.
Yes, signing a liability release is a requirement before diving with our company. This is a standard practice in the diving industry and is necessary to ensure the safety of all participants. The liability release outlines the risks and responsibilities involved in diving and must be signed by all participants before the activity can begin.
In Pixvae, you can find a few small stores and restaurants for your convenience. However, it’s important to note that there are no ATMs or banks in the area. Therefore, we recommend withdrawing cash in Sona before arriving in Pixvae to ensure that you have access to money during your stay.
To ensure that you have a spot reserved for diving with us, we kindly request that you make a reservation in advance. You can easily do so by visiting our “Contact Us” section on our website, or by reaching out to us via WhatsApp.
Yes, we can help you organize accommodation.
At the moment Pixvae doesn’t count with Cellphone Signal but it does provide Wi-Fi to does who need to be connected to the internet!
Second dive trip with Dive Base Coiba - Long overdue review, but my son, friend and I did our second weekend with Kevan Mantell in late November. Once again, truly an amazing weekend. Saw dozens of white tipped... read more reef sharks, sea turtles, schools of tuna, corvina, etc.
On our last dive, second day, we saw an enormous sea turtle that appeared at first to have gotten wedged between a couple of rocks on the sea floor. We watched him closely for about 5 minutes, and eventually he got loose and swam away.
As I wrote last time, diving with Kevan really is like participating in a research expedition.
During our latest trip, he even let us participate in helping contribute to his research in our own small way. One of the divers who joined us brought a drone and Kevan asked him to take photographs and video of the coral beds in one of the bays that he could use to build out a more comprehensive research map of the area.
His knowledge of the area is extraordinary. When you arrive to Dive Base Coiba, he has this huge map of the Coiba National Park on the wall, and he'll give you a really comprehensive overview of the marine biology, environmental history, geological history, and even political history (Coiba Island was the site of a notorious prison during the Noriega years) of the area. Fascinating stuff.
At another point while we were at the surface, Kevan stopped the boat just as a pod of dolphins was swimming towards us. Kevan urged us to jump in with snorkels and mask. We watched as they whooshed by right underneath us. Incredible.
The other thing about Kevan: He gives his full attention and professionalism to every one of his clients whether its recreational divers like us; professional and research divers from National Geographic, the European Space Agency, or BBC: or his VIP clients like Mick Jagger, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones, and several well known billionaires (yes, he's taken them all diving at Coiba) He puts a premium on safety and will walk you through a full safety briefing before every dive and do several safety check ins during your dives.
We'll be heading back for our third trip in 2018.

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