5 Reasons Why Islas Secas has the Best Scuba Diving in Panama
All your scuba dives at Islas Secas are included in your stay – yes, even PADI courses – but did you know that scuba diving in Panama also offers some of the most spectacular dives on the planet? Here’s why…
1. It’s All About Geography
The luxury dive resort of Islas Secas shimmers in the waters of the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP), a remote corner of the ocean that just happens to be one of the richest, most productive regions in the world. A combination of factors – the Humboldt Current, the undulating seabed, the numerous seamounts and oceanic islands – creates cold water upwellings teeming with nutrients, which in turn attract a mesmerizing variety of marine life. That’s why Islas Secas offers, hands down, the best scuba diving in Panama.
This extraordinary ocean setting has now been enhanced by the creation of the Gulf of Chiriquí Marine Biological Corridor. Linking eleven protected areas, from the Manglares de David to Coiba National Park, The Chiriquí corridor creates a critical route for marine life migrating between Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Panama – with Islas Secas serving as a central “pit stop” on this vibrant migration highway.
2. Truly, Madly, Deeply
Everything happens on a grander scale here. The ocean is colder, deeper and less salty than the Caribbean, while the twice-daily tides are extreme and the currents at times strong. There are underwater mountains covered in sea fans and soft corals, 100-foot vertical drop-offs, towering seamounts and mysterious cave formations. It all adds up to excellent visibility, adrenaline-pumping drift dives and upswells swarming with schools of fish – in other words, the best scuba diving experience in Panama.
3. Size Matters
The Gulf of Chiriquí is dotted with volcanic islands, including Islas Secas, creating natural stepping stones for migrating wildlife. These vital ecosystems serve as sanctuaries for marine biodiversity, providing essential breeding and feeding grounds for numerous species. As a biodiversity hotspot, this means there is plenty of food for everyone. Compared to the Caribbean, diving here reveals exceptionally large species in impressive numbers. From big schools of snapper to passing pelagics such as manta rays, tuna, marlins and even sailfish, every dive is different, and every dive is spectacular.
4. A Kaleidoscope of Colors
The Gulf of Chiriquí is home to the largest coral reef formation in the ETP, supporting 780 species of fish. Think swimming through a rainbow of species – snappers, jacks, barracudas, butterfly fish, parrot fish, angelfish… the list goes on. Moray eels poke their heads out of crevices, starfish add pops of color to the seabed, and the reef produces a particularly entertaining chirping sound, created by millions of trapezia crabs living within the coral colonies.
5. The World’s Best Marine Safari
Islas Secas’ Marine Safari is a fully personalized adventure in Panama’s Gulf of Chiriquí, guided by experts with top-tier gear and the option to add surfing excursions or private catamaran trips. You’ll regularly spot hawksbill, olive ridleys, and green turtles, white tip reef sharks and nurse sharks, along with migrating humpback whales whose songs fill the sea from July to September. Keep an eye out for large schools of rays, playful dolphins on your boat ride, and the awe-inspiring whale sharks that pass through in April.
