Scuba Diving by Private Boat in Panama
Scuba diving in Panama by private boat is a dive day from your own yacht charter, leaving Flamenco Marina for the rocks and reefs of the Pearl Islands or Taboga, with a licensed dive operator who brings the tanks, the gear and the dive guide. It is for certified divers and sold with the charter: add it when you book the boat.
Boats available in Panama
Three to start with: the 33ft Deep Impact Wahoo Killer Boat Rental Panama (33 ft), the 45ft Todomar "Isinglass 2" Yacht Charter Panama Boat Rental Panama (45 ft) and the 45ft Todomar Caché Caché Charter Panama (45 ft).
36ft Twin Vee Power Catamaran Charter PanamaFrom$800· Sunset · 3 hours
33ft Grady White Charter PanamaFrom$850· Sunset · 3 hours
26ft Caribe Pro Mar Lobo Charter PanamaFrom$900· Portobelo triple stop
45ft Todomar Caché Caché Charter PanamaFrom$1,000· Sunset · 3 hours
Add-ons in Panama
Prices per item; added to any boat in the city.
catering
Medium Charcuterie Platter (6–8 guests)$195Cured meats, artisan cheeses, nuts, and fruit arranged for 6–8 guests to graze on deck.
Large Charcuterie Platter (10–13 guests)$275The same cured meats, cheeses, nuts, and fruit, sized for a party of 10–13.
Medium Fruit Platter (6–8 guests)$90Fresh-cut seasonal fruit, ready to share between 6–8 guests.
Large Fruit Platter (10–13 guests)$125A generous spread of fresh-cut seasonal fruit for 10–13 guests.
Beef Carpaccio$120Thinly sliced beef with olive oil, parmesan, and arugula, served chilled.
Eggplant Carpaccio$90Roasted eggplant sliced paper-thin and dressed with herbs and olive oil.
Zucchini Carpaccio$90Ribbons of raw zucchini with lemon, olive oil, and shaved parmesan.
Ceviche Cups (13 cups)$105Thirteen cups of citrus-cured fish with onion, cilantro, and lime.
Shrimp Cocktail (13 units)$115Thirteen chilled shrimp cocktails with a zesty cocktail sauce.
Beef & Chicken Skewers (13 units)$95Thirteen grilled skewers, a mix of marinated beef and chicken.
Caprese Skewers (13 units)$80Thirteen skewers of mozzarella, cherry tomato, and basil with balsamic glaze.
Salmon Canapés (13 units)$105Thirteen bites of smoked salmon and cream cheese on crisp bases.
Shrimp Skewers (13 units)$105Thirteen grilled shrimp skewers with garlic and lime.
Tequeños (25 units)$75Twenty-five golden Venezuelan cheese sticks, served warm.
Ham & Cheese Croquettes (25 units)$75Twenty-five crispy ham and cheese croquettes, fried to order.
Stuffed Arepas (13 units)$90Thirteen grilled corn arepas stuffed with cheese and shredded meat.
Empanadas (13 units)$80Thirteen baked empanadas with savory meat and cheese fillings.
Mini Corn Cakes with Cheese (13 units)$80Thirteen sweet mini corn cakes topped with melted cheese.
Mini Meatballs (24 units)$95Twenty-four mini meatballs simmered in a rich tomato sauce.
Mini Sliders (13 units)$105Thirteen mini burgers with cheese, lettuce, and house sauce.
Gourmet Hot Dogs (13 units)$100Thirteen gourmet hot dogs loaded with crispy toppings and sauces.
Stuffed Gourmet Subs (13 units)$115Thirteen stuffed gourmet subs with meats, cheese, and fresh vegetables.
Mini Wraps (13 units)$100Thirteen mini wraps filled with chicken, vegetables, and creamy dressing.
Mexican Tacos (13 units)$105Thirteen Mexican tacos with seasoned meat, salsa, and fresh toppings.
Seafood Paella (13 guests)$325A pan of saffron rice with shrimp, mussels, and calamari for 13 guests.
Traditional Paella (13 guests)$275Classic Spanish paella with chicken and chorizo for 13 guests.
Ham, Cheese & Bacon Omelet with Pancakes$145A hearty ham, cheese, and bacon omelet served with fluffy pancakes.
Ham & Cheese Mini Croissants$95Warm mini croissants filled with ham and melted cheese.
Artisan Hummus Trio$80Three artisan hummus flavors with pita and fresh vegetables for dipping.
Tres Leches$75Mini tres leches cakes soaked in sweet milk and topped with cream.
Passion Fruit Mousse$80Light, tangy passion fruit mousse in individual cups.
Strawberry Mousse$80Silky strawberry mousse in individual cups.
Lemon Pie$80Mini lemon pies with a buttery crust and tart citrus filling.
Strawberries & Cream$90Fresh strawberries with sweet whipped cream in individual cups.
Chocolate Cake with Nutella$90Mini chocolate cakes layered with Nutella.
Arequipe Churros$80Crispy churros filled with arequipe caramel.
Nutella & Strawberry Mini Pancakes$95Mini pancakes topped with Nutella and fresh strawberries.
Tiramisu$90Mini tiramisu cups with espresso-soaked layers and mascarpone cream.experiences
Jet Ski$110 an hourNeeds a 3-hour charter minimum — departure and return take about 2 hours. A 3-hour charter includes 1 hour of jet ski, and every extra charter hour adds one more: 4 hrs = 2, 5 hrs = 3, up to 6. Price is per jet ski, per hour.
Decorations & Balloons Package$200We'll contact you to discuss colors and occasion
Photo + Video$350
Photo + Video + Drone$450
Private ChefCustom quoteCustom menu, quoted to your party
TransportationCustom quoteDoor-to-dock pickup — tell us your party size and we'll quote it
Bartender$35 an hour
Book a DJ$65 an hourLive DJ for the charter
Up to 6 guests$350Bartender not included
Up to 13 guests$575Bartender not includedsushi
Sushi Boat (120 pieces + 2 crab salads)$250Includes service for 10 people: a full boat of assorted rolls with two crab salads on the side.
Sashimi Boat (100 pieces)$300Fifty pieces of tuna sashimi and fifty of salmon, sliced fresh for the trip.
Sushi Combo 2 (80 pieces + crab salad)$155Eighty assorted pieces with a crab salad, an easy pick for a mid-size group.
Nigiri Boat (60 pieces)$350Twenty pieces each of tuna toro, salmon, and hamachi nigiri.
Sushi Combo 1 (50 pieces + crab salad)$105Includes service for 5 people: fifty assorted pieces plus a crab salad.
Salmon Sashimi (7 pieces)$15Seven slices of fresh salmon, served plain to let the fish shine.
Tuna Sashimi (7 pieces)$18Seven slices of fresh tuna, clean and simple.
Salmon Nigiri (2 pieces)$10Two pieces of salmon over hand-pressed sushi rice.
Tuna Nigiri (2 pieces)$12Two pieces of tuna over hand-pressed sushi rice.
Bagel Roll$18Smoked salmon and cream cheese rolled with cucumber, a classic combination.
California Roll$14Crab, avocado, and cucumber in a light, crowd-pleasing roll.
Dynamite Roll$16A spicy roll with a crunchy topping and a kick of chili mayo.
Salmon Roll$14A simple roll of fresh salmon and sushi rice.
Tuna Roll$14A simple roll of fresh tuna and sushi rice.
Veggie Roll$20Avocado, cucumber, and crisp vegetables, fully plant-based.
Dragon Roll$22Shrimp tempura inside, avocado layered on top, finished with eel sauce.
Heat Roll$23A hot and spicy roll for guests who like some fire.
Martina's Roll$22The house signature roll, Martina's own mix of fish and crunch.
Miami Roll$20A bright, tropical roll made for a day on the water.
Shrimp Tempura Roll$25Crispy shrimp tempura with avocado and cucumber, drizzled with eel sauce.
Sunset Roll$22Layers of salmon and avocado over a crab roll, colored like a Panama sunset.
Tropical Roll$23Fresh fish and mango for a sweet, tropical bite.
Chicken Gyozas$12Pan-fried dumplings filled with seasoned chicken, served with dipping sauce.
Crab Salad$16Crab stick with red tobiko, scallions, sesame, kimchee mayo, and eel sauce.
Edamame$10Steamed soybeans with sea salt, the classic starter.
Chicken Fried Rice$15Wok-fried rice with chicken, egg, and vegetables.
Shrimp Fried Rice$18Wok-fried rice with shrimp, egg, and vegetables.
Salmon Tiradito$28Thin slices of salmon in a citrus and chili dressing, Peruvian style.
Shrimp Tiradito$19Thin-cut shrimp in a bright citrus and chili dressing.
Spring Rolls$12Crispy rolls filled with vegetables, served with sweet chili sauce.
Wakame Salad$18Marinated seaweed salad with sesame, light and refreshing.Added at checkout on the boats that offer it, or afterwards from your account — the desk confirms it before anything is charged.
How a private dive works
The dive operator joins the charter with a guide, tanks, weights and rental gear, loaded at Flamenco Marina before departure. The yacht runs to the dive site, the guide briefs the group, and the divers go in from the swim platform while the rest of the group snorkels or stays aboard. Between dives, the yacht moves to a beach or a calm anchorage for lunch.
Who can dive
Certified divers bring their certification card and logbook; the guide checks them before the first dive and plans the depth to the least experienced diver. Non-certified guests can ask the operator about an introductory dive with an instructor in shallow water, or snorkel at the same site. Tell the team each diver's level when you book.
Dive sites off Panama City
The Pearl Islands are the main area, with rocky walls, boulders and reefs around Contadora, Saboga, Pacheca and the quieter islands, home to reef fish, moray eels, rays and, in season, schools of jacks and snapper. Taboga, closer to the city, has rocky points and wrecks known to local divers. The dive operator chooses the site on the day by the visibility and the current. The islands are on Pearl Islands yacht charters.
Water, visibility and season
The Gulf of Panama changes through the year. In the dry season, December to April, cooler water rises from the deep, bringing plankton, fish and lower temperatures; a thicker wetsuit is worth packing. The green season, May to November, has warmer water, and July to October brings humpback whales to the Pearl Islands, sometimes heard underwater. Visibility changes from day to day.
Safety rules
Dives follow the operator's procedures and the guide's plan: a dive flag on the surface, a buddy for every diver, a safety stop, and no flying within the recommended time after diving. The yacht keeps clear of the divers' bubbles, and the captain and the guide decide together whether the sea allows the dive.
Divers and snorkelers on one boat
A dive day works for mixed groups. While the divers are down with the guide, the snorkelers swim at the surface of the same site with masks and fins, and the others stay on the shaded deck or go ashore at Contadora. After the second dive the whole group meets for lunch at anchor. The captain plans the order of the sites with the guide, so nobody waits long between the dives and the swim.
What to bring
Your certification card and logbook, your own mask and computer if you have them, a wetsuit if you prefer your own, reef-safe sunscreen, a towel and a change of clothes. Drinks in cans or plastic, and water: diving in the heat is thirsty work. The operator brings the tanks and the rest of the gear.
What to send
The date, the yacht, the route, the number of divers and their certification levels, any rental gear sizes, and the non-divers coming along. Ask at least a week ahead. Snorkeling for the rest of the group is on Panama snorkeling charters.
Related pages
Scuba Diving by Private Boat in Panama: questions
Can you scuba dive from a yacht in Panama?
Yes. A licensed dive operator joins the charter with a guide and gear; tick scuba diving when you book the charter.
Where are the dive sites near Panama City?
In the Pearl Islands and around Taboga.
Do I need to be certified?
Certified divers dive with the guide; others can ask the operator about an introductory dive.
Is dive gear provided?
The operator brings tanks, weights and rental gear; tell the team your sizes.
When is the best time to dive in Panama?
It changes through the year: cooler water and marine life in the dry season, warmer water and whales from July to October.
Can non-divers come on the dive day?
Yes. They snorkel at the site or stay aboard.
What should divers bring?
The certification card and logbook, a mask and dive computer if you have them, and your own wetsuit if you prefer it; the operator brings tanks and the rest of the gear.
Add to your charter
Pick your boat and add it in the booking panel: the price is shown there, and a 50% deposit online covers the charter and the add-ons.
Nothing on this list is available today. Tell us your date and we will find something.
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