Bocas Dive Center
Bocas Dive Center
5
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Full view

About
Dive with the only 5* PADI IDC center in Bocas for a five star experience. As the best dive academy in the area, you can undertake all the PADI core courses and programs, from Bubblemaker for kids, Discover SCUBA, Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, and more than a dozen specialty courses. Our highly experienced Instructors and Divemasters will ensure your safety is always number one priority. We’re all passionate about the ocean and marine life, and are excited to share our passion with you! Our three boats Jumbo, Grande and Chica are fast, clean, comfortable, covered to provide shade and are driven by our experienced local boat captains. They are licenced, insured and well-maintained, as well as being fully equipped with first aid kits & emergency oxygen. We are committed to providing the best experience, education, equipment and environment for our divers. That includes warm showers, fluffy towels and cold drinks during your debrief post-dive.
Bocas Town, Panama
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
1 716 reviews
Excellent
1 658
Very good
46
Average
8
Poor
1
Terrible
3
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Getaway770085
1 contribution
Nov 2024 • Solo
This is a great dive centre! The dives were great fun and the setup is brilliant - hot showers, fresh towels and a beer after your dive are all included! I also took part in the reef clean-up dive which happens every last Sunday of the month and there was a great sense of a dive community. My divemaster Simon was exceptional and made for a very enjoyable week of diving.
Written 11 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hola!
Thank you very much for choosing Bocas Dive Center for your Fun dives, also for joining us during the monthly clean-up and thank you for the nice comment
We hope to have you back for more underwater exploration or perhaps for your next PADI certification.
Best wishes from BDC's team!
Written 2 February 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Claire D
6 contributions
Aug 2023 • Friends
From the moment we stepped in to Bocas Dive Centre I knew we were in good hands. The facilities are first class, with restaurant,
hotel, dive gear rental and great diving all on offer in one spot. I definitely would have stayed at the hotel if I had known about it at the time of booking (note to staff: make divers aware of lodging options when they book!) and our fríends who we traveled with booked a room for their next trip right there and then! The diving at Bocas is incredible and the staff at BDC are extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Jumbo is the nicest, most comfortable and well equipped dive boat I have ever been on, with towels, snacks, drinks and coffee all supplied on board. We did a 10 dive package with 1 night dive and it was great; there are wrecks, beautiful reefs and caverns to explore. We also participated in an ocean clean up dive which BDC organizes once a month - great work!! This would also be a great place to do a PADI certification as the waters are calm and the dives not too deep. Leandro is an excellent guide/instructor. We also appreciated the complementary drink (beer!) offered after you're done diving for the day! Cheers Bocas Dive Centre, we will be back!
hotel, dive gear rental and great diving all on offer in one spot. I definitely would have stayed at the hotel if I had known about it at the time of booking (note to staff: make divers aware of lodging options when they book!) and our fríends who we traveled with booked a room for their next trip right there and then! The diving at Bocas is incredible and the staff at BDC are extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Jumbo is the nicest, most comfortable and well equipped dive boat I have ever been on, with towels, snacks, drinks and coffee all supplied on board. We did a 10 dive package with 1 night dive and it was great; there are wrecks, beautiful reefs and caverns to explore. We also participated in an ocean clean up dive which BDC organizes once a month - great work!! This would also be a great place to do a PADI certification as the waters are calm and the dives not too deep. Leandro is an excellent guide/instructor. We also appreciated the complementary drink (beer!) offered after you're done diving for the day! Cheers Bocas Dive Centre, we will be back!
Written 6 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hola Claire!
Thank you for your comment and for being part of the Bocas Dive Center family during 11 dives, also for joining us during the monthly clean-up It was a pleasure having you on board!
It is a pleasure to read that you liked the professional service that our staff is providing. We do our best to give great service to our divers in order to make them feel safe and comfortable so they can just enjoy the experience.
It is a pity that you could not stay in our hotel. As a part of all the information that we provide, the option for accommodation is included.
We hope to have you back for more underwater explorations.
A big hug from BDC's staff. :)
Written 7 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Maurus F
6 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
I had my first dive here and felt well looked after from start to finish! The guide took his time with the introduction and always kept an eye on everyone in the group. He coached all the divers throughout the entire dive. The underwater world, including the shipwreck, was amazing! I'd love to go again. Thank you Leandro!

Written 14 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hola,
Thank you very much for choosing Bocas Dive Center for your first dive experience and thank you for the comment.
Yes, Leandro is an excellent instructor who enjoys sharing his knowledge.
We hope to see you back here again to get your PADI Open Water certification and become part of the diving family!
A big hug from the Bocas Dive Center team! :)
Written 26 January 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Dane G
Los Angeles, CA7 contributions
Dec 2024 • Solo
Kelly was the best. I struggled a bit with my ears and she was patient and incredibly informative and attentive. She went through the material in a clear concise manner and made sure that I was having fun. I improved greatly every dive and got certified. I’m so excited to come back and hopeful dove with Kelly. Shout out her and Simon, my family dove with him separate since they’re already advanced and said he was absolutely awesome too.
Overall, you can’t go wrong with Bocas dive shop. The price (half the price as in La where I’m from) and all inclusive experience made it a no brainer to get certified and guide me on my scuba journey.
Overall, you can’t go wrong with Bocas dive shop. The price (half the price as in La where I’m from) and all inclusive experience made it a no brainer to get certified and guide me on my scuba journey.
Written 3 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hola!
Thank you so much for your amazing review. We are so happy to hear that Kelly made such a positive impact on your certification process. She’s fantastic at making sure divers feel comfortable, and it’s great to know she helped you through your ear issues with patience and care. We are also thrilled that your family had a great experience with Simon! It's wonderful to hear you all enjoyed your dives and felt well taken care of.
Thanks again for choosing us. We hope to have you back for more underwater exploration or perhaps for your next PADI certification.
Bocas Dive Center team. :)
Written 2 February 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Dominik K
17 contributions
Nov 2022 • Solo
Kelly and the team are very welcoming and progessional. I not only did my Open Water certificate but also directly chose to do the Adventure Diver Certificate. Kelly was a wonderful diving teacher and she was really giving her best, to make me learn quickly and efficient. The course was taught to me in my tempo I needed it and Kelly was always happy to help me with anything. I always felt very safe and the price paid felt justified. I will definitely come back one day!
Written 5 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Dominik
Thank you for your wonderful review.
We are happy to hear that you had such a great experience achieving your PADI Open and Advanced Diver certifications with us at Bocas Dive Center. Congratulations.
Master Instructor Kelly is a great asset to our team of dive professionals and enjoys sharing her passion for SCUBA with her students.
We look forward to diving with you again in the future. Happy travels
Written 14 November 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
PT1848
Calgary, Alberta1 contribution
Jan 2022
I booked my Open Water Certification dives with Bocas Dive Center for January 2022. Their booking team was more responsive through Instagram direct message and we then took it to email for final details. The booking team was informative and accomodating of my requests. The two days of diving (two dives each day) were booked for the morning sessions - 8:15am - 12:30pm and started and finished on-time each day (second day a little longer due to a celebratory beer). The open water certification included the four dives, all required gear, and certification paperwork. The dives and certification info were logged with the instructor after each day.
The instructors and staff were very professional and knowledgable. I had a great experience working through the skills review (on land and in the water) and dove with confidence each day. The gear and boats were top notch and food/drink was served between each dive. The dive sites themselves were fantastic; lots of sealife and two shipwrecks to see. My instructors, Kelly and Josh, were great to work with and provided a fantastic experience.
I would highly recommend Bocas Dive Center for anyone looking to get open water certififed.
The instructors and staff were very professional and knowledgable. I had a great experience working through the skills review (on land and in the water) and dove with confidence each day. The gear and boats were top notch and food/drink was served between each dive. The dive sites themselves were fantastic; lots of sealife and two shipwrecks to see. My instructors, Kelly and Josh, were great to work with and provided a fantastic experience.
I would highly recommend Bocas Dive Center for anyone looking to get open water certififed.
Written 7 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your great recommendation and congratulations on achieving your PADI Open Water Diver certification.
We appreciate you explaining your experience of your course - this is pretty typical for our Open water courses here at Bocas Dive Center.
We are happy to hear that your Instructor and Divemaster made sure you felt confident throughout your course. we hope that you carry on with your diving journey,
Hopefully, we will see you again in Bocas Del Toro
Written 14 November 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
derApollo
15 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
We booked a dive for „Mayday“ (spot just behind/below the dive center with both a wreck of a ship and an airplane).
Briefing by Kelly was clear and just right for us, being certified divers.
Material (included in the prize) was in good shape and was prepared while we did the paperwork.
And then Kelly showed us this incredible variety of sea life just behind/below the dive center. She showed us and explained on her underwaterslate what we saw (or missed to see, because we were distracted by … everything else).
We didn‘t want to finish this dive and would do this dive again and again - there is so much more to see! Kelly did a great job and explained us all the things we saw (or missed) in the debriefing.
Go with Kelly if you‘re looking for topclass guiding to the local underwater life! Go with Bocas Dive Center if you want the „all-inclusive“-package for happy and secure diving!
Briefing by Kelly was clear and just right for us, being certified divers.
Material (included in the prize) was in good shape and was prepared while we did the paperwork.
And then Kelly showed us this incredible variety of sea life just behind/below the dive center. She showed us and explained on her underwaterslate what we saw (or missed to see, because we were distracted by … everything else).
We didn‘t want to finish this dive and would do this dive again and again - there is so much more to see! Kelly did a great job and explained us all the things we saw (or missed) in the debriefing.
Go with Kelly if you‘re looking for topclass guiding to the local underwater life! Go with Bocas Dive Center if you want the „all-inclusive“-package for happy and secure diving!
Written 9 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hola,
Thank you very much for choosing Bocas Dive Center for your dives and thank you for the comment.
Yes, Kelly is an excellent instructor who enjoys sharing her knowledge.
You are welcome to join us for other Fun dives, Night dives, or for the next PADI certification. Will be a pleasure having you back with us!
A big hug from the Bocas Dive Center team! :)
Written 26 January 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Wilfried B
Kruishoutem, Belgium29 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
Mayday dive in the house reef was beautifull. The 2 boat dives in the afternoon were really nice. Divemaster Lucy did a great job, provided us with a safe dive and elaborate explanations about the environment and the fish we saw.
The dive center provides free towels, hot shower and free drinks after the dive.
The dive center provides free towels, hot shower and free drinks after the dive.
Written 23 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hola!
Thank you very much for choosing Bocas Dive Center for your Fun dives, and for the nice comment.
We love diving and we always try to do it in the safest and Fun way possible.
You are welcome to join us for other Fun dives, Night dives, or for the next PADI certification.
Will be a pleasure having you back with us!
Bocas Dive Center :)
Written 7 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
maumic
Basel3 contributions
Oct 2021 • Solo
I stayed for more than a week to get my Advanced Open Water Diver and Rescue Diver Certificate and to do some fun dives as well. I can highly recommend diving with Bocas Dive Center, as it is a 5-Star center and the biggest dive center in town with a sunken airplane right in front of their docks. They have very new equipment, specially constructed and very comfortable diving boats, hot showers right at the dock, snacks and free coffee on the boat between dives and most importantly they care about safety instructions and good first aid equipment, which in my opinion makes up for the slightly higher prices compared to other local dive centers. The central location and the view from their docks is absolutely fantastic. The team is very open, funny and goes very well together and I made some great friends. If you look for fun, safety and diving some of the most beautiful coral reefs and coolest wrecks, this is your address.
Written 5 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hola Maurice,
Thank you so much for your nice review and congratulations for your PADI Advanced Open Water Dive and Rescue Diver certification. We hope you learned and improved your skills a lot while you had fun.
We do our best to give great service to our divers in order to make them feel safe and comfortable so they can just enjoy the experience.
We hope to have you back for more underwater exploration or perhaps for your next PADI certification.
A big hug from BDC's staff.
Written 7 October 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Renee S
3 contributions
Oct 2022 • Friends
Totally recommend!! While in Bocas I wanted to try Scuba Diving for the first time. I booked a Discover dive, I was really scared but my instructor, Florian, was very patient and informative, he would answer all my questions and make me feel very safe. I enjoyed it so much that I booked a second Discover the same day and a week later I was doing my Open Water Certificate! Not only I became an OW Diver with them, I also booked a night dive and I’m planning to keep diving with them. These guys are really nice and their center is such a great experience, no wonder they are a 5 star PADI Center.
Written 27 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for sharing your story of becoming a diver! What an inspiration! Congratulations again on achieving your PADI Open water diver certification.
We are so happy that our dive professionals made you feel comfortable and confident to keep trying and eventually to love SCUBA diving. MSDT Instructor Florian especially enjoys introducing new divers to the underwater world.
We look forward to many more underwater adventures with you here in Bocas Del Toro
Written 14 November 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hello! Can I dive without a certification with an instructor? (I know how to swim)
Written 20 January 2025
How long does it take to get a Junior Diver PADI cert? My daughter is 13 and we will be in Bocas soon for a few days
H - Eugene, Oregon
Written 26 December 2019
Hola, thanks for contacting us and sorry for the late answer (we are so busy during holidays)
The PADI Junios Open Water Diver course takes normally 3 full days. There is an option to do the theory online and then she will need more or less 2 full days to complete in-water training.
Feel free to contact us by mail or whatsapp if you want further information.
Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Best wishes and happy new year
Written 30 December 2019
Hi!
We want to dive on Christmas Day. Is this posible?
Thanks,
Written 3 December 2019
Hola!
Thanks for your interest in dive with BDC. Yes, it's possible, we will be open and making bubbles to celebrate X-mas!
You can book your dives on our website and feel free to contact us by mail or whatsapp if you need further information.
Thanks and we are looking forward to hearing from you soon
Written 9 December 2019
Bonjour,
Comment faire pour avoir une chambre pour plusieurs mois à côté du centre de plongée pour formation ?
Chez l'habitant ? Si vous avez des adresses sérieuses...
Merci de votre aide
Written 28 December 2017
Salut,
Vous pouvez faire des réservations à l'hôtel connecté au centre de plongée - Divers Paradise. Leur couriel pour faire une réservation est reservations@diversparadise. com
Written 7 January 2018
Hola! Vamos 1 semana a Bocas pero no sabemos dónde alojarnos para poder ir a bucear con ustedes! Hay muchas islas! A dónde nos conviene ir para que también disfruten de la playa los que no bucean? Gracias! Nos vemos en abril!!
Written 8 December 2017
Hola, estuve en Bocas en agosto, deberías investigar en que isla prefieren quedarse, algunas muy tranquilas, poca gente o ir a la principal donde llegan las lanchas y tienen más "vida de ciudad", y ahí pueden contactar a la gente de Bocas Dive Center, fue una excelente experiencia, saludos
Written 11 December 2017
Buenos días , Os he contacto por email pero no he recibido respuesta. Queríamos bucear en Bocas del Toro en Septiembre ya que vamos a estar allí un par de días ¿Como puedo contactaros y reservar?
Gracias
Written 17 August 2017
Hola Anabel! Gracias por contactarnos. Por favor environs un correo info(arroba)bocasdivecenter, tambien puedes reserva en nuestra pagina web. Esperamos to correo! Saludos, BDC.
Written 20 August 2017
Hola
Estoy pensando en ir a Panama este agosto y quiero Bucear Bocas dive center tiene buena pinta pero me gustaria que me dierais algun consejo de la zona hay buenos alojamientos,vida diurna y nocturna...
como llegar
gracias
Written 5 April 2017
El Bocas Dive esta muy organizado, la atención es magnifica tanto si contratas excursiones grupales como individuales. Esta en la ciudad de Bocas donde, en efecto hay mucha vida ( De la que quieras , al nivel que quieras ). En Bocas mismo no hay playas , pero es fácil contratar excursiones para ir donde quieras.En cuanto a los alojamientos tienes een la ciudad de Bocas para todos los presupuestos y también hoteles de Playa, tanto en Isla Colon ( que es donde esta Bocas ) como en otras islas del archipilelago ( Bastimentos, por ejemplo ) todas en un radio de 15' lancha.
Written 6 April 2017
Hello, we have a group of 4 PADI certified divers, one of whom is a an advanced diver, and are coming down the 2-11 of sept to dive. We dive in the PNW and Maui mostly and are looking for information, pricing, types of dives you offer there. We have never been to Panama or Costa Rica and will be going to both. Thank you
Written 29 July 2016
One open water dive cost $61. Two was $110. They seem to offer all kinds of dives.
Written 29 July 2016
We will be visiting in late December and none of us are certified divers in any way. What type of excursions could you offer us?
Written 20 July 2016
Would you have some recommendations on resorts to stay at near your dive center? We'd probably be traveling from Massachusetts in February. Is that a good time to visit Panama? Thank you!
Written 30 December 2015
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