The Coiba National Park, (CNP) and the Islands of the Gulf of Chiriqui. (Isla Secas, Ladrones and Montuosa) are the crown jewels of Panama’s incredible natural reserves. These groups of islands are positioned in the center of the highest diversity section of the Tropical Eastern Pacific. UNESCO recently acknowledged the ecological importance and spectacular natural beauty of the CNP; by declaring it a World Heritage Site. Coiba has generated a cult following among marine enthusiasts. The scientific community is only now discovering the extensive biodiversity of Coiba with the discovery of new coral species, fish, animals and plants. This area has a wild, magical and mysterious beauty. Dense tropical rain forests plunge down onto spectacular deserted palm fringed white sand beaches. The rain forest gives shelter to many species of exotic birds, including the magnificent scarlet macaw, and many species of endemic animals, it's also home to some of the most sensitive and pristine reproduction sites for marine turtles in the world!

From the surface you can observe some of the largest marine visitors to Coiba and the Gulf of Chiriqui . Humpback whales travel from the north and south to congregate in the park, give birth and reproduce in the warm tropical waters. Whale shark, sperm and killer whales can be also observed, along with resident pods of dolphins. The inshore islands and reefs offer shelter from the currents that sometimes sweep through the area, and are excellent for the novice diver to gain more diving experience.

These sheltered, shallow sites serve as cleaning stations for larger pelagic animals and. are perfect for the non-diver to snorkel in. With the possibility of encounters with white tip reef and nurse shark, spotted eagle rays, turtles and schooling fish. More advanced diving is possible around volcanic pinnacles and seamounts, where the diving is high voltage and challenging.

These sites are home to an extraordinary diversity of marine life such as: giant manta and devil rays, schools of eagle and mobula rays. Several species of shark, including scalloped hammerheads, bull, galapagos, black and white tip reef shark and giant nurse shark; turtles, huge schools of fish such as barracuda, jacks and snapper. Here to the diversity of Benthic (bottom dwellers) is just as impressive. This is a paradise for the macro photographer.

Exotic creatures like the harlequin shrimp, nudibranchs, seahorse and the master of disguise thefrog fish. Several species of moray eel can be sighted, from the giant green moray to the delicate jeweled and starry morays also crab, octopus and lobster. Hard and soft corals are limited in species but abundant on many sites. The marine life at night reveals many creatures seldom seen during daylight hours. Ornate sea pens extend from the sandy bottom to filter nutrients from the currents. Giant southern stingrays search for food on the sand. .Octopus creep amongst the rocks for their prey and white tip reef shark stalk the reef.

The diving conditions vary with the seasons. The dry season, December to May, offers the best visibility and calmer, warmer water. During the rainy season, June to December, the water contains more nutrients that reduce the visibility, as do thermo clines, but the pelagic life is better. The average water temperature hovers around 28°C. Visibility is on average around 70ft/19m. Thermo clines and haloclines are common and can reduce the water temperature as much as 10 degrees and the visibility by 20 to 30ft on deeper dives. Tides predominate the diving conditions in the CNP with as much as a 16ft/5m tidal exchange every six hours, consequently currents are common and vary in direction and speed. This is adventure diving at its best. Many of the areas in the park still remain unexplored. Forget about crowded dive sites and boats. This still remains to the most part an undiscovered wilderness!