Dive Review of
Marina Las Perlas/Barcelo Playa Blanca in
Panama/Gulf of Panama

All over the Caribbean, Mexico (both coasts), Galapagos, Greece, Tahiti,
Cook Islands, Fiji, and Canada's West Coast

Dive Conditions

Very flexible with experienced divers.    

[None]  

Overall Rating

The all-inclusive Barcelo Playa Blanca resort is in an area that was once a
restricted military base of first, the Americans and then later of the
Panamanian Army. Both President's Torrijos and Noriega had residences about
one mile from our hotel.  The hotel had only been opened for about two
months – but was easily 4 stars. To the common surprise of myself and two
other experienced divers who were staying at the hotel it had no dive
operation (as advertised) and the marina owners (sub-contractors)had tried
to BS us that they were not diving because the visibility was bad. Once we
discovered what was up, we found a dive operator at the neighboring
Decameron Resort (nice place!)and arranged to dive with him.  Pablo Garrido
of Marina Las Perlas proved to be a great guy and kindly arranged some
diving for us.   The best dives we had were at Octoque and Bona Islands. 
Vis was not the greatest - but hey, we have had worst, and it was,
afterall, at the end of the rainy season there. There were more corals (but
far less than the Caribbean side)and a little less alga than we had seen
closer to the coast the day before at Farallon Island.  Saw some small
groups of large parrotfish, some juvenile jewfish, bonito, purple
surgeonfish, numerous small spotted rays, groupers, balloon fish,
triggerfish, blue striped and yellow snappers, barberfish, blennies, a
small octopus, butterflyfish, king angelfish, damsels, sergeant majors,
wrasses and trevally.  I think if I returned to Panama I would head further
up the coast toward Costa Rico - most of the locals said the diving was
definitely better there.  The canal is well worth checking out and a great
way to spend your off-gas pre-flight day. The history of the canal makes
great beach reading. 

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