ECUADOR - Bocas del Toro
Ecuador, off Isla Colón, is one of those dive sites that just keeps giving, even at its shallow depth. We love it because it’s a proper wreck dive – a 30-meter motor vessel – but without the usual associated challenges. This isn't just a pile of metal; the ship sits upright and largely intact, giving it a real presence. You can follow the length of the hull, spotting the propeller and rudder, then poke around the bridge area. What makes it special for us is how marine life has absolutely taken over. Schools of glassy sweepers shimmer inside the darker sections, and we often find nurse sharks resting under ledges. Look closely at the deck plating and you’ll find yellowline arrow crabs picking their way through the sponges. It’s perfect for divers who want to immerse themselves in a wreck without the pressure of deep profiles or strong currents. We always feel a sense of discovery here, like we're exploring a lost world in miniature. Go slow and really soak it in; there’s always something new to spot.
- Location
- Bocas del Toro, Panama, Central America
- Coordinates
- 9.340555, -79.917220
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 4m
Marine Protected Area: Portobelo
Best Time to Dive in Bocas del Toro
The warmest water temperatures in Bocas del Toro occur in December, averaging 29.4°C. The coolest conditions are in November at 28.3°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 29.3°C
- February: 29.1°C
- March: 28.9°C
- April: 29.1°C
- May: 29.1°C
- June: 29.0°C
- July: 29.1°C
- August: 29.2°C
- September: 29.0°C
- October: 28.7°C
- November: 28.3°C
- December: 29.4°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Bocas del Toro
- Airplane Wreck (wreck)
- Buenaventura
- Coral Reef Labyrinth (reef)
- DONAU - 50m (wreck)
- Enchanted Forrest
- FREELANCE - 5m (wreck)
- IDA P - 9m (wreck)
- Isla Iguana - 5-18m (reef)
- Isla Perro
- Islote La MIel
- Jose Pobre Caverns (reef)
- La Miel - 8-25m (reef)
- LAUTARO - 8m (wreck)
- LISA S. - 59m (wreck)
- LOS SANTOS - 0m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to ECUADOR
Marine Life in Bocas del Toro
Home to 175 recorded species including 166 reef fish, 4 sharks & rays, 2 hard corals, 2 other, 1 whales & dolphins.
Notable Species
- Agujon Needlefish (Tylosurus acus) - Reef Fish
- Caesar (Haemulon aurolineatum) - Reef Fish
- Ring-tailed Surgeonfish (Acanthurus xanthopterus) - Reef Fish
- Orangeside Triggerfish (Sufflamen verres) - Reef Fish
- Cortez Rainbow Wrasse (Thalassoma lucasanum) - Reef Fish
- King Angelfish (Holacanthus passer) - Reef Fish
- Spotted Pufferfish (Canthigaster janthinoptera) - Reef Fish
- Spotted Puffer (Arothron meleagris) - Reef Fish
- Bicolor Parrotfish (Scarus rubroviolaceus) - Reef Fish
- Opaline Lanternfish (Benthosema pterotum) - Reef Fish
- Pufferfish (Arothron hispidus) - Reef Fish
- Mulet (Mugil curema) - Reef Fish
- Butterfish (Eucinostomus melanopterus) - Reef Fish
- Beaubrummel (Stegastes flavilatus) - Reef Fish
- Blue Trim Parrotfish (Scarus ghobban) - Reef Fish
- Cortez damselfish (Stegastes rectifraenum) - Reef Fish
- Barberfish (Johnrandallia nigrirostris) - Reef Fish
- Chameleon wrasse (Halichoeres dispilus) - Reef Fish
- Coral Hawkfish (Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus) - Reef Fish
- Amarillo snapper (Lutjanus argentiventris) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for ECUADOR
Based on average water temperature of 29.0°C, currents 7 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories