Jose Pobre Caverns - Bocas del Toro

Mbelo Mbelo sits a bit further out in Iron Bottom Sound, but the boat ride is worth it. We drop onto a wall that plummets down past 25 metres, absolutely coated in soft corals. The gorgonian sea fans here are genuinely massive, sometimes bigger than a diver, and they stretch out into the blue. Keep an eye out for banded sea krait weaving through the coral, and we often spot dusky-capped parrotfish munching away. Visibility usually holds around 25 metres, giving you a good view for spotting those silvertip sharks if you look a bit deeper. It's a solid wall dive, especially if you appreciate dramatic coral formations.

Location
Bocas del Toro, Panama, Central America
Coordinates
9.596900, -79.643900
Type
reef

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

Nearest Dive Centres to Jose Pobre Caverns

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

Recommended Packing List for Jose Pobre Caverns

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