PANLINA - Bocas del Toro

Panlina. We’ll be honest, she’s not a showstopper, but she’s certainly got character. This little freighter, sunk way back in 1953, sits upright in just seven metres of water, making her a perfect easy dive. You don't need to be a techie to explore her. We love how the deck is still fairly intact, letting you peer into what would have been the cargo holds, now home to clouds of glassfish. Look closer, and you'll spot blennies poking out from every crevice, and we've often seen octopus tucked away in the shadows, particularly in the late afternoon. It's an intimate wreck dive, more about the atmosphere and the small details than grand scale. Visibility can swing a bit here depending on the tides, so we’d suggest going at slack high tide for the clearest views. Panlina is our pick for a relaxing second dive of the day, a place to potter around and just soak it all in.

Location
Bocas del Toro, Panama, Central America
Coordinates
9.050000, -77.750000
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
7m

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 PANLINA

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 PANLINA

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