Parchecito - Bocas del Toro
Parchecito, off Bocas del Toro, offers a gentle dive, typically shallow and calm. We usually find smaller reef fish here, things like parrotfish and angelfish, weaving through the gorgonians and brain corals. It's a relaxed spot, good for newer divers or those looking for a laid-back afternoon underwater. Visibility can vary, but generally, it's a pleasant, easy dive.
- Location
- Bocas del Toro, Panama, Central America
- Coordinates
- 9.557502, -79.684870
- Type
- reef
- Maximum Depth
- 5-15m
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)
- ECUADOR - 4m (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)
Nearest Dive Centres to Parchecito
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 Parchecito
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