Diving school in Panama
Come be part of the ultimate diving adventure in Coiba – explore the stunning underwater world like never before!
Embark on a one-of-a-kind scuba diving adventure in Coiba National Park
Our location gives us complete acces to the Coiba National Park and The Archipelago of Contreras.
Just 20 minutes from the best dive sites—the closest dive center to Coiba and Contreras.
Professional ScubaPro and XDeep dive gear. For more comfortable and enjoyable dives.
Be the first to the dive sites and enjoy more encounters with sharks and vibrant marine life.
Diving with Dive Base Coiba
Dive Base Coiba, in Pixvae, Panama, is your premier gateway for scuba diving in Coiba National Park and the
Contreras Archipelago, just 20 minutes away.
As the first dive center and PADI Dive Resort in Pixvae, we are pioneers in bringing professional diving to this unique corner of the Pacific.
Explore one of the world’s most impressive marine ecosystems in a safe, welcoming environment. Located at the closest and least crowded access point to Coiba, we are consistently among the first dive centers to reach the sites offering quieter dives, pristine conditions, and frequent encounters with sharks and vibrant marine life. With premium Scubapro and XDEEP equipment and a passionate, professional team, every dive is intentional, responsible, and full of the ocean’s true spirit—making each underwater experience unforgettable.
Our story began with our founder, whose work helped establish Coiba as a National Park and identify many of its iconic dive sites. We continue contributing to scientific research and marine conservation projects that protect the park and its
wildlife. Every time you dive with us, you become part of that mission— and experience Coiba the right way.
From your very first breath underwater to the next step in your dive training, we’re ready to take you on an unforgettable
journey to discover the best of Coiba and Contreras!
See you under the sea!

How to get to Pixvae?
Pixvae is easy to reach and perfectly placed—the perfect base to dive Coiba.
A newly improved road makes Pixvae accessible by any vehicle, leading to a quiet fishing village with a beautiful
beach, mangroves, and a relaxed pace of life. Friendly locals and local restaurants serving fresh, locally sourced
dishes give the town its authentic character. Surrounded by pristine nature, Pixvae provides meaningful wildlife
encounters and outdoor experiences for a memorable Panamanian adventure.
Discover Pixvae
Fastest Way: By Car - 5 Hours
You can find us on Waze or Google Maps
Public Transport
Take a bus from Albrook terminal to Soná (4 hours).
Then, take another bus from Soná to Pixvae (1 hour).
Timetables from Panama City to Soná: 5:50 a.m., 8:20 a.m., 10:20 a.m., 12:45 p.m., 2:20 p.m., 3:15 p.m., 4:20 p.m. and 5:45 p.m.
Important: You can only buy the ticket in person at the Albrook terminal.
Tip: Wear warm clothes, as the bus can be very cold.
Schedule from Soná to Pixvae: 12:00 p.m. There is only one bus. Or take a cab from Soná to Pixvae.
Take a water cab to Almirante (about 40 minutes).
Then, take a shuttle from Almirante to David.
At the bus terminal in David, take a bus to Santiago (2.5 hours), then a bus from Santiago to Soná, and finally from Soná to Pixvae (1 hour).
Schedules from David to Santiago: 6:15 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 8:45 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 12:45 p.m., 2:15 p.m., 4:15 p.m., 6:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m.
Schedules from Santiago to Soná: Every 30 minutes until 6:00 p.m. Schedule from Soná to Pixvae: 12:00 p.m. There is only one bus. Or take a cab from Soná to Pixvae.
Fastest Way: By Car - 6 Hours
You can find us on Waze or Google Maps
Take a public bus or cab from Boquete to the bus terminal in David.
From there, take a bus to Santiago (2.5 hours), then another bus from Santiago to Soná, and finally from Soná to Pixvae (1 hour).
Schedules from David to Santiago: 6:15 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 8:45 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 12:45 p.m., 2:15 p.m., 4:15 p.m., 6:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m.
Schedules from Santiago to Soná: Every 30 minutes until 6:00 p.m. Schedule from Soná to Pixvae: 12:00 p.m.
There is only one bus. Or take a cab from Soná to Pixvae.
Take a bus from Playa Venao to Panama City. In Panama City, take a bus from the Albrook terminal to Soná (4 hours), and then another bus from Soná to Pixvae (1 hour).
Important: You can only buy the ticket in person at the Albrook terminal. Tip: Bring warm clothes, as the bus can be very cold. Timetables from Panama City to Soná: 5:50 a.m., 8:20 a.m., 10:20 a.m., 12:45 p.m., 2:20 p.m., 3:15 p.m., 4:20 p.m. and 5:45 p.m.
Timetable from Soná to Pixvae: 12:00 p.m. Only one bus. There is only one bus.
Or take a cab from Soná to Pixvae.
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Testimonials from our diving school
What our customers say
Amazing diving in Panama - We were lucky enough to get a ride to Pixvae with Kevan’s charming son Will who met us in Sona, I wont lie the journey was hot and... read more bumpy but the scenery was stunning. It was a long nearly 2 hour trip on a bumpy dusty track (only to be done by a 4x4).
The journey was so worth it, the village of Pixvae is charming with a fantastic beech. When you are this far off the beaten track don’t expect 5 star luxury. There is no mains electricity and your mobile won’t work.
We were shown to our accommodation which was a basic hostel where we had a twin room with shared bathroom, lighting was provided by solar powered lights. The only other guests were also there for the diving and we quickly discovered the nearby bar for a well earned cool beer.
We met Kevan a few hours after arriving, as he had been working away for five days on a scientific trip. He was tired from a days technical diving and probably just wanted to get his head down for a sleep, but he made us feel so welcome and gave us an introduction brief and made arrangements for the following days diving.
The first day diving was on a quiet site, there were five divers including the pair of us and the abilities were mixed from newly qualified to very experienced. So Kevan did the right thing and took the newbies for a check out dive first, then a slow gentle dive. He is extremely safety conscious and his attention to detail is to the highest standard I have seen in a dive company.
For the next two days diving it was just the pair for us, we had some wonderful dives seeing all the beauty the ocean had to offer. Big and little together. My highlight was to witness loads and loads of Diamond Rays so close up, I have never seen so many Rays together. The diving was great, Cobia is fantastic and our dive guide was brilliant. Kevan is one of the nicest passionate and professional people we have had the pleasure to meet. He is so knowledgeable, funny and has great stories to be told. The food was lovely and plenty of it, Luc is a great cook.
We happened to be there in very peculiar times, at the start of the coronavirus spreading world wide, with us in Pixvae oblivious to the quickly changing outside world, after news did drip through, Kevan looked after us so well, Kevan even shared his rum!!! On a serious note he made sure we were able to get out and was always in contact with us after leaving Pixvae until we made it home safely to the UK.
When the world returns to normal, we will be back to Panama and we look forward to diving again with Kevan, if he will put up with us again.
April 28, 2020

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