








Our proximity to the Coiba National Park and The Archipelago of Contreras cuts navigation times down to a fraction of the time normally spent to arrive and return from Coiba National Park. We can spend up to two/three hours more in the park each day, giving us time for additional dives, exploring or even just relaxing on one of the parks spectacular beaches. From our location, we also have daily access to a much larger area of the park and can offer day trips that include other very productive dive sites around Archipelagos out of the park’s limits. And /or a mixture of both.
Itinerary: Dive Adventure Retreat
-Arrival Day.
-Days of Diving and Activities
Morning:
Afternoon
Evnening
-Departure Day
Included in each of our Multi Day packages.
Not included in any of our Multi day packages
As an additional service, we provide exclusive shuttle transportation that can pick you up from any location across the country and take you directly to Pixvae. If you’re interested in learning more about this service and wish to inform us about your preferred pickup location, please feel free to inquire for additional details.
For more information about Personalized Packages, please contact us.
Each area and island group offers something a little different. From calm protected shallower reefs to deeper Open Ocean, “pelagic” marine environments. Our proximity to Coiba and Contreras, shorter navigation times, allows time for additional dives or to pursue terrestrial adventures!
Scuba trips
We kick off our dive trips to Coiba National Park from Pixvae. We meet at the dive center at 7:25 a.m. for a briefing, waivers, payments, and equipment setup. Afterward, we head for a quick 20-minute boat ride to the park. Enjoy two or three dives based on your preference. We usually wrap up between 2:00 pm and 3:30 pm. Our dive sites are located in Coiba and Contreras. Our surface intervals take place on Coiba’s pristine white beaches or at the rangers’ station, home to a variety of wildlife and a diverse range of bird species.
Diving Profile and Marine Life you an See
Dives typically last 45 to 60 minutes, adjusted for conditions and air consumption. Depths range from 10 to 32 meters, suitable for all levels. Site selection considers experience, season, weather, and sea conditions. Water temperature is usually 26 to 30 degrees Celsius, except from mid-March to early June when thermoclines may bring it down to 18 to 24 degrees Celsius.
You can encounter white-tipped reef sharks, turtles, dolphins, rays, lobsters, sea horses, and an array of fish including jacks and barracudas. Moray eels, wahoos, snappers, butterflyfish, and parrotfish add to the spectacle. Keep an eye out for magnificent whale sharks and giant mantas if plankton is in abundance. From July to September, humpback whales often grace the surface with their presence. And from July and June you can spot hammerhead sharks.
Our Day Packages Include.
Not included in Day Packages.
-As an additional service, we provide exclusive shuttle transportation that can pick you up from any location across the country and take you directly to Pixvae. If you’re interested in learning more about this service and wish to inform us about your preferred pickup location, please feel free to inquire for additional details.
EXCLUSIVELY BY RESERVATION.
Given our restricted seating capacity, we strongly suggest making advance reservations to secure your place on the boat. Please be aware that walk-in bookings are not accommodated. Securing a reservation is essential.
Coiba is a good choice for inexperienced divers, as there are many dive sites suitable for beginners and the area is known for its clear waters and diverse marine life.
Absolutely! If you are new to diving, we recommend the PADI Discover Scuba Diving experience which does not require certification. If you want to get certified, we offer the PADI Open Water Diver course.
For those who require internet access, Pixvae provides Wi-Fi connectivity
Our primary payment method is cash, although we do accept other options such as Yappy or Panamanian transactions for added convenience.
When packing for your trip to Coiba, keep in mind that we provide water, sandwiches, and snacks for our guests. However, you are welcome to bring your own water and snacks if you prefer.
The check-in time for the dive center is 7:00 AM. However, we recommend visiting the dive shop on the day before your booked trip to try on rental equipment, complete payments, and sign any necessary waivers for a smoother check-in process.
To enter the Coiba National Park, foreigners need to pay a daily fee of $20, while Panamanians and residents are required to pay $5. When you arrive at our dive shop, we will collect the fee and ask to see your proof of nationality or residency, so please remember to bring it with you.
In addition to diving, there are several other activities available in Pixvae. Visitors can enjoy snorkeling, fishing, kayaking, and birdwatching. The area is also known for its beautiful beaches and hiking trails, making it a great destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
Yes, there are several restaurants in Pixvae that offer a variety of cuisine, including seafood, traditional Panamanian dishes, and vegan and vegetarian options.
Yes, signing a liability release is a requirement before diving with our company. This is a standard practice in the diving industry and is necessary to ensure the safety of all participants. The liability release outlines the risks and responsibilities involved in diving and must be signed by all participants before the activity can begin.
In Pixvae, you can find a few small stores and restaurants for your convenience. However, it’s important to note that there are no ATMs or banks in the area. Therefore, we recommend withdrawing cash in Sona before arriving in Pixvae to ensure that you have access to money during your stay.
To ensure that you have a spot reserved for diving with us, we kindly request that you make a reservation in advance. You can easily do so by visiting our “Contact Us” section on our website, or by reaching out to us via WhatsApp.
Yes, we can help you organize accommodation.
At the moment Pixvae doesn’t count with Cellphone Signal but it does provide Wi-Fi to does who need to be connected to the internet!
DBC, a hidden Gem! - Dive Base Coiba is definitely a top notch Dive Center and more than that. Pixvae is a lost paradise!. Look no further if you’re and adventurous person who’s willing to... read more have a real life experience at all levels.
Pixvae is a very remote village located in the Veraguas province, -just in front of the Coiba National Park, even closer than Santa Catalina- with less than 500 residents, (very friendly BTW) away from the ordinary modern world commodities (there’s no cellphone signal nor Internet access –except on weekends between 5pm and 8pm-), and electricity is provided by solar panels. To get there it takes between 2 to 3hrs from the town of Sona. The drive there is intended to be made with a 4WD. The drive over mountain ridges and passes, rain forest, small creeks and amazing landscapes, starts to make your trip a truly out-of this world experience. On our way in into Pixvae, we were driving at night and so a clear clean dark night made it even more special and mystic. The area of Pixvae is still so pure and away from city lights that you can definitely spend all night awake looking at the sky and stars. We were amazed of the fact that we were able to see the band of white light of the milky way arching across the sky with our own eyes.
As soon as you enter the town you feel the amazing vibes and relaxed living on the shore of a beautiful bay.
Once in the place, you’re welcomed by Kevan Mantell, what an AWESOME guy. From the very moment you shake his hand and start talking to him you feel the presence of a highly knowledgeable professional. Kevan and his team (Luz and Silveria) at Hostal Yosi will make you feel at an old friend’s home. The place is simply, comfortable, clean and just perfect to start a magic journey around the area (there’s even an option to have a fuel power-plant to recharge your cameras, lights and even turn on the A/C on the rooms). They cook amazing-tasteful local meals, using very fresh ingredients, ohh, remember to ask for Kevan’s home made spicy sauce.
The diving experience: WOW, AMAZING!, as soon as you enter the door of the CDB, Kevan will treat you as a family member, he’s not just a divemaster, a truly professional with detailed attention to details, safety (Radios both in land as in the boat, first aid kits, oxygen, GPS, even marine sonars) and provides you top class diving equipment. At the dive center, the first thing you’ll notice is a big map of the Coiba National Park and Isla Contreras area, he'll give you a really comprehensive overview of the marine biology, environmental history, geological history of the park and the surrounding area to which after an initial individual assessment made by him of your diving experience and of course weather / water conditions, will explain and decide the places to go.
Kevan knows this area like the palm of his hand. He has been diving the area for over 20 years, in which he has led research expeditions for the BBC, National Geographic, the European Space Agency, Smithsonian, UNESCO, even celebrities, so basically you’re with an all-in-one “open book” modern Cousteau dive professional, marine biologist, climatologist, research scientist, environment and conservationist. His knowledge of the Pacific Latin America island ecosystem (Cocos, Coiba, Malpelo & Galapagos) will delight you for hours and hours.
Diving in Coiba and Contreras means strong currents, on this season there was great visibility and cool water temperature and full of marine life of all types (sharks, seahorses, school of barracudas, lobsters, etc., even whales), Kevan took us out to explore a new diving site (you my ask him for “bajo tico”) and it’s amazing coral life and deeeeeeeeep walls. On our second to last dive of the 2nd day of diving we were delighted with sound of surrounding whales, which at the end of our dive (while at the safety stop) one of the whales passed by less than 60feet away from us), this leaves you speechless.
Once back on land, and our last night of dives and expedition in Pixvae, Kevan invited us to his home for an incredible dinner and an amazing chat on many many topics. Definitely worth every second with DBC and their amazing people.
Can’t wait to be there back soon!

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