Hi folks,
I am new to scuba diving. I got Open Water certified in Utila last summer and have been itching to go diving again...summer is best for me as I am a teacher. My boyfriend has agreed to go to Central America (he wants to go to Panama and Costa Rica) with me for 2 weeks, but as I have more time off I am planning to go down 2 weeks ahead of him. I am on a backpacker's budget (with a splurge here and there--even cheap scuba diving adds up), so I was thinking of doing Bocas del Toro for a week or two, getting practice diving and also taking Spanish lessons (my college Spanish is so-so...I can survive on my own, but I'd like to actually have conversations!).
My concern is that I've read that visibility is not so great in Bocas in July (plus the reef is damaged due to heavy traffic). Since I am new, probably all scuba diving will still seem magical to me, but I've thought about starting in Cartagena, Colombia, and diving in the Islas del Rosario. I've read that visibility is great in July. Then I could take a boat from Cartagena to Panama and work my way up.
Does anyone have any thoughts/suggestions? Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
Claire
I am new to scuba diving. I got Open Water certified in Utila last summer and have been itching to go diving again...summer is best for me as I am a teacher. My boyfriend has agreed to go to Central America (he wants to go to Panama and Costa Rica) with me for 2 weeks, but as I have more time off I am planning to go down 2 weeks ahead of him. I am on a backpacker's budget (with a splurge here and there--even cheap scuba diving adds up), so I was thinking of doing Bocas del Toro for a week or two, getting practice diving and also taking Spanish lessons (my college Spanish is so-so...I can survive on my own, but I'd like to actually have conversations!).
My concern is that I've read that visibility is not so great in Bocas in July (plus the reef is damaged due to heavy traffic). Since I am new, probably all scuba diving will still seem magical to me, but I've thought about starting in Cartagena, Colombia, and diving in the Islas del Rosario. I've read that visibility is great in July. Then I could take a boat from Cartagena to Panama and work my way up.
Does anyone have any thoughts/suggestions? Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
Claire