I'm travelling through Costa Rica and Panama for six weeks
in June/July and am trying to find info on decent places to
take a PADI diving course for four or five days - no luck
as yet. Are certificated courses easy to find? of varying
quality? costs? All help appreciated.
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I'm pretty sure they offer PADI diving courses on Bocas del
Toro on Isla Colon. Sorry I don't have any specific names,
numbers, etc.
Bocas del Toro is a super place, very laid back, reasonably
priced, excellent diving. Get to Aldmirante, Panama by bus
and then take a US$3 boat ride to Bocas.
Hope you have a great trip.
As I also want to take the certificate, I've been looking for places. They do offer certificate courses in Bocas del Toro, I don't remember if it was PADI but it was one of the international reconized certificates (I read it in LP, Panama). There were some other places in Panama (but not many), but Bocas del Toro seemed the best place. Another place is Pearl Islands, but according to LP it was a lot more expensive than Bocas and also fewer places to stay.
You can also try these websites: www.scubadiving.com and www.padi.com.
Unless I come across a better place, I plan to take the certificate in Bocas, but if you find a better place, please write me (we are flying into Panama at the end of June). An advise a friend gave me: If you have the possibility, then borrow the book they use for the course and read before you go. Otherwise you'll be spending all the afternoon/night with reading.
Susanne