Dark Wood Reef, Panama
Also within 20 km of Bocas del Toro
- Bocas Diving Pirates Dive site · 0.3 km from Bocas del Toro
- Punch Reef Surf spot · 0.3 km from Bocas del Toro
- Starfleet Scuba Diving Dive site · 0.3 km from Bocas del Toro
- La Buga Dive & Surf Dive site · 0.4 km from Bocas del Toro
- Bocas Dive Center Dive site · 0.5 km from Bocas del Toro
- The Playground Dive site · 1.3 km from Bocas del Toro
- Carenerro Point Break Surf spot · 1.7 km from Bocas del Toro
- Wreck Rock Dive site · 2.2 km from Bocas del Toro
About Dark Wood Reef
A reef dive. It goes down to 20 m. You get in from a boat. It suits Advanced divers and up, as a dive guide states it. The coast faces W: swell from the W reaches it, and wind from the E blows out to sea. No dive centre within 50 km on the map: book a liveaboard or a boat from further off. The sea is about 28°C in January, its coldest month (3 mm wetsuit), and 30°C in September, its warmest (rash vest or 1 to 2 mm). For Advanced divers the best months are usually January, February, March and April, with about 7 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Bocas del Toro. Within 5 km we also list 2 surf spots and 6 dive sites.
- What it is Reef.
- How deep Down to 20 m.
- Getting in From a boat.
- Who it suits Suits Advanced divers and up, as a dive guide states it.
- Dive centres No dive centre within 50 km on the map: book a liveaboard or a boat from further off.
Facts: verified.
Dive centres nearby
No dive centre mapped within 50 km.
Dive centres: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Credits
Water about 30°C: rash vest or 1 to 2 mm. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
Visibility about 9 m. Typical for the time of year, estimated from ten years of NASA satellite water clarity, not a forecast. Clearest in Feb, Mar, Apr and May (about 15 m).
This week's visibility, the current and the life no free forecast gives. Ask a dive centre before you book.
Save this trip A link to come back to, or to send to the group.
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From Chicago: about 13 h 20 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to SJO, direct.
See flights ORD → SJO · Skyscanner from about £255 returnAdGetting there. 4 h 20 from the airport to Dark Wood Reef.
Accommodation.
Stay in Bocas del ToroAd
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Bocas del Toro (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Bocas del Toro 9 min by car · rooms from £50 a night · 94 places to stay
Places to stay in Bocas del Toro · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Distances are straight lines unless a drive is given: a site out at sea is reached by boat.
Hire and lessons.
Dives and courses in Bocas del Toro · GetYourGuideAdDive gear hire in Bocas del Toro · GetYourGuideAd
Where it is
Dark Wood Reef on Google Maps · Directions
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One finger scrolls the page; two fingers move the map. Pins are our own positions. Map OpenFreeMap, © OpenMapTiles, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Forecast
Best on Mon 19: Sea: flat. Wind 6 kn gusting 8. Rain 6.3 mm.
The score for Advanced divers, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoor
| Day | Score | Sea | Wind | Gusts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 80, good | 0.2 mflat | 4 kn | 9kn |
| Mon 19Oct | 80, good | 0.2 mflat | 6 kn | 8kn |
| Tue 20Oct | 79, good | 0.2 mflat | 6 kn | 10kn |
| Wed 21Oct | 77, good | 0.2 mflat | 6 kn | 14kn |
| Thu 22Oct | 78, good | 0.2 mflat | 6 kn | 13kn |
| Fri 23Oct | 80, good | 0.2 mflat | 5 kn | 11kn |
| Sat 24Oct | 79, good | 0.2 mflat | 9 kn | 14kn |
| Sun 25Oct | 78, good | 0.1 mflat | 7 kn | 14kn |
| Mon 26Oct | 79, good | 0.2 mflat | 10 kn | 14kn |
| Tue 27Oct | 80, good | 0.2 mflat | 4 kn | 12kn |
Day scores are the conditions out of 80, from the two best daylight readings: a morning and an afternoon dive. Sea is the open water's waves near the site, in metres, halved for a sheltered site. Wind and gusts are in knots (10 kn is about 19 km/h); "boats in" marks gusts that keep dive boats in. This week's visibility, the current and the life no free forecast gives.
The season
Good diving days in a typical week, each month, for Advanced divers, from 2016 on (ERA5 history scored the same way).
- Jan7of 7
- Feb7of 7
- Mar7of 7
- Apr7of 7
- May7of 7
- Jun7of 7
- Jul7of 7
- Aug7of 7
- Sep7of 7
- Oct7of 7
- Nov7of 7
- Dec7of 7
Typical, not a forecast: the sea and the mean wind of each day, with no gusts or rain in the history.
Rough cost
About £605–£1,150 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing. A guide from typical prices, not a quote. Dives are not priced yet: we have no sourced price for a guided dive, so they are not in it.
- Flights £255–£530
- To the UK airport £35–£65
- Hire car £55–£95
- Stay £135–£225
- Food £125–£235
Places to eat near Bocas del Toro
- Oh Toro Ramen and SushiJapanese · 0.1 km from the centre
- Pizzeria Alberto BocasItalian · 0.1 km from the centre
- BocaslidSeafood · 0.3 km from the centre
- Raw Fusion RestaurantSushi · 0.3 km from the centre
- Buena Vista Bar & GrillCaribbean · 0.4 km from the centre
- Coco Loco BarBar and grill · 0.5 km from the centre
Within 2 km of the town centre, listed by how complete the listing is (website, opening hours, cuisine) and whether two sources name it. Not a judgement of the food: we have no reviews. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps Foundation. Credits
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Where to stayAd
Places to stay · Booking.com (ad)Links marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.