Meet Our Team
The Backbone
JACOB
Every morning, Jacob tuckers from the next village where he lives to Santa Catalina to take us to Coiba National Park. Come rain or shine, you can completely relax with this expert in everything related to the ocean and his boat.
EURIS
Once one of our marineros, Euris is now proud captain of one of the boats that we use on our trips. Like so many of the Santa Catalina natives, he grew up in and around these waters and is an expert at everything ocean.
MARIO
Mario began helping us with some building around the dive shop, but as a seasoned fisherman, he is much happier out on the water. With a constant smile on his face, you will meet Mario when he gets your gear ready for you on the boat, changes your tanks between dives and assist with water entries and exits.
MARCO
Marco is an essential assistant on the boat. He starts his day early in the morning to ensure that all necessary equipment is ready for the divers. Onboard, Marco is always ready to help with anything that needs attention, making him a valuable part of the team and ensuring smooth operations during the dives.
ARMANDO
Armando is one of our boat captains, expertly navigating us safely through the waters of Coiba every day. His experience and attention to detail ensure that our dives run smoothly and safely. Armando’s expertise is a vital support to the team, making every trip a success.
MARIO
Mario is the person that has been with us the longest. As captain of Aracely, we have had hundreds of adventures with him. Like Jacob, he knows the park like the back of his hand and is steadier on his feet on a boat that on land.
Isaac
Isaac is an indispensable member of the Dive Center. He ensures that the facility remains in excellent condition and that all necessary maintenance tasks are completed on time. Additionally, he actively supports the team in all matters, contributing to smooth operations and a positive atmosphere at the Dive Center.
ROMELIA
Romelia is a key member of the team, preparing our fresh lunch every morning. She ensures that we have a delicious choice between rice with chicken or rice with vegetables, catering to everyone’s preferences. Thanks to her care and dedication, we are always well-nourished between our dives.
ELVIS
Mostly behind the scenes, Elvis has probably filled your tank and maybe serviced your regulator. But, you could also meet him on the boat as an assistant, setting up your gear or, as a PADI Rescue Diver himself, enjoying a dive alongside you.
RUBEN
Our former operations manager is now mostly out in the water captaining for various operators in town, but if you’re around our shop in the evenings and hear the humming of the compressor, it is most likely him filling the tanks for the next day.
Our Fish
Like many people, we fell in love with diving the first time we realized we could breathe under water and that those creatures we‘d seen in the movies really did exist. Even though we never imagined we’d take it this far, our life now is all about helping others have that same experience. In Coiba we have found a truly magical place for both, those first awkward moments under water, and unforgettable memories for the more experienced scuba divers.
SABRINA – PADI OWSI
DISTINCTIVE FEATURES:An elegant eagle ray tattoo adorns her left arm. DESCRIPTION: This exotic specimen will charm you with her beautiful French accent and contagious laugh.
ABUNDANCE & DISTRIBUTION: Trained mostly in the Philippines and some other interesting Asian influences, Sabrina now delights all creatures above and below water in the Eastern Pacific.
HABITAT & BEHAVIOR: Excited about everything big and small that Coiba has to offer, she’s a patient teacher and keen photographer who enjoys every dive as if it was her first and her keen eye for the underwater world result in stunning photos and marvelous dives.
REACTION TO DIVERS: An extremely social specimen, she openly approaches and entertains all divers she encounters, making them giggle sometimes even under water.
STEFAN – DIVEMASTER
Stefan is our newest member, with many years of experience as a deep diver and many dives he will complete our team. He has already worked as a dive master in many different regions and therefore has extensive expertise in various waters. You can speak to Stefan in German, English, Spanish and French.
CAMILO – PADI Staff Instructor
Camilo is the founder of Panama Dive Center. In 2012, he decided to make a change, leaving behind his “normal” life in Colombia and permanently settling on the shores of the Panamanian Pacific. A hands-on type of guy, Camilo does everything around here administrative work, reception, correspondence, construction and maintenance, equipment repair and a thousand other things. As a Bauer compressor maintenance technician, he pampers, cares for and fixes the center’s most important machine.
Also in the water Camilo guides certified divers, teaches courses (with a special focus on technical courses such as Nitrox, Sidmount and Tec). Above all, the most wonderful thing about Camilo is that he infects everyone around him with his love and passion for diving and life, spreading smiles and good vibes throughout the town.
SABINA – PADI Staff Instructor
Sabina was one of those permanently infected by his charm and, as the avid diver she already was, decided to put an end to her travels and settle in Santa Catalina in 2014. This German/Spanish globetrotter and adventure-loving diver decided to end her English-teaching days, preferring the ocean as a classroom.
On land, Sabina is the driving force of this dive center. She’s the one that makes the magic happen, controls the resources and manages everyone It is thanks to her that the dive center will always be able to operate and that everything needed for smooth running of the shop is always there. She also coordinates the entire internship program for Dive Masters and is the instructor that certifies the most PADI Professionals in Panama. She is also a Freediving instructor and owner of the Panama Freediving company that is slowly turning into the best option to learn about breathing and holding your breath.