Panama Liveaboards

Yemaya

Yemaya is a 115-foot liveaboard with eight cabins for a maximum of 16 guests. The common areas onboard are spacious and comfortable. Many large windows make all areas of the boat, including the cabins, bright and airy. Expertly fitted for the demanding diver, Yemaya offers an easy access to the water through a large dive platform with a ladder, a camera table with a rinse tank, low-pressure air hoses and storage and two showers. There are also two 25-foot skiffs and plenty of kayaks onboard.

The two master cabins are located on the upper deck. One of the cabin is equipped with a king-size bed and the other with a queen-size bed and, if desired, an upper bed. Both cabins feature full private bathrooms, televisions with DVD players and ample storage. Two standard cabins with private bathrooms are located on the main deck and feature single bunk beds. The four remaining standard cabins each have two single beds in L-formation and share two bathrooms.

Yemaya’s itineraries take in three separate UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Coiba Island, Cocos Island and Malpelo Island. The seven-night itineraries around Coiba Island explore sea mounts with large schools of fish and corals around the island’s waters. This itinerary is also suitable for non-divers as there is a daily access to the lush tropical island. Longer itineraries, nine to twelve nights, combine Coiba with either Cocos or Malpelo. Both of these destinations offer serious shark action and great number of pelagics.

Yemaya and Panama Trip Report by Kirsten Treais
April 2009

I just returned from an incredible trip to Panama. I have always wanted to check out the rumors about the great diving in and around Coiba National Park and I’m happy to report that the rumors are true. I took a weeklong dive cruise onboard the Yemaya operated by Coiba Dive Expeditions. The diving is similar to Cocos Island with sea mounts, pelagics, colder water and lower visibility, fantastic with lots of underwater life and dramatic seascapes.

Coiba Island – now a national park – used to be a prison island guarded by strong currents and sharks. We got to visit the old prison, go searching for crocodiles and walk on deserted beaches. The Yemaya has kayaks which we used most every day for exploration paddles into the inland rivers to see the myriad of birds on the island.

The Yemaya is a 115-foot boat that takes a total of 16 guests in three types of cabins. The share bath cabins are small but for those who want to save a few pennies it’s a great option. There is a kitchen up on the top deck where you end up spending all your onboard time eating and drinking. The area feels more like a homestyle backyard cookout than a dive boat. The boat is very nice and offers everything you need including Nitrox, camera stations, a flat-screen television and comfortable accommodations. The food is OUTSTANDING! The Cuban chefs cook up gourmet food and lots of it. I have been on 23 liveaboards and this is by far the best food I have ever had – so prepare to gain weight! The crew was great and took care of every need, always with a smile.

After the diving I went up the hill for a little R & R of white water rafting and zip lines. The town of Boquete has a very European feel, and lots of Americans have retired there. It’s about 5,000 feet up and has Mediterranean climate with cooler days, lush cloud forests, volcanoes and amazing flowers and birdlife. Panama is a great destination that is both affordable and exciting.