Golden Frog Scuba
Golden Frog Scuba
4.9
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About
Golden Frog Scuba is an independently owned dive operation offering certification training in Open Water, Advanced Open Water and Rescue, as well as other specialties, provided by a PADI and SDI certified Master Scuba Diver Trainer. Not only do we offer certification and dive excursions in the Portobelo area and beyond, we provide activities for non-divers as well such as snorkel/beach trips and contacts to hiking, beach kayak/mangrove kayak tours and horseback riding. Our facility is currently operating from the beautiful location of El Bongo Hotelito Boutique, which offers 10 rooms and an onsite restaurant. We can also provide information on area vacation rental homes if you prefer "the comforts of your own home".
Portobelo, Panama
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.9
127 reviews
Excellent
122
Very good
4
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
1
Nicole F
6 contributions
Feb 2025 • Friends
My sole purpose in Panama was to scuba. I have been diving since 1998 and have seen a lot of places and dove with many shops. This is by far one of the best diamonds I have ever found! Rey (the owner of Golden Frog) is fluent in English and a wonderful host. He is a former US Navy diver and will customize your dives for you as you wish. The reefs were beautiful and abundant with marine life! Everything on land is also so lovely, and low cost! The flight was a quick non-stop flight from RDU. Golden Frog Scuba picked me up at the airport and delivered me to El Bongo boutique hotel (simple but wonderful place on the beach with in-house restaurant) that shares the shoreline with the dive shop. Panama City is also vibrant with great night life and a completely different city experience if you want to lay over before flying out. This is a must on your destination bucket list!
Written February 14, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Harrison R
3 contributions
Nov 2023 • Family
Such a wonderful experience, saw amazing coral, fish, lobsters, shrimp, caught lion fish (and ate them!), and an enormous blue stone crab! Rey is beyond excellent for a dive instructor. We got certified and did a series of fun dives. He was patient, diligent, and attentive, offering up helpful tips tailored to each of us on how to strengthen ourselves as scuba divers. We had such fun with him in and out of the water, a true delight! Would highly recommend, we’ll be back at some point for sure!
Written November 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Patnitsa Vecher
Redondo Beach, CA19 contributions
Apr 2023
Super nice place to dive. Rey is amazing and his crew is super nice. We did 6 dives including one night dive. Each dive was special - beautiful underwater world and coral of every color in the palette.
Spear fishing lion fish was extra fun and eating that fish after was just delicious. Definitely coming back for more great diving. Highly recommend for young divers: Rey is fantastic with kids.
Spear fishing lion fish was extra fun and eating that fish after was just delicious. Definitely coming back for more great diving. Highly recommend for young divers: Rey is fantastic with kids.
Written April 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Giulio
8 contributions
Jun 2022
We did 4 days of 2-tank diving with Rey and Golden Frog Scuba in Portobelo. The dives were relaxed and very interesting even if in some of the dives visibility was not very good (for Caribbean standards, due to heavy rains at the time). Surface interval was great with fruits, water, cookies and a delicious cheese. Rey always communicated clearly and he was always on time and ready to dive, he and his crew were always friendly and made sure we had a good experience. If you are diving in Portobelo, give Golden Frog Scuba a try, you will not be disappointed.
Written June 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sharrin S
2 contributions
Feb 2022 • Couples
My wife and I had a amazing time diving with Rey at Golden Frog Scuba . He took the time to make sure we were outfitted right and really worked with both of us to make us better divers ... Rey really showed me the difference that upgraded equipment can make in my experience as a diver and I am changed for the better because of him. I am a more experienced diver than my wife and yet I greatly benefitted from his instruction. The customer service including transportation to and from our ship was amazing .. The time we spent with Rey and his team were a highlight of our cruise ... We will definitely go back and stay longer because the biodiversity of this region is something to explore ...
Written May 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shirley C
2 contributions
Dec 2019
Golden Frog Scuba was great, from start to finish! It was easy to book our dives and Rey worked with us to accommodate our schedule. He's an excellent instructor - very knowledgable, relaxed, and professional. We had a group of 5 divers with experience ranging from just getting certified to marine biologist and all of us felt comfortable and safe in the water.
I highly recommend diving with Golden Frog Scuba!!
I highly recommend diving with Golden Frog Scuba!!
Written May 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bill B
Bayville, NY9 contributions
Dec 2023 • Friends
It was great diving with owner Rey Sanchez. He is very knowledgeable and pleasant and speaks fluent English having lived for a time in the USA.
The diving was also a pleasure because the reef shows little sign of bleaching like most places around the Caribbean.
(Best way to contact Rey is Facebook DM)
The diving was also a pleasure because the reef shows little sign of bleaching like most places around the Caribbean.
(Best way to contact Rey is Facebook DM)
Written December 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ondrej P
Prague, Czech Republic21 contributions
Apr 2021 • Couples
It’s hard to describe how wonderful time we had at Rey’s. He constantly makes sure you have everything you need and that you are enjoying yourself. Equipment is top notch (we even got pro scuba computer!). We went to four different spots in two days, seen some nice corals, colorful fish and eventually went spear hunting lion fish which was definitely the top call of my whole vacation in Panama. I can’t recommend Rey high enough, simply go there and see for yourself. If I’ll ever come back to Panama, this spot is on the top of my list.
Written April 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Antonio R
22 contributions
Feb 2023
Since my first scuba diving years ago in Panama, I'm so glad been do it this with Mr. Rey at Golden frog, and every year I get in Panama has to be with his organization because they take well care or any litters aspects to make your trip very safety and fun. I recommended Mr. Rey for all your scuba diving adventure. Colon, Caribean sea of Panama.
Written June 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ScubaMikeK
10 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
Rey communicated well previous to our trip. Rey took 3 divers and 3 snorkelers out for a3 dive trip. The snorkelers were dropped at the beach by Drake's island, given gear and us divers went off to Drake's island to dive. The reef was in good shape with a decent amount of fish. We did our surface intervals at the beach with great pineapples. Rey patiently walked my sister through her first attempt at putting scuba gear on in the shallows. Second and third dives of the day were great as well. The restaurant on site was not very good and would not recommend.
I returned for another day a trip out to tres hermanos and saliminda. Well worth it, great coral, some current, good vis and tons and tons of fish. Will definitely visit Rey again when we visit Panama again.
I returned for another day a trip out to tres hermanos and saliminda. Well worth it, great coral, some current, good vis and tons and tons of fish. Will definitely visit Rey again when we visit Panama again.
Written January 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are in Maria Chiquita at the present time and would like to do 1 or 2 days of Scuba diving with 2 dives per day. Expect to try and take the bus from Maria Chiquita to Portobelo. We need to know how to get to your shop or site and when in the morning to be there for the dives. We are both Advanced PADI certified.
Written February 11, 2017
Hi Richard, we normally leave around 9 am...but we like to arrive earlier for gear issued. I can pick you up at no additional cost to you around 8 am in the morning in front of the zoo in Maria chiquita. Our 2 tank dives go for $110 including gear boat divemaster and snacks w/ soft drink or juice.
Written February 11, 2017
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