Is there diving, SCUBA or snorkeling in or around the Panama City, Panama suburb of Fort Clayton / Clayton

The closest place from Fort Clayton for you to go if you want to try scuba diving would be in a little town called Portobelo, situated in the Colon area. I believe it’s about an hour drive from Clayton. Portobelo lies near the Caribbean and it is a very relaxing place. You will surely find a lot of diving schools there. You can also go to Isla Grande, which is not far away from Portobelo. It will take you almost an hour and a half drive from Fort Clayton plus a 15-minute boat ride...

The closest place from Fort Clayton for you to go if you want to try scuba diving would be in a little town called Portobelo, situated in the Colon area. I believe it’s about an hour drive from Clayton. Portobelo lies near the Caribbean and it is a very relaxing place. You will surely find a lot of diving schools there. You can also go to Isla Grande, which is not far away from Portobelo. It will take you almost an hour and a half drive from Fort Clayton plus a 15-minute boat ride in order to get to Isla Grande.
 
Another alternative to go diving from Fort Clayton would be Bocas Del Toro. Although it’s more distant, Bocas Del Toro has really nice coral reefs and ship wrecks.
 
You could also visit Isla de Coiba, which is located in the Pacific side. For you to get there, you’ll first have to go to Pedasi or Santa Catalina, which is in front of the Isla de Coiba. That’s approximately a 4-hour drive from Fort Clayton. In Santa Catalina, you can rent a bungalow or a cabin and then take a 45-minute boat ride for the diving excursion.
 
One thing to remember is that the water tends to be clearer in the Caribbean side than in the Pacific. The clarity of the water also depends on the season. During rainy seasons, the water is much cloudier, but if it is the dry season, it will be fantastic.