This was enough information excite us so I called the charter company for more information.  The experienced Australian born Captain, John (Whitey) White and his wife and first mate, Maxine (Max) also sent a reply.  We made bookings and soon received a descriptive brochure of the boat along with a questionnaire requesting our preferences in activities, food and drink.  We liked the large 25 foot beam which affords a steady platform that feels like being on land.  The two of the four staterooms contained king size beds with private bath.  The other two, one with a double and a single bed, and one with two single bunk beds, shared a bath.  Amenities included a dive compressor, snorkeling equipment, two zodiac dinghies, two ocean kayaks, water skis, fishing equipment, skibob, underwater camera, as well as a library, TV, stereo hi-fi, VCR and satellite radio and e-mail communications.

     In Panama City we were greeted by Julia Arias, who would provide connections to the yacht.  We were driven from the airport to a hotel in the city for an overnight stay before an early departure by air taxi for the 45 minute flight to the San Blas Islands the following morning.  Her arrangements, bilingual ability and personal service proved indispensable.

     Leaving Panama City, we flew through fluffy clouds over the jungle and mountains, landing on a short runway on an island that appeared as a small speck in the sea.  We were greeted by Whitey and Max who promptly took us to the Tamarin anchored off the tiny airport.   Looking around us we could see a number of small islands or Atolls covered with coconut trees and tropical vegetation.  The islands are small, some so tiny that they support only a single coconut tree.  The sea surrounding them is flat and calm and visibility through the water is over 40 feet.  The place is reminiscent more of the exotic south pacific islands than something you'd expect to see in Central America.

     It was now late afternoon and we were lounging on the after deck.  Two dugout Canoes, each paddled by Cuna Yala women and children, approached us.  It seemed to me to be a page out of National Geographic.  Appearing in brightly colored costumes, covering their arms and body, but barefoot with long bracelets of beads wrapping their ankles,  they were welcomed aboard by Whitey.  He explained that they were offering"Molas" for sale.  Molas are hand made tightly hand sewn pieces of cloth of various designs, some geometric, others depicting turtles, birds, cats and animals, all of bright colors with embroidery.  They can be used to decorate blouses, t-shirts, etc., and are suitable for souvenir wall hangings or pillows.  Molas, along with coconuts and fishing, are an integral part of the Cuna economy and provide the necessary income for their existence so far from the Mainland.

     After breakfast on deck the following morning, we got underway and after a short time, anchored a few yards away from a reef facing a small island.  We easily slipped into the lagoon from the ladder at water level from one of the boat's pontoons that made donning our fins and snorkels an easy task.  The clear water beneath us was 85 degrees and revealed multicolored reef fish darting about over the coral beds that begged to be explored.  One area contained dozens of large red starfish spotting the sandy bottom which was labeled "Starfish Alley."

     Before departing for the islands farther off shore that were mostly uninhabited, Whitey suggested we take the large zodiak dinghy for a 5 mile trip up the Diablo River to see first hand the fresh water supply source for the Cuna villages.  As only brackish water is obtained from shallow wells on the low lying islands.  Entering the river's mouth we passed under vine covered trees that overhung the river and viewed herons and other birds perched on snags in the water or on tree branches.  Exotic flowers, clumps of thick bamboo and lush tropical growth lined the river banks.  We passed occasional landing places on the river with trails that led to small plots of land that the Cunas cleared from the jungle and tilled for their supply of vegetables etc. We passed a few canoes, carrying bottles and jugs to be filled, heading upstream to where the river would run clean and fresh.  We continued on a little farther and soon arrived at a likely place to take a dip and escape the hot sun.  The current ran slowly and was only 3 to 4 feet in depth but clean, clear and exhilarating when we leaped into the water.   Nothing could feel as good as this.

     Again we were at anchor in a blue green lagoon that can only be described as paradise.  We swam and snorkeled and paddled the kayaks until exhausted.  Not expecting to find Cunas here, we spotted a large canoe approaching.  This one contained a young male and a teenage boy.  We bartered fresh water, a sack of sugar and cokes for their lobsters, crabs and fish which Max expertly prepared for dinner.  Whitey threw in a few dollars extra and we gave them some tennis balls and trinkets.

One bright starlit night Whitey and Max led us on a night snorkeling session.  Everything looked a little different than during the day.  I spotted an octopus and a school of squid with the underwater torch provided for my use.  I found a beautiful shell but Max advised me to return it since separating the shell from the animal is a long and smelly job.  I replaced it upright in sand to prevent it from dying.

     Both Whitey and Max, certified scuba diving instructors, are able to offer certification courses to beginning divers.  Whitey subtly talked me into taking another dive but first I had to preview the video he uses for instructional purposes.  My previous training and experience returned somewhat and I am glad to report that I possess a video of my dive of one of the finest coral reefs in the Caribbean taken by Max and Whitey.

     Upon returning to Panama City before our return home, Julia Arias arranged a sightseeing tour to the Canal where we viewed ships entering and leaving the Locks.  This finish to our trip was like Napoleon Brandy after a gourmet feast.  We will long remember Whitey, Max and the Tamarin.