( season: all year, W. temp: avg. 28C )

High lights in Coron's diving: Coron has fast become known for it's excellent wreck diving . 14 wrecks are discovered, all in dive able depths. This makes the area to the best wreck diving destination in Asia.  Dive into History  (historical background of the Coron Bay Air Raid) Beside the wrecks there are some out standing dives waiting for you, like the fresh water lakes of Coron Island or Gunter's Cathedral, etc...  More about this just click here Dive safaris are a great way to discovers the beauty of Coron/Busuanga Island  and the north part of Palawan. Join our multiple day trip around the area.  More about this just click here Coron is also a great Place to learn diving or advance your dive skill's in fairies Course up to Technical  Diver and technical wreck diving.  More about this just click here   Dive into History September 1944. The US Third Fleet, under the command of Admiral "BULL" William Halsey aboard the US S New Jersey, began moving toward the Philippines Islands. Task Force 38 was involved in carrying out air strike's against Japanese targets in the Philippines.  In the early morning,  24. Sept. 1944, 05:50 am,  the TF 38 took off on a flight, a  target area 350 miles (!) away from there Aircraft  carriers . A total of 120 aircraft's, F6F HELLCAT fighters and SB2C HELL DIVER bombers been on there way  to CORON BAY. This was at this time the longest air raid in history.  At 9.00 am the Planes reached Coron, found 15-18 large enemy ships anchored in CORON BAY. Only 45 Minutes later they left CORON BAY, leaving behind a hell of burning oil, manganese and exploding,  sinking ships .    Dive deeper into History Anyone who is seeking more in-depth historical informations on the Coron Raid, please refer to: Peter Heimstaedt's historical Research Reporton the Coron Air Raid.  http://www.welcome.to/Peter_Heimstaedt/ Today, 14 Wrecks are located in dive able depths (between 5 and 40 meters). Most of the sunken vessels were between 100 - 200 meters of length. The only  handicap can be the visibility at many of the wrecks. Average visibility is 15 m (+/ - 10 m) and is affected by tides. Best conditions are during quarter moon and/or at high tide.  Welcome to CORON!     offer you ASIA's best wreck diving !

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The Wrecks of Coron Bay  (dive site description)

IRAKO

Japanese refrigeration ship, displacement 9,570 tons, length about 200 meters.
Position: Coron Bay

Quite intact, big wreck body. Big groupers, shoals of tuna and yellow fins, Lion fish & scorpion fishes living around this wreck.

Max. depth: Deck level 28 - 40 meters. Recommended education level: Advance Diver, specialty Deep Diver, specialty Wreck diver.

Taiei Maru ? (former Olympia Maru)

Japanese freighter about 120 meter long, lying on its starboard side.
Position: Coron Bay

A beautiful wreck dive site where you can observe big Groupers (Lapu Lapu's), Sweet lips, many times turtles and even sea snakes. Hard corals cover the port side which is only 14-18 meters below the surface. ATTENTION !!, many scorpion fish around the wreck area. Keep your eyes open and be well buoyant !! The big cargo rooms and the engine room allows an easy penetration of this wreck.
Max. depth : 25 meters, average about 15 meters. Recommended education level: Advance Diver, specialty Wreck diver

Japanese tanker, about 200 m long.
Position: Busuanga Island, 2 sm. of Concepcion

This wreck is totally covered with beautiful corals and offers a large variety of marine life
Max. depth: 26 m. The deck is between 10 m and 16 m and is good for wreck dive beginners. There are many penetration possibilities for advanced wreck divers as well. ATTENTION !! Strong tide currents often affect this wreck. Recommended. education level: 1. Diving outside the deck with no strong current. Open Water Diver 2. Penetration and / or current. Advanced Open Water Diver, Wreck specialty Diver.

Olympia Maru (former Tangat Wreck )

Japanese freighter sitting upright with a length of approx. 140 meters.
Position: Coron Bay.

A very good dive spot with a variety of marine life. Large shoals of Banana fishes, Giant Bat fishes and giant puffer fishes, especially around the mast, bow and stern. Easy penetration at the cargo rooms. It offers a good opportunity to discover wreck diving.

Max. depth: 28-30 m, Deck level 18-24 m. Recommended. education level: Advanced Open Water Diver, Wreck specialty Diver

  Thanks to Prof. Yamada, Japan for the Pictures

The AKITSUSHIMA

Japanese Seaplane Tender. She is about 140 m long.
Position: Between Culion & Busuanga Island, near Manglet Island

The AKITSUSHIMA a real warship lies on her starboard side. She was hit amidships and had sank immediately. The flying boat disappeared. Impressive is the Crane who was lifting the seaplane in the water. This big Metal construction is lying on sandy bottom and attracts shoals of giant Bat fishes and Barracudas. Let you show from our guides the AA-guns. A fascinating dive where you can see giant groupers, shoals of barracudas, tunas and yellow fins.
Max. depth is 36-38 m, average about 26-28m. Recommended. education level: Adv. Open Water Diver, Wreck specialty Diver .

Japanese freighter, about 160 m long, lying on her starboard site.
Position: Coron Bay

In the large cargo rooms, you can still see loaded construction materials, a cement mixer and even a bulldozer! On the deck anti-aircraft weapons can still be seen. In certain places, the wreck is easy to penetrate. On the port side there are many corals and variety of fish life. Many Grouper (Lapu-lapu) living around the wreck.
Max. depth: 34 m, average 24-26m Recommended. education. level: Adv. Open Water Diver, Wreck specialty Diver.

Japanese Tanker approx. 40-50 m long, sits upright on sandy bottom.
Position: Close to the Black Island Beach, in front of the stranded vessel..

This dive site is perfect for a wreck dive beginners and underwater photographer. It is a beautiful dive in most clear water. You can witness plenty of Scorpion and Lion fishes, Trumpet fish, Groupers, Bat fish and ... and ... and ... It is also a great night dive.
Max. depth: 32 meters. The wreck starts in 21 meter deep water. Recommended education level: Advanced open water Diver, Wreck specialty Diver.

The Gunboat (at Tangat)

This dive site is good for wreck dive beginners and underwater photographer. It is also a lovely dive between deeper wreck sites. The wreck starts at only 3 meters down so even snorkeling can see the shape and explore the bow of the ship.

Max. depth: 18 meters. Recommended education level: Open Water Diver.

KYOKUZAN MARU

Japanese freighter approximately 160-180 meter long.
Position: Northeast of Busuanga Island.

This is a beautiful wreck dive experience. More or less intact, this huge sunken ship usually offers good visibility of about 20 meters and ideal diving condition. In the cargo rooms Japanese staff cars and trucks are can be found.

Max. depth: 40 meters on the bottom. The deck level lies between 22 and 28 meters. Recommended education level: Advanced Diver, Wreck Specialty Diver.

A Gunboat or submarine Hunter. The stern breaks the surface at low tide.
Position: In front of Lusong Island.

This wreck is great for snorkeling. It starts on the surface with a maximum depth of 9-10 meters. It is nicely covered with hard corals and offers a nice variety of fish live. The are also good opportunities for wreck dive photographers or as a "dive between dives".

Max. depth: 9 meters. Recommended education level: Skin diver, Open water diver.

The fishing boat

Location: Coron Island

A recently sunken fishing boat; approx. 35 meter long at Coron Island, near the entrance of the Cayagan Lake. An easy wreck dive site for all beginners or/and in combination with the Coron drop. It is also a very interesting night dive site.
Max. depth: 16 meters. Recommended education level: Open Water Diver.