Coron (Palawan – Wreck Capital) – Philippines Dive Region
About Coron (Palawan – Wreck Capital)
Coron in northern Palawan is the undisputed wreck diving capital of the Philippines, home to one of the world's finest collections of World War II Japanese shipwrecks sunk by American carrier aircraft in September 1944. The sheltered waters of Coron Bay and Busuanga Island protect over a dozen Japanese freighters, tankers, and gunboats at depths from 3 to 44 metres, creating an extraordinary underwater museum of wartime history. The Irako Maru, a 160-metre refrigerated ship, is considered the crown jewel with its penetrable engine room and massive groupers at 30 to 44 metres. The Akitsushima seaplane tender still features visible anti-aircraft guns and a working crane while the Okikawa Maru oil tanker boasts an enormous propeller in excellent visibility. Beyond the wrecks, Coron offers stunning freshwater lake diving at Barracuda Lake with unique thermocline and halocline layers, the coral gardens of Siete Pecados, and shallow snorkelling at CYC Beach. The combination of historical significance, wreck variety, and stunning limestone karst scenery makes Coron one of Asia's essential diving destinations.
Highlights
- ✓Irako Maru is a 160-metre Japanese refrigerated ship at 30 to 44 metres with penetrable engine room and massive groupers
- ✓Barracuda Lake offers a unique thermocline and halocline dive with limestone walls and freshwater-saltwater layer mixing
- ✓Akitsushima is a large Japanese seaplane tender at 18 to 36 metres with anti-aircraft guns and crane still visible
- ✓Siete Pecados features coral gardens with limestone pinnacles and turtle cleaning stations ideal for beginners
- ✓Okikawa Maru oil tanker at 12 to 26 metres features an enormous propeller and schools of batfish in excellent visibility
Dive Site Map: Coron (Palawan – Wreck Capital)
9 mapped dive sites in this region. Click a marker for a quick look and a link to the full site guide.
Getting There
Accessible via flight from Manila to Busuanga Airport (Francisco B. Reyes Airport, USU) in 45 minutes, or ferry from Puerto Princesa or El Nido. Bangka boats and dive boats operate from Coron town to wreck sites.
Local Transport
Flight from Manila (45 min) or ferry from El Nido/Puerto Princesa. Bangka boats from Coron town to wreck sites. Dive resort speedboats for distant wrecks.