AN UNDERWATER MUSEUM CORON
Coron is part of the Calamianes , a group of islands off the northern tip of Palawan . It is one of the top Philippine destinations not just for its picture-postcard beaches , but for the diver who is also a WWII history buff .
Many of the wrecks are within a short speedboat ride away and there is a good sprinkling of resorts and dive centres to choose from . Some liveaboards like the Atlantis Azores , Discovery Palawan and Seadoors go there at certain months of the year .
Best Time to Go Diving in Coron Bay can be done all year round , although the wet season from June to October may hinder some diving . Visibility is best between December and March .
AKITSUSHIMA The only warship among the many shipwrecks , Akitsushima is about 115 metres long and lies on her port side at 36 metres , while her starboard side is at 22 metres . The huge rip at the stern of the vessel caused by a fuel tank explosion is now one of the ways to penetrate the wreck .
KOGYO MARU The vessel , a navy auxiliary cargo supply ship , is about 158 metres and lies on her starboard side at a depth of 36 metres . She has a visible torpedo hole on her port side where an encrusted tractor with metal wheels and an air compressor are visible in one of the holds . There are huge lettuce corals growing along her port side , with resident fusiliers , batfish and snappers .
CALUMBUYAN REEF
Home to some of the largest coral congregations in Coron Bay , this is an easy drift dive that is between the Okikawa and Akitsushima wrecks .
IRAKO MARU The ship is the deepest upright-standing wreck at 43 metres , with its deck between 28 and 35 metres . She was a provision store ship that carried food supplies for the Imperial Japanese Army . Groupers lurk inside the wreck while barracudas , snappers , and batfish are found around it .
MORAZAN MARU Previously known as the Olympia Maru , this 93-metre passenger vessel rests at 30 metres with its main deck between 18 and 24 metres .
EAST TANGAT GUNBOAT This small gunboat is believed to be a submarine hunter . She rests on a sandy slope with her bow at five metres , perfect for snorkellers . Her stern is at 22 metres .
KYOKUZAN MARU Standing upright off the coast of Dimalanta Island , north of Busuanga , the wreck is a 136-metre-long cargo vessel that is covered in beautiful hard coral . Her hull is at 42 metres and wheelhouse at 22 metres . Divers require an advanced certification to dive her .
BARRACUDA LAKE This is a good break from all the sunken metal and an equally interesting dive . There is very little marine life in the lake , but the limestone pinnacles and extreme thermoclines will give you a truly surreal experience . You might even meet the lake ’ s last remaining barracuda !
SIETE PECADOS Also known as the Seven Islands Reef , the site boasts an abundance of marine life that include mandarinfish , nudibranchs , seahorses , anemones , barracuda , cuttlefish , giant clams , moray eels , turtles , lobsters , angelfish and groupers .