Coron

Coron is the third-largest island in the Calamian Islands in northern Palawan in the Philippines. The island is part of the larger municipality of the same name. It is about 170 nautical miles (310 km) southwest of Manila and is known for several Japanese shipwrecks of World War II vintage. Because of its unique ecological features, the entire area is protected by several legal proclamations.

The area around the wrecks has rock formations which provide for snorkeling opportunities, with underwater visibility extending up to 80 feet (24 m). The water is often calm. Coron is one of the most visited destinations for wreck diving in the Philippines. Wreck dive sites are found in depths as shallow as 10–30 feet (3.0–9.1 m) and as deep as 120–140 feet (37–43 m). Most are in the range of about 60–80 feet (18–24 m).

Dive sites around Coron include many different reef dive sites and “Günter’s Cave”, also known as Cathedral Cave because during a certain time of the day, the sun throws a beam of light through a hole in the cave ceiling, illuminating the inside. It is possible to surface in the cave, as the hole in the cave-ceiling allows fresh air to enter. The cave is named after Günther Bernert, who was part of the first dive group to explore the cave, after hearing from local fishermen about its existence.

Wreck diving sites in Coron Bay include the Akitsushima, Irako, Kogyo Maru, Kyokuzan Maru, Nanshin Maru, Okikawa Maru, Olympia Maru, Lusong Gunboat, East Tangat gunboat.

Sample Itinerary

The following is a sample scenario of how the trip might be, this of course all depends on many factors like, weather, sea state, visibility, and what we have heard on the radio of what is to be seen.

We will leave at Pura Vida Dive resort in Dauin 12 pm lunch time and drive to Campomanes bay where M/Y Gypsy officially departs to Tubbataha.

Once on board, we will get the boat and mandatory briefing from the Tubbataha Management Office and a check conducted by the coast guard before the boat is allowed to leave port. There is no diving on embarkation day and we will leave straight away cruising to the amazing reefs of Tubbataha. After sunset cruise and overnight sleep you wake up on our first  destination in Cagayancillo which is part of Tubbataha and governs the park.

We wake up in one of the beautiful reefs of Cagayncillo where we have multiple dive sites to choose from.

We schedule up to 4 dives per day; 3 day dives and a sunset dive, typically as follows:

Light Breakfast followed by a briefing & Dive 1
Big Breakfast, relaxation followed by briefing & Dive 2
Lunch, relaxation followed by briefing & Dive 3
Snack followed by a briefing for Sunset dive (no night dives allowed on Tubbataha) Dinner

In accordance with Tubbataha Marine Park regulations, dive times are limited to a maximum of 60 minutes.

On day 3-6 we recommend spending 2 days at the south and 2 days in the north atoll, famous for big palegic animals encounters at dive sites such as black rock, shark airport, densal wreck and many more.

Light Breakfast followed by a briefing & Dive 1
Big Breakfast, relaxation followed by briefing & Dive 2
Lunch, relaxation followed by briefing & Dive 3
Snack followed by a briefing for Sunset dive (no night dives allowed on Tubbataha) Dinner

In accordance with Tubbataha Marine Park regulations, dive times are limited to a maximum of 60 minutes.

On our last day in Tubbataha we depart for a sunset cruise to Cagayancillo to the amazing Calusa island.

After overnight cruise we arrive in the island of Calusa for our secret dive spot where we can find hammer heads and big schools of fish along with spectacular coral reef. Then we cruise into the shallow reef and anchor. Guests can go on the white sand beach of a private island before having the final dive.

Light Breakfast followed by a briefing & Dive 1
Big Breakfast, relaxation followed by briefing & Dive 2
Lunch, relaxation followed by briefing & Dive 3
Snack followed by a briefing for Sunset dive (no night dives allowed on Tubbataha) Dinner

Afternoon the boat departs for a sunset cruise back to Campomanes bay.

A relaxing breakfast on board, disembarkation between 09:30 and 10:00 back to the resort in Dauin where you arrive on time for lunch and could do a dive or two in the afternoon or relax on a sunbed with a pina colada next to the pool.

This trip involves some long-distance travel on the open sea, whilst we attempt to ensure the number of planned dives is fulfilled, bad weather and sea conditions can affect the boat’s ability to reach a specific dive site in good time and may impact the number of dives that are possible.