Sangat Island Dive Resort, Coron

Many people visit Coron for its dramatic topside scenery of towering karst cliffs, secret beaches and hidden lagoons, all offering plenty of exploration and adventure. However, beneath the surface of the sea lies some of the Philippines’ most exciting - and haunting - diving.

Wreck diving in Coron

On 24th September 1944, a squadron of US bombers targeted a Japanese supply fleet that had been spotted among the islands as they retreated from Manila. At the time this was one of the most ambitious, long-range attacks ever launched from aircraft carriers and the result was a total surprise - 24 Japanese ships were caught and destroyed. Today, divers can explore the atmospheric wrecks of Japanese gunboats, supply ships, aircraft carriers and more, many of which are full of marine life and are perfect for all divers, from beginners to advanced technical divers. Wrecks such as the Irako, Okinawa Maru and the Akitsushima provide visitors with an incredible opportunity to explore the dramatic history of Coron, or advance their wreck diving skills and training.

As well as the famous wrecks, Coron is also the site of one of the world’s most unusual dives - the famous Barracuda Lake where divers can explore a collapsed limestone sinkhole warmed by volcanic, hot-water springs. The isolated lake can only be reached by walking across a rocky ridge with full dive gear, however the results are well worth the effort. The waters of the lake hide a reverse thermocline, with cool freshwater sitting on top of hot saltwater, saturated with dissolved minerals. The difference in temperature is startling - from 28C in the freshwater layer, jumping to an uncomfortable 38C in the heavier salt water below. At the boundary between the two, the thermocline appears like a shimmering layer that blurs your buddy as they descend through. At the bottom of the lake around 35m, a seemingly-solid layer of mud reveals itself to be incredibly fine silt into which a diver can sink an arm or leg - or even a head! - without any harm.