Philippines: Coron v

Jun 2025

7 Days of Diving in Coron, Philippines

Coron is one of the world’s premier diving destinations, mainly famous for its World War II Japanese shipwrecks. But it’s not just about wrecks—Coron offers so much more: Dugongs, vibrant reefs, unique cave dives, and the extraordinary Barracuda Lake, all surrounded by the jaw-dropping limestone karst topography of Palawan. On top of the diving, Coron itself is a vibrant place to hang out, with a great mix of local and international culture, decent food and drinks, and a fun nightlife scene.

Before arriving, I was on the lookout for a solid multi-day dive package. After some research, I settled on Easy Diving Coron, mainly because they offered a well-structured package, and reviews were positive. Plus, the communication with Eric, the owner, was fantastic.

Shipwrecks

I tackled all the famous wrecks, and they did not disappoint. These dives were challenging with swim-throughs at multiple levels, which made each wreck feel like a labyrinth. You could see remnants of cargo—rice, coal, equipment—dotted around, adding to the feeling of history. Visibility was decent, though not crystal-clear, which was a bit of a bummer but didn't detract too much from the experience.

Cathedral Cave Dive

This one’s a bit of a trek, but it was absolutely worth it. We started at the edge of a karst cliff, swam through a tunnel, and emerged inside a cave. The sense of exploration was fantastic. After that, we hit a nearby barge wreck, then finished the day with a dive closer to town.

Dugong Trip

This was one of the specialty trips—quite a long day involving a 90-minute drive and a 2-hour boat ride to reach the Dugong area. There’s no guarantee of seeing one of the two resident Dugongs, and only one boat can access the area at a time. We were third in line when we arrived, and there were no Dugongs in sight. So, we despondently set off for a small island nearby. These turned out to be two amazing dives at a healthy reef with great visibility. Afterward, we returned to the Dugong spot, and within minutes of arriving spotted a Dugong. I spent about 30 minutes diving with it, an amazing experience and diving highlight for the rest of my life.

Barracuda Lake

Highly recommended! You take a boat to Coron Island, then hike up through the karst terrain to reach the lake, fully geared up. The lake’s water starts at a warm 30°C, but as you dive deeper, the temperature rises dramatically, reaching almost 40°C—a thermocline like nothing I’ve ever experienced. There wasn’t much life to see here, just a few small fish and snails. But the entire dive experience was incredible.

Dive Group

All dives were just me, Mao (my dive master), and one other diver (either Anna from Switzerland, then Misa from Japan). This made for a relaxed vibe and plenty of individual attention.

Around town

I stayed 10 nights at Blue Waters Inn, a nice place and friendly staff, right in the middle of town, a bit pricey, but this is Coron. I spent much of my non-diving time at The Brewhouse sampling their craft IPA. There are many good restos around here, the best being a very local seafood place across from Brewhouse, serving Sea Grapes one of my all-time faves and a Coron specialty (I also saw some in thier natural state while diving) - just add some vinegar, soy and pepper and you are taken to another universe.

Around the Island

I rented a motorbike bike for a few days and rode around the island. Look for a separate update on this topic.

Getting there

Unfortunately, getting to Coron is a hassle—flights from Manila are pricey for just a one-hour flight (there’s a longer story here, unique to the Philippines, but I’ll spare you the details). Some people opt for ferries, but those come with their own set of uncertainties—delays, cancellations, etc. And accommodation? It’s over-priced, as usual in the Philippines.

But once you’re there and submerged, all the travel pain fades away. My departing flight Corn-to-Clark was much cheaper than the Manila flight, worth looking into for anyone heading to Coron.

If you have any questions or want feedback, feel free to reach out to me at terraxplor1@gmail.com.