Coron Wreck Diving Guide — WWII Dive Sites Philippines

The waters around Coron in northern Palawan hold one of the world’s greatest collections of diveable shipwrecks. In September 1944, American aircraft sank a fleet of Japanese supply ships sheltering in Coron Bay — within minutes, vessels that had survived years of war rested on the seabed. Today, those wrecks are encrusted with coral, inhabited by fish, and accessible to scuba divers at depths ranging from 10 to 45 metres.

The History: Operation Musketoon

On 24 September 1944, aircraft from the US Navy’s Task Force 38 launched a coordinated strike on Japanese vessels sheltering in Coron Bay. The attack, part of the broader Leyte Gulf campaign, sent more than a dozen ships to the bottom. The vessels — tankers, supply ships, a destroyer escort, a seaplane tender, and several smaller craft — were carrying fuel and supplies intended for the Philippines campaign. Within 48 hours, most were resting on the seabed where they remain today.

Top Coron Dive Sites

Irako Maru — The Deepest, Most Impressive

Depth: 25–42m | Level: Advanced | Length: 147m

The Irako was Japan’s largest refrigeration ship — a massive vessel that sank on its side and now rests at 42 metres at the deepest point. The main deck lies at 25–30m, making the upper sections accessible to Advanced Open Water divers. The ship’s hold and crew quarters are penetrable for experienced divers with a guide. The hull is spectacularly encrusted with coral — hard corals, sea fans, and sponges cover every surface, and schools of batfish, jackfish, and snapper circulate around the wreck.

Okikawa Maru — The Largest

Depth: 15–32m | Level: Intermediate to Advanced | Length: 168m

The Okikawa is a massive oil tanker — the largest wreck in Coron Bay — resting upright on the seabed with the main deck at 16–18m. The deck is explorable in good visibility from a single long dive, and several sections of the interior are accessible for guided penetration. Massive lionfish are a feature here. The bow section, rising to 15m, is the most spectacular.

Akitsushima — The Seaplane Tender

Depth: 24–33m | Level: Intermediate | Length: 118m

The Akitsushima is famous for its seaplane crane — the massive salvage crane used to retrieve flying boats from the water — which still stands on the deck and is the iconic image of Coron wreck diving. The wreck sits upright with the deck at 24m, accessible to Advanced Open Water divers. The engine room is swimable by experienced divers. Enormous table corals grow on the deck.

Kogyo Maru — Best for Beginners

Depth: 8–32m | Level: Beginner to Intermediate

The Kogyo Maru’s deck starts at just 8 metres — making sections of this wreck accessible to certified Open Water divers. The upper sections are covered in hard coral and are genuinely beautiful. As you descend deeper, the wreck opens up for more experienced divers. The shallowest Coron wreck and the best starting point for divers new to wreck diving.

East Tangat Gunboat (Skeleton Wreck) — Best for Snorkellers

Depth: 2–11m | Level: Beginner / Snorkelling

A small Japanese gunboat resting at a maximum depth of 11m, so heavily encrusted with coral that the original metal is almost invisible — hence “Skeleton Wreck.” The hull is clearly defined and the wreck is surrounded by soft corals and reef fish. Snorkellers can see much of the wreck from the surface. The most accessible Coron dive site for all experience levels.

Olympia Maru — The Cargo Ship

Depth: 9–19m | Level: Open Water Beginner-Friendly

The Olympia Maru rests upright with the main deck at 12m — the whole wreck is within Open Water diver limits. Large sections of the interior are swimable and filled with marine life. The cargo holds contain remnants of the original cargo, and the deck structures are clearly identifiable. One of the best all-round dives in Coron for divers of all experience levels.

Beyond the Wrecks: Reef and Lake Diving

Barracuda Lake

Inside Coron Island, Barracuda Lake is one of the strangest diving experiences in the Philippines. The lake contains both fresh and salt water in distinct thermocline layers — dive through the thermocline and you feel a sudden temperature change from cool freshwater (24°C) to warm saltwater (38°C) within seconds. The visibility is extraordinary. A large barracuda (the lake’s resident) adds atmosphere.

Kayangan Lake

Kayangan Lake is most famous as a photography location (the view from the cliff lookout across the lake to limestone karst islands is one of the most reproduced images of the Philippines), but the lake itself is also diveable — clear freshwater, submerged roots, and unusual light effects from the surrounding cliff walls.

Practical Coron Diving Guide

Best Time to Dive Coron

November to May is the best season — flat seas, good visibility (15–25m), and no typhoon risk. The wreck diving is accessible year-round but June to October brings rougher conditions that can reduce visibility and limit boat access to exposed dive sites.

Getting to Coron

Fly from Manila to Francisco B. Reyes Airport (USU) in Busuanga — the airport serving Coron. Multiple airlines fly this route (Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, Air Swift). Flight time: approximately 1 hour. Transfers to Coron Town take about 45 minutes.

Alternatively, fast craft ferries connect El Nido and Coron (approximately 4 hours, passing through spectacular karst island scenery).

Certification Requirements

Skeleton Wreck / East Tangat: Open Water certification — accessible to all certified divers
Kogyo Maru / Olympia Maru: Open Water — 18m max sections accessible
Akitsushima / Okikawa: Advanced Open Water recommended (24m+)
Irako Maru: Advanced Open Water minimum — deep sections require experience
Wreck penetration (any site): PADI Wreck Diver specialty recommended

Explore Philippines Dive Sites

Coron’s wrecks are among the best-documented in the OutdoorLifePH diving directory — along with reef sites, wall dives, and dive schools across the Philippines. Search by region, depth, or marine life to plan your next dive trip.