Palawan Area GuideCoron, Palawan, Philippines
World-class wreck diving, turquoise lakes, and the Calamian Islands' untouched beauty
Coron is the gateway to the Calamian Island Group in northern Palawan and is famous primarily for its wreck diving — a fleet of Japanese supply ships sunk by American aircraft in 1944 now lies in Coron Bay at depths of 10–40 metres, creating one of the world's top wreck dive sites. Divers descend through coral-encrusted gun turrets and swimming through cargo holds of the Okikawa Maru, Irako, and Akitsushima. Above water, the star attraction is Kayangan Lake — a dramatically enclosed turquoise lake ringed by limestone cliffs that is often called the cleanest lake in Asia. Twin Lagoon, Barracuda Lake, and the numerous small islands of Coron Bay provide near-endless exploration by island-hopping tour.
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questions & answers
Do I need diving experience to see the wrecks in Coron?
Some of the shallower wrecks are accessible to snorkellers, but the most impressive wrecks require SCUBA certification. The Skeleton Wreck is the shallowest and most accessible. For certified divers, Open Water certification is sufficient for most Coron wrecks, though the deeper Okikawa Maru requires Advanced Open Water or equivalent. Coron has numerous dive centres offering introductory dives for non-certified visitors. The island is also an excellent place to complete PADI Open Water certification.
How do I get to Coron from Manila or El Nido?
Coron has a domestic airport (Francisco B. Reyes Airport) with flights from Manila on Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific (approx. 1 hour). From El Nido, a fastcraft ferry service takes approximately 4 hours and runs seasonally (typically November–May). Alternatively, SuperCat and Montenegro Lines operate overnight ferries from Manila to Coron (10–12 hours). The fastcraft El Nido to Coron route is the most scenic and popular option for those exploring both areas.