Coron & Busuanga Diving

Type

WWII tanker wreck

Depth

10–26 m

Experience

Open Water exterior / Advanced penetration

Current

Moderate possible

Okikawa Maru is one of the most accessible big wrecks in Coron Bay. The tanker sits upright with much of the deck around 10–16 metres, allowing recreational divers to spend useful time on the outside without immediately running into deep no-decompression limits. The scale is impressive: at roughly 160 metres long, one dive only covers part of the ship.

Coral growth, snapper, batfish and other fish turn the wreck into a living reef, while stronger tidal flow can increase both fish activity and task loading. Penetration routes exist for trained wreck divers, but there is more than enough outside to justify the dive. For a first Coron wreck, Okikawa offers the best combination of size, light and manageable depth.

Look for: Coron’s largest wreck · Shallow main deck · Fish-rich exterior · Penetration for trained divers

Type

WWII cargo wreck

Depth

12–25 m

Experience

Intermediate / Wreck trained for penetration

Current

Usually mild–Moderate

Ekkai Maru, often still called Morazan by local operators, is a photogenic wreck with a relatively shallow upper side and large internal cargo spaces. Hard coral grows over parts of the exposed structure, while groupers, sweetlips, scorpionfish and occasional turtles or sea snakes use the wreck as habitat.

On bright days, sunlight can penetrate holes in the hull and cargo holds, producing the cathedral-like beams that make the site especially appealing to wide-angle photographers. Certified wreck divers can follow guided routes through the holds and engine-room areas; divers without penetration training should remain outside or within clearly open, light-filled swim-throughs as directed by the operator. Its moderate depth makes it a strong step up after the shallowest Coron wrecks.

Look for: Light-filled cargo holds · Hard coral on wreck · Large boilers · Moderate depth

Type

WWII freighter wreck

Depth

18–32 m

Experience

Advanced

Current

Usually mild–Moderate

Olympia Maru is a substantial Japanese freighter lying at a depth where Advanced certification makes the dive much more comfortable. The wreck is large enough that divers can focus one dive on the bow and forward holds and another on the stern, rather than rushing to see everything. Batfish, pufferfish, scorpionfish and schools of reef fish gather around the mast and structure, while the cargo spaces offer penetration opportunities for properly trained divers.

Even without entering the wreck, the exterior provides strong photography subjects and an excellent sense of scale. Because much of the useful dive sits below 18 metres, depth discipline and gas planning matter more than on Okikawa. It is a logical wreck for divers building experience in Coron before tackling deeper sites.

Look for: 122 m freighter · Cargo holds · Advanced depth · Fish-rich exterior

Type

WWII construction-supply wreck

Depth

22–35 m

Experience

Advanced / Wreck trained for penetration

Current

Usually mild–Moderate

Kogyo Maru is the wreck where the cargo tells the story. The ship carried construction material for Japanese airfield work, and the holds still contain cement bags, machinery, a small bulldozer, tractor equipment and an air compressor. She lies on her starboard side, with much of the exterior already in Advanced-depth territory and the seabed in the mid-30-metre range.

That makes no-decompression time a real part of the dive plan. Trained wreck divers can explore selected holds and machinery spaces with a guide, while non-penetration divers still have a large hull and fish-covered exterior to explore. The combination of preserved cargo and wartime context makes Kogyo feel less like a generic wreck and more like an underwater historical site.

Look for: Bulldozer in hold · Cement cargo · Engine room · Advanced depth

Type

WWII seaplane tender wreck

Depth

22–36 m

Experience

Advanced / Wreck trained for penetration

Current

Variable

Akitsushima is the only true warship among Coron’s major recreational wrecks and has a very different atmosphere from the cargo vessels. The 118-metre seaplane tender lies on her port side with major battle damage near the stern. Her huge crane rests beside the wreck and often gathers batfish and barracuda, while the hull still carries recognisable military structure including anti-aircraft gun mounts.

The wreck’s depth places most of the dive firmly in Advanced territory, and the internal areas are complex enough that penetration should be reserved for trained wreck divers under a guide’s plan. Outside, the crane, broken stern and scale of the ship provide excellent wide-angle subjects. For many experienced visitors, Akitsushima is the wreck that feels most distinctly like a warship.

Look for: Seaplane tender · Large crane · Military structure · Deep advanced wreck

Type

Deep WWII naval supply wreck

Depth

28–45 m

Experience

Experienced Advanced / Technical depending profile

Current

Variable

Irako is the serious end of Coron wreck diving. The naval refrigeration and supply ship sits nearly upright in much deeper water than the beginner-friendly wrecks, with the bridge area damaged but much of the hull remaining recognisable. Local guides describe the wreck as dark and demanding, and that is the right mindset: depth, reduced ambient light, internal complexity and smaller routes increase the consequences of poor buoyancy or gas planning.

Outside, jacks, snappers, grouper and barracuda can gather around the mast and upper structure, so even a non-penetration dive can be rewarding for experienced deep divers. Any internal exploration belongs to properly trained wreck or technical divers. Irako should be earned gradually, not treated as a standard first-day Coron wreck.

Look for: Deepest major wreck · Dark interiors · Schooling jacks · For experienced divers

Type

Shallow WWII wreck · Reef

Depth

3–22 m

Experience

Beginner

Current

Usually mild

East Tangat Gunboat is the opposite of Irako: a small wreck that begins in only a few metres of water and can be appreciated by snorkellers as well as certified divers. The vessel lies on a coral slope, so the dive naturally blends wreck structure with reef life and bright ambient light.

Newer divers can spend time on the outside learning how to approach metal without touching or silting it, while experienced photographers benefit from the shallow depth and long bottom time. Because the wreck is small, there is no need to rush; the best experience comes from circling slowly, watching how coral and marine life have colonised the structure. It is an ideal check dive or first Coron wreck before moving to larger ships.

Look for: Very shallow wreck · Beginner friendly · Snorkeller accessible · Long bottom time

Type

Lake · Halocline · Thermocline

Depth

5–30 m

Experience

Open Water–Intermediate

Current

None

Barracuda Lake is not a wreck at all, which is exactly why it belongs on a Coron itinerary. Divers enter a limestone-walled lake where layers of fresh and salt water create a visible halocline and dramatic temperature changes. Passing through the thermocline can feel surreal as the water becomes much hotter at depth, while jagged limestone formations descend into an otherworldly basin.

Marine life is limited compared with the bay, so the experience is about geology, water layers and atmosphere rather than fish numbers. The lack of current makes the profile physically easy, but buoyancy can feel unusual when moving between water layers of different density. It is an excellent second or third dive that gives the body and mind a complete break from steel wrecks.

Look for: Fresh/salt-water layers · Hot thermocline · Limestone formations · No current