Ask ten divers what their top 3 favourite wrecks are in Coron and you’ll get ten different answers. Tony’s favourite as a technical wreck diver is the deepest wreck the Irako. She was a supply ship at a 160 meters in length and with four deck levels she is a very complex wreck and even to this day not all parts of her have been explored. She is proper adventure!

For most divers, the Akitsushima will be their favourite, being the only war ship in Coron. You can see an anti aircraft gun as well as a shell hoist inside with live shells visible – don’t touch!

A lot of divers also enjoy diving the Olympia Maru with its huge boilers and furnaces lined with fire bricks. Tonys third favourite is the Okikawa with its bow almost completely severed by the bomb blasts from American torpedoes, its like diving through a forest of steel girders as you penetrate the bow hold area.

Trying not to sound like a finger wagging mother, please please please dive to your qualification and training level. Diving these wrecks is serious stuff and only the trained diver should penetrate. The dive centres we work with in Coron are responsible operators however, if you choose to arrange your own diving, be aware that there are much less safety conscious dive centres operating out of Coron. Do your homework properly.

Of course penetration of the wrecks is only part of experience of diving the wrecks. They have been there for nearly 70 years and have become artificial reefs covered in corals and abundant fish life. Some wrecks like the Kogya Maru, there is enough to keep you occupied for a whole dive without the need to penetrate.

Aside from the wrecks, there is one unique dive site that is definitely worth a look. Barracuda Lake. After a short trek (with your dive gear), to the inner lake you will drop into the water at normal temperature of 28 to 30 degrees. Descend to 14 meters and below and it becomes 38 degrees. If you stay still you will see the thermocline as the two temperatures meet. No need for wetsuits on this dive!

On the north side of Coron, there is some great reef diving on the Club Paradise House reef, and the Kyokuzan Maru Japanese wreck, but the main draw card here are the Dugong/Sea Cows. The last stronghold of the Philippines of the Dugong is in this area. They are very shy and very difficult to find but if you get lucky and you see one feeding or scratching, the hours and hours of searching instantly become worth it.