In 1944 US Admiral Bull Halsey had the task of checking the Japanese firepower in preparation for the US landing on Leyte. To find safe passage for an aircraft carrier, he sent reconnaissance aircraft to photograph the Linapacan Strait and the Calamian group of Islands. Upon studying the aerial photos, navigators noticed that several islands had moved overtime (- a camouflaged Japanese fleet had been found).

At 0900 hours on September 24, 1944, Task Force 45 carrier-based bombers attacked and sank 24 vessels around Busuanga and Coron Islands. The ensuing action left a legacy that endures to this day: a ghost fleet of Japanese hulks littering the sea bed of Coron Bay.

The World War II wrecks around Busuanga Island, particularly Coron Bay, have been one of the Philippines' best kept diving secrets. Here is a condensed version of Truk Lagoon in the Caroline Islands, Micronesia. It is a legendary and, unfortunately, expensive destination among divers for its large concentration of World War II Japanese wrecks. Admittedly, the Coron sites are not easy to get to and accommodation is limited, but the area is rewarding to visit and prices are reasonable. The visibility is not brilliant, but the wrecks are not that deep and the current not that strong, though it is always best to choose neap tides and if possible, slack water.

With a region of outstanding beauty and wildlife, Coron Bay is a tropical dream come true. Limestone cliffs and tiny isolated beach coves are spectacular. Walls of coral explode with color and life while, above, monkeys, parakeets and other animals frolic and flit in the dense foliage. Tropical magic is in the air, the sea and the islands of Coron, a tangible presence that hints of adventure and mystery....

TAI MARU (CONCEPTION WRECK)

Tai Maru is located South of Conception village on Busuanga Island, on the outer edge of the Lusteveco Company Pearl Farm. Normally calm but fierce currents are common in the area. Novices should check the tide tables first and penetrate the wreck only with an experienced divemaster. Use the shotline for descent and a safety stop on ascent. Average Depth - 52ft/16m. Maximum Depth - 85ft/26m.

An auxiliary oil tanker of the Imperial Japanese Navy Combined Fleet in the World War II, she is 550ft/168m long and is 10,045 gross tons, sits almost level, with a slight list to port, pointing 330 degrees, with a bow broken off in 75ft/26m of water. The main deck is at 52ft/16m. It is well covered with good corals, particularly large lettuce corals, sponges and shoals of fish including fusiliers, snappers and batfish, plus the ubiquitous lion and scorpion fish.

AKITSUSHIMA

The Akitsushima is located between Lajo Island and Manglet Island, south of Conception village on Busuanga Island. Average Depth - 92ft/28m. Maximum Depth - 125ft/38m.

One of the few true warships among the Coron wrecks (the others were mostly auxiliary vessels), the Akitsushima, was a flying boat tender. The wreck is 487ft/148m long, 4650 gross tons, and lies on its port side pointing 290 degrees in 125ft/38m of water with the starboard side hull at 65ft/20m. The arms of the stern crane used to load and unload the flying boat lies broken to port in 112ft/34m. The main deck is split between this crane and the funnel. There is no sign of the flying boat. This is an advanced dive due to the depth. The ship can be penetrated with care, but is also good for fish life. Large groupers lurk in the hull and shoals of barracuda, tuna and snapper are found along it.

OLYMPIA MARU

Located Between the Northern end of Lusong Island and Tangat Island. Average Depth - 62ft/19m. Maximum Depth - 80ft/25m. This Japanese Freighter is 450ft/137m long, and 5,617 gross tons, lies on its starboard side pointing 50 degrees in 80ft/25m of water. The portside hull is at a shallower portion, 40ft/12m.

The portside hull has many large lettuce corals, hydroids, black corals, brown finger sponges with Alabaster Sea Cucumbers wrapped around them, white sponges and sea anemones with clown fish. The fish life includes shoals of small fusiliers, batfish, large groupers, golden rabbitfish, damselfish and pairs of whitecheek monocle bream.

KOGYO MARU

Located East of the Southeast corner of Lusong Island, south of the Olympia Maru. Average Depth - 92ft/28m. Maximum Depth - 110ft/34m.

A Japanese freighter, 520ft/158m and 6,352 gross tons-lies on its starboard side pointing 230 degrees in 110 ft/34m of water. The portside hull is at 22 meters (72 feet). In the large cargo room you can still see loaded construction materials, mixer and even bulldozer. On the deck anti-aircraft weapons can still be seen. On the port side, there are many corals and abundant fish life. Many groupers live around the wreck.

GUNBOAT AT LUSONG ISLAND

This is located at the southern end of Lusong Island, the stern breaks the surface at low tide. Average Depth - 6 meters (20 feet). Maximum Depth - 10 meters (33 feet).

A shallow wreck, lying from the surface to 10 meters (33 feet), this is equally good for snorkeling and wreck photography, and is often used for relaxation between main dives. The wreck has been salvaged, and the entire top is gone. It is nicely covered with sponges and soft corals, and has many copperband butterflyfish, six-banded angelfish, and pufferfish of all sizes, batfish and various sea cucumbers.

IRAKO

Located Southeast of Lusong Island, south of the Kogyo Maru.
Average Depth - 35 meters (115 feet). Maximum Depth - 42 meters (138 feet).

The Irako is a Japanese refrigerated provision ship, 147 meters (482 feet) long, 9,570 gross tons. The wreck is almost upright, listing about 10 degrees to port in 42 meters (138 feet) of water pointing 260 degrees. The main deck is at 34 meters (112 feet). Penetration represents an advanced dive due to the depth, but the superstructure is interesting, with soft corals and sponges. Large groupers hover inside the wreck, while lionfish, scorpionfish, shoals of barracuda, batfish and snappers are outside.

MAMYA MARU

Located West of the northwest side of Tangat Island.
Average Depth - 25 meters (80 feet). Maximum Depth - 34 meters (112 feet).
This 160 meters (525 feet) Japanese freighter lies on its starboard side in 34 meters (112 feet) of water. The portside hull is at 24 meters (78 feet). The large holds are easy to penetrate and contain construction materials. The port side has good stony and soft corals and a variety of fish life, sponges and anemones with clownish. Large grouper, lionfish and surgeonfish abound in the wreck with shoals of barracuda, snappers, batfish, sweepers and fusiliers around it.

TANGAT WRECK (A191)

Located West of the southwest end of Tangat Island.
Average Depth - 24 meters (80 feet). Maximum Depth - 30 meters (100 feet).

A Japanese freighter 122 meters (400 ft) long, 5,000 gross tons, it sits almost upright with perhaps a 15 degree list to port, pointing 170 degrees in 30 meters (100 feet) of water; the main deck is at 18-24 meters (60-80 feet). The site provides a good introduction to wreck diving for novices, with easy penetration of the cargo holds and a good variety of fish lives. There are several large puffer fish, lots of large lionfish and scorpion fish, a lone bump head parrotfish, shoals of batfish, snappers and sweepers, six-banded angelfish and innumerable sponges. In good visibility, this is an excellent wreck for photographers.

EAST TANGAT WRECK

Located close to southwest side of Tangat Island.
Average Depth - 10 meters (33 feet). Maximum Depth - 22 meters (72 feet).
Believed to be a tugboat or an anti-submarine craft, 40 meters (130 feet) long, 500 gross tons, it lies to its starboard down a sandy slope, with the stern at 22 meters (72 feet) and the top of the bow at 3 meters (10 feet), pointing 320 degrees. The water is mostly shallow enough for snorkellers.
There are no corals on the wreck, but there is some large lettuce coral beside it. There are small angelfish, buterflyfish - particularly copperband butterflyfish - and white sponges.

KYOKUZAN MARU

Located Close to Club Paradise Resort which is located on Dimakya Island.
Average Depth - 30 meters (100 feet). Maximum Depth - 43 meters (131 feet).
A Japanese freighter, 152 meters (500 feet) long, 6,492 gross tons, sits almost upright with a 15 degrees list to starboard, pointing 160 degrees in 43 meters (131 feet) of water. The main deck slopes from 22 meters (72 feet) to 28 meters (92 feet). The wreck is almost intact and can easily be penetrated, with cars and trucks in the hold.

NANSHIN MARU

LocatedThe East Side of Malajon Island, called Black Island because of its black rocks. The wreck is just off the beach in front of a stranded vessel on the shore. Average Depth - 20 meters (56 feet). Maximum Depth - 32 meters (104 feet).

This is a 45-meter (150 feet) coastal vessel. It sits upright but down the sandy slope from the shore, with the bow bottoming at 32 meters (104 feet) and the stern bottoming at 20 meters (65 feet). There are many large scorpionfish and lionfish on the superstructure, small shoals of batfish, large shoals of sweepers, snappers, fusiliers and groupers, trumpetfish, six-banded angelfish and emperor angelfish. The hull has lots of sponges and hydroids.

MORAZAN MARU

A Japanese freighter sitting upright with a length of approximately 140 meters near Coron Bay, a very good dive spot with a variety of marine lives. Large shoals of banana fish, giant bat fish and giant pufferfish, especially around the mast, bow and stern. Easy penetration at the cargo rooms. Maximum depth is around 28-30 meters, deck-level is around 18-24 meters.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Apart from the area’s many islands, beautiful sandy coves and Striking limestone rock formations. Coron Islands has lakes, forests and hot springs. Mainit Hot Spring is one of the best in the Philippines; you can soak in two hot pools, then cross 5 meters (16 feet) of beach to cool off in the sea. Lake Abuyok, 110 meters (360 feet) deep, this is worth a visit.