This dive is best made at deck level while breathing 32% Nitrox for a 50% increase in allowable bottom time. Penetration of the interior would require 30% or 28% Nitrox depending on which deck level you wish to swim through. Max depth: 43 meters on the bottom, deck level at 28 to 35 meters. Recommended certification level: Advanced Open Water Diver, Deep Diver Specialty, Wreck Diver Specialty.

The AKITSUSHIMA was Japanese Seaplane Tender, 150 m long. Gross Tonnage: 4,650 Location: Between Culion & Busuanga Islands, near Manglet Island. The Akitsushima is a very big warship that lies on her port side. She was hit near the stern where the flying boat rested on the metal tracks and sank immediately. The ship was almost torn into two pieces. The flying boat disappeared.

Only half of the metal on the starboard side and half of the metal on the bottom of the ship kept the stern from separating from the rest of the ship. The internal damage is impressive. The crane used for lifting the seaplane out of the water is intact. The crane is lying on the sandy bottom and attracts schools of giant batfish and barracudas. One mounting of a 3-barreled AA (antiaircraft) gun is still present at the front of the flying boat tracks. This is a fascinating dive where you can see giant groupers, schools of barracuda hiding under the bow, and yellow fin tuna.

This dive is best made while breathing 31% or 32% Nitrox for a 50% increase in allowable bottom time. Max depth: 36 or 38 meters, average depth about 26 to 28 meters. Recommended certification level: Advanced Open water Diver. For penetration: PADI Wreck Diver specialty.

A Japanese freighter carrying construction materials for building a runway for the Japanese war effort in the Pacific. Kogyo Maru was built in 1938 and is 158 m long with a displacement of 6,353 tons. Lying on her starboard side in 36 meters of water, the Kogyo Maru offers swim through's into all six holds and through the engine room and bridge area.

Kogyo Maru's second hold contains an incline of cement bags which tumbled as the ship sank. A small bulldozer draws your attention as you swim into the hold. Complete but encrusted, you can imagine the operator sitting in the seat and working the control levers to carve a runway out of a tropical island. Engrossed in the bulldozer you might fail to look up the incline of cement sacks and so miss the tractor and air compressor perched above it. Take the time to swim up and look at both pieces and see how many of the engine parts you can identify. It's complete. Check out the metal wheels on the tractor.

Coming out of the hold swim up the front mast, now horizontal, and on your left side. At the top of the mast look at the crow's nest and imagine what a lookout would experience when perched 30 meters above the water in Japanese winter storm. Swim back over the deck to the bridge and engine room below it. Enter both from the stern side for easier access. Swim through the cavernous engine room and look at the hardware then out through the bridge. If air is low go up to the port side of the bridge and look at the soft corals growing there and the fish life living on this artificial coral reef at 22 meters. If you have enough air continue below deck level to the stern looking at all of the deck hardware for moving cargo and working the ship. Pass around the stern and then go forward over the port side to return to the mooring line. You pass over hard and soft corals covering the side of the ship. On this dive keep your head and eyes moving like a fighter pilot's to see the school of barracuda which will swim by. If you only look at the Kogyo Maru you will miss the barracuda.

This dive is best when made while breathing 31% or 32% Nitrox for a 50% increase in allowable bottom time. If you dive the Kogyo Maru with a 100 cubic foot tank of Nitrox 32 you have enough gas mixture and a long enough No Decompression Limit to cover the whole ship on one dive. Max depth: 34 m, average 24-26m Recommended certification level: Advanced Open Water Diver, Wreck Diver Specialty.

The OKIKAWA MARU was an Oil Tanker of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 160 m long. Location: Busuanga Island, 2 miles south of Conception. In length, width, and volume the largest of the Coron wrecks. At this depth you may be able to make an hour-long dive. If the Irako isn't the best wreck dive in the Philippines then the Okikawa Maru certainly is! This wreck is totally covered with beautiful corals and offers a large variety of marine-life. The deck is between 10m and 16m and is good for wreck dive beginners.

There are many penetration possibilities for advanced wreck divers including penetrating up the propeller shaft from the outside of the ship all the way into the engine room. Strong tidal currents often affect this wreck. Diving in strong currents lets you see the most fish. At the bow you can see the resident three legged turtle and a school of snappers holding position into a slight current. Large fish shelter out of the current behind crumpled metal and inside of the deck houses .There is also a large resident grouper near the bottom.

This dive is best when made while breathing 36% or 38% Nitrox for a 75% increase in allowable bottom time. Dives in excess of one hour are common on the Okikawa Maru. Max depth: 26 meters on the bottom, 10 to 16 meters on the deck.

Recommended certification level: (1) Diving outside the deck without current a current. Open Water Diver. (2) Diving with a current. Advanced Open Water Diver. (3) Diving with a strong current. Experienced Advance Open Water Diver. (4) Penetration Dive. Wreck Diver Specialty.

A Japanese Freighter sitting upright with a length of 122 meters. Location: Coron Bay . A very good dive spot with a variety of marine life. Large shoals of banana fish, giant bat fish and giant puffer fish, especially around the mast, bow and stern. Easy penetration at the cargo rooms. It offers a good opportunity to discover wreck diving.

This dive is best when made while breathing 36% Nitrox for a 75% increase in allowable bottom time. Max depth: 28-30 meters, deck level 18-24 meters.

Recommended certification level: Advanced Open Water Diver, Wreck Diver Specialty.

A Japanese freighter approximately 160-180 meters long. Location: Northeast of Busuanga Island. Due to it's distance from Coron, this wreck is dived by a one hour jeepney ride to the north end of Busuanga and transferring to a rented dive boat. This is done as an all-day trip for two dives on the Kyokuzan Maru.

This is a beautiful wreck dive experience. More or less intact, this huge sunken ship usually offers good visibility of about 20 meters and ideal diving conditions. Japanese staff cars and trucks can be found in the cargo rooms.

This dive is best when made while breathing 36% Nitrox for a 75% increase in allowable bottom time. Max depth: 40 meters on the bottom. The deck level lies between 22 and 28 meters.

Location: West of the southwest end of Tangat Island.

Access: 1 hour west by boat.

Conditions: Normally calm, with light currents that can become very strong at spring tides.

Visibility: 25 to 50 feet.

Average Depth: 24 metres or 80 feet.

Maximum Depth: 30 metres or 100 feet.

The Hektor (Tangat Wreck) was sunk on 24 September 1944 by US aircraft. It sits almost upright with perhaps a 15 degrees list to port, pointing 170 degrees (compass bearing) in 100 ft of water; the main deck is at 60-80 ft. The site provides a good introduction to wreck diving for novices, with easy penetration of the cargo holds and a good variety of fish life. There are several large puffer fish, lots of large lionfish and scorpion fish, a lone bumper head parrotfish, schools of batfish, snappers and sweepers, six-ban dad angelfish and innumerable sponges. In good visibility this is an excellent wreck for photographers.

Position: N 11*58. 447’, E 120*04.744’

Sunk on September 24, 1944.

Location: Inclined on the coral reef on the east side of Tangat Island.

Dive Site is good for wreck diving beginners and underwater photographers.

It is also a lovely dive between deeper wreck sites. The wreck starts at only 3 meters down so even snorkelers can see the shape and explore the bow of the ship. This dive is best when made while breathing 36% or 38% Nitrox for a 75% increase in allowable bottom time. Max depth: 22 metres / length: 20 metres. Recommended certification level: Skin Diver, Open Water Diver.

The stern breaks the surface at low tide.

Location: In front of the East Side of Lusong Island.

Position: N 11*58. 260', E 120*01.447'

The Maximum Depth is 11 metres.

This wreck is great for snorkeling and is next to a wonderful reef whose depth ranges from 3 & 18m. It is good as a "dive between dives". A heaven for wreck diving photographers and suitable for inexperienced divers. Recommended certification level: Skin Diver, Open Water Diver.

Location: Northwest corner of Coron Island.

This wreck was beached with the bow a dozen meters from Coron Island. The stern points directly away from the island. The wreck slopes along the reef from 5 meters deep at the bow to 22 meters at the stern. A pass through on the starboard side of the hull at 14 meters allows you to swim from the inside of the boat out over the coral reef. Max depth: 22 meters on the bottom. Slopes from 7 to 22 meters.

Recommended certification level: Skin Diver, Open Water Diver.

Location: The East Side of Malajon Island, Busuanga, Palawan

Access to dive site: 3-5 hours by boat.

Main Attraction: Wreck Diving, Snorkeling

Minimum Depth: 12 metres or 40 feet

Maximum Depth: 34 metres or 110 feet

Conditions: Medium currents; rough with fierce currents during bad weather.

The wreck is just off the beach, in front of a stranded vessel on the shore. Its marine life includes large scorpion fish, lion fish, and many more varieties of small to huge fishes such as schools of bat fish, sweepers and trumpet fish. Here you can also see angelfish (emperor and six-banded), sponges, hydroids and crinoids. The wrecks’ minimum depth is at about 12 meters but actually starts to be visible at 20 meters. This place is also famous for undersea photography and also night diving.

Recommended certification level: Advanced Open Water Diver, Wreck Diver Specialty.

Location: Coron Island, Palawan

Main attraction: Diving, Snorkeling, Underwater Photography

Getting there: 15-20 minutes by mountain climbing.

Depth: 33-40 metres+

Visibility: Dark and Murky

Conditions: Weak Currents

Best months: Year-Round

The dive starts with a challenging mountain climb over sharp limestone cliffs in full diving gear for 15-20 minutes until you reach the lake. As you approach the Lake you will be floored by the scenic beauty of the surroundings. Then there's a 33m dive to a cave with 30m of penetration. The cave is situated on the north wall of the lake so named for its resident barracuda who may deign to show you around. Barracuda lake is a reverse thermal lake, water temperature at surface, is 28 degrees°C. The temperature stays constant to aprox 14m at which point a very visible thermocline separates the "cool" upper water from the 40 degree°C water below. Underwater photography would be excellent at this point. Recommended certification level: Open Water Diver, Mountain Climbing Diver Specialty.

Considered as the "cleanest freshwater lake" in the Philippines.

Location: 30.4m inland from the centre of the northwest face of Coron Island.

Main attraction: Diving, Snorkeling, Underwater Photography

Getting there: 45 mins. south-southeast by boat to a cove between Limaa Point & Balolo Point northwest face of Coron Island.

Maximum Depth: 40 metres+

Visibility: hazy 30m near surface, varies w/ mixing of hot & cold water.

Conditions: Calm Lake surrounded by high walls, sheltered on all sides.

Kayangan lake is one of the divers' favourites among the many lakes in Coron Island. The stunning picture perfect view of the lake will be seen after a brief walk up a mountain trail. The lake is surrounded by steep limestone cliffs. In the centre of the cove the cliffs have a gap at sea-level. You climb through this gap for 3m. turn right and climb easily over sharp limestone pinnacles for 7m. in full diving gear for a few minutes, traverse to the right 4m. then turn to the left to descend continuing across two small channels to the entrance of the lake.

This is a unique dive. The turquoise freshwater lake, surrounded by spectacular limestone cliffs, is served by a hot spring. As you move out from the walls and descend, the water gets hotter and hotter. At 30m, temperature is 40 degrees °C and deeper down would even be higher. There is little to see in the very hot water, but when you get back to the walls of the lake, a lone habituated barracuda, nearly 1m long will be waiting to be hand-fed.

There is clearly interaction between salt & fresh water around the seaward side, as you can find seawater species there. As well as the barracuda, there is a shoal of golden rabbitfish, snappers, catfish, some species of shrimp and shellfish.

A cave under Coron Island, directly connected to the sea.

Location: South end of Coron Island on the East side.

Main attraction: Diving, Snorkeling, Underwater Photography

Maximum Depth: 10 metres inside the cave.

Visibility: 20-30 metres into the open sea.

Weather Advisory: Cathedral Cave CAN ONLY BE ATTEMPTED in calm weather with slight waves. It is physically dangerous to attempt to enter the tunnel in the surge generated from large waves.

Cathedral Cave is a beautiful dive spot. It starts 6 metres deep at a hole in the bottom of the sea next to the sheer rock wall of Coron Island. You enter a tunnel and descend to 12 metres. If you take the time to look, you'll see the antenna of juvenile lobsters waving from holes in the tunnel above and out from under the rocks below and cowry shells clinging to the ceiling of the tunnel.

Then you pass out of the tunnel and sea a shaft of daylight penetrating the interior of the cave. The roof of the cave has collapsed sending down a full sized tree. The skeletal trunk and main branches of the tree rest on top of the sand mound in the middle of the cave. You follow the light and surface inside a big underground cathedral. You pass over the sand dune and continue ahead and left to another passage that leads to a chamber with an air pocket above ocean level. Back through the tunnel into the open sea and you dive among beautiful corals with 20 to 30 metres visibility.

Recommended certification level: Advanced Open Water Diver, Cavern Diver Specialty.

The "world's 2nd largest contiguous coral reef" & the largest in the Philippines.

Location: 33 km west of the Midwestern coast of Mindoro Island.

Access: 3 hrs by boat from Busuanga, Palawan.

Main attraction: Diving, Snorkeling, Underwater Photography.

The Apo Reef Natural Park consists of three islands, namely Apo Island, Apo Menor (Binangaan Island), and Cayos del Bajo. Apo reef is the largest among the three. It has an area of 15,792 hectares including land and water areas. It was declared a protected area in 1996. Apo Reef has a unique natural phenomenon with a high diversity of corals and has an island covered with terrestrial vegetation.

The Apo Reef, with more than 20 dive sites is a wonderful site for snorkeling and scuba diving, its crystal blue waters cover coral reefs teeming with mantas, tropical fish and morays, including the endangered Green Sea and Hawksbill turtles as well as 500 species of soft and branching types of hard corals. It also hosts 47 species of migratory and resident birds. The reef is famous for its steep walls down to 30-80 metres which are well covered with corals, sponges, tunicates, nudibranchs and slugs. The reef plateau is magnificent which will surely impress divers and snorkelers alike.

Recommended certification level: Advanced Open Water Diver.