The Beach
Coron is not a single beach — it is an experience of islands, water, and underwater history that defies simple categorisation. The destination sits in the Calamianes Island group at the northern end of Palawan Province in the Philippines, where hundreds of karst limestone islands rise dramatically from the Sulu Sea, their sheer cliffs draped in jungle and their bases surrounded by the clearest water in the Philippines. The landscape is reminiscent of Halong Bay in Vietnam but on a grander scale, and with the addition of coral reefs, tropical sea life, and one of the world’s most remarkable wreck diving destinations.
The wrecks are central to Coron’s identity. In September 1944, an American air attack sank a fleet of 24 Japanese ships sheltering in the Coron Bay — ships that had been requisitioned from civilian use (supply ships, transports, tankers) to support Japan’s Pacific war effort. These wrecks now lie at depths of 18–40 metres in the clear water of Coron Bay, encrusted with coral after 80 years, and home to extraordinary concentrations of marine life. The diving on the Coron wrecks is considered among the ten best wreck diving experiences in the world — the sheer quantity, variety, and accessibility of the ships, combined with the exceptional visibility (often 20–30 metres) and the marine growth, creates a diving experience that is simultaneously historically moving and visually overwhelming.
Beyond the wrecks, Coron offers multiple layers of beach experience:
- Kayangan Lake: A crystal-clear alpine-quality freshwater lake in a karst limestone bowl on Coron Island — consistently rated the cleanest lake in the Philippines and one of the most beautiful inland swimming locations in Southeast Asia.
- Twin Lagoon: A connected pair of lagoons separated by a limestone rock wall with a small underwater passage, the inner lagoon filled with warm brackish water that creates a distinctive layering effect visible to snorkellers.
- Barracuda Lake: A rare meromictic lake with extraordinary thermal layering — cold fresh water over warm salt water — beloved by divers for its unusual characteristics.
- Skeleton Wreck: One of the most accessible shallow water wrecks, snorkellable without diving equipment.
- CYC Beach and Banol Beach: Pristine white sand beaches on small islands in the Coron group, perfect for swimming and relaxation between adventures.
Getting There
Getting to Coron
Francisco B. Reyes Airport (USU) serves Busuanga Island (the main island of the Coron area):
- Flights from Manila (Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, Air Asia — approximately 1 hour)
- No direct international connections — all flights route through Manila
By boat from El Nido: The northern Palawan journey — an increasingly popular route — connects El Nido (the main southern Palawan destination) to Coron by fast ferry (approximately 4 hours) or slow overnight boat. This allows travellers to do the full Palawan experience: Puerto Princesa and the Underground River, then El Nido’s island-hopping, then Coron’s diving and lagoons.
From Coron town to the islands: The various lakes, lagoons, and beaches of the Coron archipelago are accessible by pump boat (the traditional wooden Philippine outrigger) from Coron town. Island-hopping tours — typically full-day excursions visiting 4–6 sites — are the standard way to experience the area.
Seasonal Guide
The Philippines has a complex climate pattern — Coron/Busuanga sits in the northern Palawan zone:
- November to May: The dry season. The northeast monsoon brings clear skies and calmer seas. This is the peak season, with December to March being particularly good. The underwater visibility is at its best in the dry season.
- June to October: The wet season and typhoon season. The Philippines’ typhoon track runs through the central and northern island groups; Palawan is somewhat protected by its position but not immune. Coron can experience significant weather disruption June–October. The diving continues during breaks in the weather, but island-hopping can be cancelled due to sea conditions.
Accommodation
Coron town is the main accommodation hub:
- Two Seasons Coron Island Resort and Spa: An over-water and island resort on Coron Island itself — beautiful, remote, and luxurious, with direct access to Kayangan Lake.
- Coron Wrecks and Reefs Dive Resort: A well-regarded dive-focused resort with comfortable rooms and a professional dive operation.
- Various guesthouses and hostels in Coron town: A wide range of budget to mid-range accommodation in the main town, from simple fan rooms to air-conditioned guesthouses. Coron town has a pleasant traveller atmosphere with good restaurants.
- Sea Dive Resort: A long-established dive resort with a loyal following.
Exploring the Area
Wreck Diving
The 24 Japanese wrecks of Coron Bay are the main event for certified divers. The most famous sites:
- Okikawa Maru: The largest wreck, a 168-metre tanker at 15–47 metres depth — multiple dives required to see it fully.
- Olympia Maru: A well-preserved transport ship at 15–30 metres, with intact cargo holds.
- East Tangat Gunboat: A smaller but spectacularly coral-encrusted vessel at 20 metres.
- Kogyo Maru: A transport ship with military vehicles still visible in the cargo hold.
Multiple dive centres in Coron town operate wreck diving trips. All dives require dive certification; many sites are for advanced divers. Introductory courses are available for beginners on the shallower sites.
Kayangan Lake and Twin Lagoon
The full-day island-hopping tour (Tour A) is the classic Coron experience for non-divers. The standard tour visits:
- Kayangan Lake: Climb a steep trail to the viewpoint (one of the most photographed spots in the Philippines), then descend to swim in the extraordinary clarity of the freshwater lake
- Twin Lagoon: Snorkel through the underwater passage between the two lagoons
- Skeleton Wreck: Snorkelling on a shallow wreck
- Barracuda Lake: A surreal diving/snorkelling experience in the meromictic lake
- CYC Beach: Lunch and swimming at a pristine island beach
Snorkelling
Even without scuba certification, the snorkelling around Coron’s reefs and the shallow portions of some wrecks is excellent. The coral gardens around Siete Picados and the Black Island area are particularly good for snorkellers.
Hiking to Mount Tapyas
From Coron town, the 700-step climb to the summit of Mount Tapyas rewards with panoramic views over the Calamianes archipelago — the hundreds of limestone islands and the blue sea between them is one of the great Philippine viewpoints. The hike takes approximately 30–45 minutes up.
Maquinit Hot Springs
Saltwater hot springs (approximately 40°C) on the edge of Coron Bay — a short boat ride from town. The springs are surrounded by mangroves and have a natural, therapeutic character. An excellent way to end a day of diving.
Good to Know
Do I need to be a certified diver to enjoy Coron? No — the island-hopping tours (Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon, snorkelling sites, beaches) are outstanding for non-divers and snorkellers. The wreck diving requires certification but introductory dive experiences can be arranged for complete beginners on the shallower sites. Coron rewards both divers and non-divers fully.
Is Coron more beautiful than El Nido? Different rather than better or worse. El Nido has the famous Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon island-hopping, spectacular scenery, and the main Philippine “bucket list” experience. Coron has the wrecks, Kayangan Lake, and a slightly less crowded, more diving-focused character. Many visitors do both in sequence and consider them complementary.
How long should I stay in Coron? Minimum 4–5 days to experience both the wreck diving and the island-hopping/lagoon tours properly. Serious divers might stay 7–10 days to dive multiple wreck sites. Non-divers can see the highlights in 3–4 days.
Is Coron safe for swimming? The lakes and lagoons are calm and safe. The open sea snorkelling and beach swimming are generally safe in the dry season but check with local operators about currents at specific sites. The wrecks require proper diving training and should not be free-dived.