Shipwreck Diving

The Irako is a Japanese refrigeration ship located at the mouth of Coron Bay. N 11*58. 059′, E 120*02. 412′

The ship was extremely large weighing 9723 tons, spanning 146.9 meters in length and stretching 19 meters wide. The ship housed two steam powered engines (8300 shp) that drove twin propellers providing the vessel a maximum speed of 17.5 knots.

The Irako (along with the Okikawa) are debated to be best wreck dive in the Philippines. The Irako is almost completely intact and has very good visibility. Big schools of yellow fin tuna, groupers, lion fish and scorpion fish surround this wreck. To date two permanent residents (2 sea turtles) live in the crumpled superstructure. There is also a huge column of Jacks inhabiting the bow area.

There is a beautiful deep dive through the engine room for well trained, properly equipped divers.

Due to it’s location, The Irako usually has the best visibility of all the wrecks in Coron Bay.

This dive is best made breathing 32% Nitrox for a 50% increase in allowable bottom time. Exploration of the interior requires 28% to 30% Nitrox depending on which deck level you wish to swim through.

The Maximum depth of the Iraku is 43 meters at the bottom, the deck level is between 28 to 35 meters. Recommended minimum certification level: Advanced Open Water Diver, Best certification: Deep Diver Specialty, Wreck Diver Specialty.

The Akitsushima is a Japanese Seaplane Carrier is located at N 11*59. 218′, E 119*58. 417’. The Akitsushima has dimensions of 118 meters by 15.7 meters and weighed 4724 tons. It was powered by four diesel engines driving twin propellers, creating a total of 8000 shp, and producing a maximum speed of 19 knots. Akitsushima was also armed with 10 piece, 25 mm anti-aircraft guns, four piece five inch (50 cal) guns and carried one large Kanwanishi flying boat. The Akitsushima was a large warship, now laying on its port side. The vessel was struck by a large bomb close to the stern where the flying boat rested on the metal tracks and sank immediately.

The ship was almost torn into two pieces and disappeared upon impact. The crane used for lifting the seaplane is still intact. The crane is lying on the sandy bottom and attracts schools of batfish, barracudas and the odd grouper. One 3-barreled AA (anti-aircraft) gun is still present at the front of the flight boat tracks. This is a fascinating dive where you can see all sorts of marine life around the wreck. Due to the depth and various jagged metal hazards within, no dives (swim throughs) are allowed without a wreck diver certification. Wreck divers can make an impressive exploration into the engine room. In this room you can see the four engines, the gears and the machinery for operating the crane. This dive is best made using a 30% or 32% Nitrox mix for a 50% increase in allowable submersible time. The Akitsushima maximum depth is 35 meters, the average depth is about 25 to 29 meters. Recommended certification level: Advanced Open water Diver. For entrance of vessel: Wreck Diver specialty.

The Kogyo Maru is located at N 11*58. 782′ E 120*02. 413′. It was a Japanese freighter carrying construction materials and building supplies for the Japanese war effort in the Pacific. The Kogyo Maru was 6353 tons, 129 meters long, and 18 meters wide. This ship was powered by two steam turbines (517Nhp) geared to a single shaft. The Kogyo Maru is presently lying on its starboard side in 34 meters of water. It offers dives (swim throughs) into all six holds and through the engine room & bridge area. The Kogyo Maru’s second hold contains an incline of concrete bags which collapsed as the ship sank. A small bulldozer draws attention as you swim into the hold, fully intact but totally encrusted with coral. You can swim over the deck to the bridge and engine room below.

Entering from the stern allows easier access. Swim through the spacious engine room and look around, then exit out through the bridge. If you have enough air go below deck level to the stern and see all of the machines and equipment for moving cargo on the ship. You will see both hard and soft corals covering the side of the ship. This dive is best when made using 30% or 34% Nitrox for a 50% increase in allowable time. If you have enough gas mixture and a long enough ‘No Decompression Limit’ you can cover the whole ship on one dive. The Kogyo Maru’s Maximum depth is 34 meters, average depth 24-26meters. Recommended certification level: Advanced Open Water, Wreck Diver Specialty.

The East Tangat Gunboat was a small gunboat or submarine hunter 40 meters long on the coral reef. This wreck is located on the east side of Tangat Island. The East Tangat Gunboat dive site isa  good for wreck diving beginners snorkelers and underwater photographers. It’s also a lovely spacer 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. The East Tangat Gunboat dive maximum depth: 22 meters. Recommended certification level: Skin (snorkel) Diver, Open Water Diver.

The Lusong Gunboat wreck, like the East Tangat wreck,  was also a gunboat or submarine hunter. The stern breaks the surface at low tide and is located  in front of the east side of Lusong Island at N 11*58. 260′, – E 120*01.447’. The Lusong Gunboat wreck is great for snorkeling. It is nicely covered with hard corals and offers a huge variety of aquatic life. There are good opportunities for wreck photographers and this dive is good as a “dive between dives.” Lusong Gunboat maximum depth: 11 meters. Recommended certification level: Skin Diver, Open Water Diver.

This wreck is the keel, ribs and stringers of a steel-hulled boat spanning around 25 meters long. Not much to see when you have been diving with “The Big Boys (wrecks) ” It’s on most of the island hopping and snorkeling tours so expect crowds. It’s located on the Northwest corner of Coron Island. This wreck was beached with the bow 12 meters from Coron Island. The stern points away from the island. The wreck’s 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. Maximum depth: 22 meters on the bottom. Slopes from 7 to 22 meters. Recommended certification level: Skin Diver, Open Water Diver.

The “Dive Review” ,a collection of diving testimonials kept at Hub Backpackers Hangout Hostel for Divers in Coron, has the following reviews of Barracuda Lake: “A must do Dive”, “One of the most Bizarre dives in the Philippines.”, “See the thermal layers and do underwater climbing”. Barracuda Lake is located at the North end of Coron Island. This amazing dive starts with some challenging mountain climbing, sometimes in full diving equipment, over sharp limestone cliffs. Wear tennis shoes or sandals and carry your fins on your tank. The climb only takes around 10 minutes and the exertion is worth it. The scenery is spectacular and the underwater terrain is some of the most interesting you will see anywhere on the planet. The top 4 meters is warm fresh water and below 4 meters the water is saline. There are dramatic changes in water temperature from 28 to 38 Celsius. You can even see the thermoclines at 4 and 13 meters. At 34 to 35 meters the water changes from crystal clear to medium brown. If you’re lucky, you might even see the local resident barracuda, approximately 1.5 meters long,  that likes to guard this majestic domain. This is definitely a dive that you should not miss! Barracuda lake’s maximum depth: 35 meters. Recommended certification level: Open Water Diver, Mountain Climbing Diver Specialty.

The Cathedral cave is under Coron Island, Palawan and directly connected to the sea. It’s located on the Southeast side of Coron Island. Cathedral Cave is a fantastic dive spot. It starts 6 meters deep at an enterence next to the sheer rock wall of Coron Island. You enter a tunnel and descend 13 meters. Then you pass out of the tunnel and see a ray of light that penetrates the interior of a cave. The skeletal trunk of a sunken tree and its main branches rest on top of a sand mound in the middle of the cave. Following the light, you pass over the sand dune and continue ahead to the left towards another passage. This leads to a chamber with an air pocket above sea level. Back through the tunnel into the open sea you can dive among the beautiful corals with great visibility. Cathedral Cave MUST ONLY BE ATTEMPTED in calm weather. Never attempt to enter the cave in a storm surge or large waves.  Don’t miss it! Maximum depth: 10 meters inside the cave. Recommended certification level: Advanced Open Water with a Cavern Diver Specialty.

This is a Civilian tanker weighing 834 gross tons. Also called “The Black Island Wreck”, it can be easily identified as it is a small tanker. The ship is approximately 50 meters long sitting upright on a sandy bottom. Located close to Black Island Beach, this wreck is 3.5 hours away from Coron and can be dived as a day trip with a 7 am departure or an overnight dive. This dive site is a fantastic dive for beginner wreck divers as it is a beautiful dive in clear water with  plenty of scorpion, lion, trumpet, groupers, and batfish. This dive maximum depth: 31 meters. The wreck starts in 21-meters of deep water. Recommended certification level: Advanced Open Water Diver, Wreck Diver Specialty.

The Kyokuzan Maru was a Japanese freighter approximately 160-180 meters long. Its location is Northeast of Busuanga Island. The easiest way to dive this wreck is a one hour van ride to the north end of Busuanga then transferring to a rented dive boat. This is done as an all-day trip for two dives on the Kyokuzan Maru or can be extended for a stay of a couple days. This wreck is a beautiful and unique dive. Mainly intact, this sunken ship usually offers great visibility of about 20 meters and has ideal diving conditions. Japanese staff cars and trucks can still be found in the cargo rooms. This dive is best when made while breathing 36% Nitrox for a 75% increase in allowable dive time. The Kyokuzan Maru’s maximum depth is 40 meters at the bottom. The deck level lies between 22 and 28 meters. Recommended certification level: Advanced Open Water Diver, Wreck Diver Specialty.

The Siete Picados Reef is located just to the east beyond the lighthouse in Coron town. This reef is undergoing a huge conservation program and the coral and fish life appear to be improving monthly. The outstanding features of this reef are large formations of pristine staghorn coral, table coral and gorgonia fans. Some of the small islands are connected underwater via small saddles. There are schools of reef fish of all different species,  juvenile barracuda, small Napoleon Wrasse, and green sea turtles. Max depth: 22 meters. Recommended certification level: Open Water Diver