Best Dive Sites
7 Islands Reef
by boat - all levels
Its local name is Siete Picado, and it is one of the most popular reef dives around Coron because of its close distance to the town (only 20min with the boat). Also good for a single dive or night dive, but usually and best in combination with Barracuda lake.
Since a couple of years this reef is a…
Akitsushima
By boat - CMAS ** / AOW
Located in between the islands of Lajo and Manglet south of Concepcion village on Busuanga Island, lies the Akitsushima Wreck. One of the few real warships among the Coron wrecks. The Akitsushima was sunk by the Americans in 1944. The wreck is 148m (485ft) long, had 4.650 G.R.T. and lies on port…
Arena Island
by liveboard - all levels/ AOWD
Arena island, 89 km northeast of the Tubbataha reefs and Cavili close by are small coral islets and sand cays with fringing reefs. Arena has a lighthouse and seaweed farms.
Further north lie Caluse and Cagayancillo, both surrounded by reefs. This whole area is not so nice to dive, since there has…
Ariara House Reef
By boat - CMAS ** / AOW
Ariara Reef
By boat - CMAS * / OW
Baby Shark
By boat - All divers
Bahura
By boat - All divers
Part of the eastern limit of the Balabac Marine Reserve, a beautiful coral area rich in fauna and flora. However dive must be performed timely with highest tide.
Fishing restricted. RA8550.
Banayan Point (Matinloc Island)
by boat - all levels
Situated on the southern tip of the island, this a great site to see pelagics. Currents can be strong, bringing with them tuna, jacks and mackerel. Don't be so busy viewing the fish that you miss the coral encrusted rocks.
Barracuda Lake
By boat & from shore - All divers
Located in the middle of the north-west coast of Coron Island further inland, the access is by boat. In the north-west coast of Coron Island there's a cave with limestone cliffs, exactly between Pimaa Point and Balolo Point. In the middle of the bay there is a gap in the cliffs at sea level. You…
Barry's Reef
By boat - All divers
This elongated submerged reef is located in a large cove that is about 20 minutes away from the Club. The top of the reef is at 3 to 4 meters ( 12 feet) and the slope sharply drops to 27 meters (90 feet).
There are plenty of macro subjects on this reef. Spanish dancers, juvenile spotted sweetlips,…
Bastera Reef & Oceanic Wreck
by liveboard - cmas**/ AOWD
Bastera (Maeander Reef) is a sand cay 93 km southwest of Tubbataha south island. The wreck of the Oceanic lies on the east side. Bancoran island, a further 60 km southwest of Bastera, is densely wooded and inhabited.
Biet Point (Miniloc)
by boat - all levels
This site is on the southern tip of the island and ranges from 13-21m. There are plenty of lettuce corals and sponges. You'll encounter jacks, barracuda, squid, cuttlefish and angelfish. The site is very sheltered, so it's a good all year round spot to explore.
Bikanayos Rock (Matinloc Island)
by boat - all levels
Also known as Picanayas, on the western side of the island, the site has some large boulders that whitetip sharks frequent. Pelagics can often be seen here as well.
Black Island wreck
By boat - All divers
It is located in the east side of Malajon Island, alias Black Island due to its black rocks. The wreck is right in front of the beach next to a ship stranded on the shore.
The 45m (148ft) long coastal ship of unknown origin lies upright on a sandy slope. The bow at 32m (105ft) and its stern at 20m…
Block #1
By boat - CMAS *** / Rescue
Bugor-Reef
by boat - all levels
This excellent reef near the north-shore of Culion Island slopes from 3m down to 35m+.It usually offers a quite good visibility of 15-20m. The best parts are the shallow ones with a plenty of different species of hard and soft corals and a rich fish life, including the common reef-fishes like…
Cathedral Cave
By boat - CMAS ** / AOW
The entrance is located north north-east of Calis Point on Coron Island where some overhanging cliffs lead to small grottoes and holes. Once you've found the big cave entrance you have to find the narrow tunnel in the bottom leading to the cathedral cave.
This is an excellent diving excursion. You…
Charlys Reef
By boat - All divers
Constancia Reef
By boat - CMAS ** / AOW
Coral garden
By boat - All divers
It is located some hundred meters north-west of Calis Point, which is the southern tip of Coron Island. First you get to a beautiful coral garden and then you descent at the slope to 40m (131ft) or deeper. The flat roof of the reef is covered with marvellous stony- and soft corals, among them big…
Coron Island Fishing Boat
By boat - All divers
Located a few hundred meters south-west of the bay entrance to the Barracuda Lake, exactly between Limaa Point and Balolo Point at the north-west coast of Coron Island there is a fishing boat wreck. Here you find some areas for diving and snorkeling with beautiful rocks and sandy coves. Most of the…
Crossing
By boat - All divers
This reef is a natural submerged bridge between Dimakya Island and Islang Walang Langaw.The reef is about 2 to 3 kilometers long(about a mile).
This reef can account for three to four dive spots and each spot can be a different experience for the diver. The main distinguishing characteristic of this…
DALL Reef
By boat - All divers
Dilumacad Island
by boat - cmas**/ AOWD
Situated 6 km west of El Nido, this island is best known for a cave dive that can be found on the north side. The entrance is wide enough for two divers to enter together and a 15-20m tunnel leads to a cavern at the centre. The bottom is sandy where small fish and crabs can be seen.The way out is…
Dimakya Island
From shore - All divers
The Dimakya island house reef provides ample opportunity to spot a huge variety of reef fish and schooling fish, as well as sponges, seastars, sea cucumbers, turtles, cuttlefish and giant clams to name but a few, making this also an excellent place for a snorkelling enthusiast.
Dimakya North
By boat - All divers
On the north side of the island is a gently sloping reef. The corals are not as colorful as in the classroom but the chances of seeing mantas, eagle rays, and marine turtles are greater in this area, as well as lobsters and a great assortment of reef fish call this home.
Dimakya North-East
By boat - All divers
The northeast end of the island features a small place that has quite a number of Porites (hump corals), some of them as big as a small one bedroom house. The place is a good spot for macrophotography: nudibranchs, crinoids, slugs, and other various invertebrates proliferate in this reef.)
Dimakya West
By boat - All divers
On the west side of the island, right in front of the lounge is a reef with a beautiful coral garden. The reef features soft and hard corals in an explosion of colors, amazingly tamed reef fish, and untold surprises. On the steep slope, which runs down to 17 meters (about 55 feet), there are alot of…
Dumunpalit Island
By boat - CMAS * / OW
Great site with pink soft corals from the shore to 25m deep. Pelagic species can be found along the slope.
No accomadations exist on this island except for the guards that live there. However, if divers wish to camp on the island overnight, they may submit a request. Rate for camping is $55 per…
East Tangat Gunboat
By boat - CMAS * / OW
Pretty close to the east-shore of Tangat–Island, you can dive a small, 35m long Japanese anti-submarine-chaser and Tug-boat in shallow water of min. 3m down to max 19m. A perfect dive for beginners or a 3.rd dive of the day, and of course, for underwater-photographer! Her original Japanese…
Helmuth Reef
By boat - All divers
House Reef North
From shore - All divers
House Reef West
From shore - All divers
Is one of the two house reefs of Coco Loco
Ina's Place
By boat - All divers
ideal place for check dive
Inbogal Point (Matinloc Island)
by boat - all levels
Just to the southwest of Bikanayos, this site has some impressive gorgonians and green corals on a slope to 35m. Jacks, tuna and mackerel are common and it is home to a unique species of angelfish (Pomacanthus annularis). Only here and at Tres Marias can this fish be found.
Irako
By boat - CMAS ** / AOW
Located in the south-east of Lusong Island south of the Kogyo Maru, the Irako, a Japanese supply ship, 147m (482ft) long with 9.570 G.R.T., was sunk in this furious strike of the American Air force in September 24, 1944.
The Irako, a provision-vessel for refrigerating food, sunk after disastrous…
Island Walang Langaw
By boat - All divers
South:
The name, literally translated into English means ISLAND WITH NO TREES, is located on the east side of Club Paradise, just ten minutes away by boat. The reef consists of extensive hump coral formations on a shallow, gently sloping terrain.
The reef starts at 3 meters(10 feet) and ends at…
Island Walang Tao
By boat - All divers
North:
This short but beautiful reef can be reached by a 15 minute boat ride from the resort. This island's name in English is THE ISLAND WITHOUT PEOPLE. The reef gently slopes down to 18 meters (60 feet), is home to one long black tip shark and on occasions, 2 meter (7 foot) nurse sharks patrolling…
Jessie Beazeley Reef
by liveboard - cmas**/ AOWD
The name of this reef is also written as Jezzly Beazley on some maps. This reef lies about 23 km northwest of the Tubbataha reefs but is not protected as a Marine Park, so fishing is allowed here. The reef here is so small, you probably have visited it in two dives.
This place is not sheltered at…
Jessie Beazley North End
By boat - CMAS ** / AOW
Gradual slopes are rich in corals. There is also a drop-off which is undercut, giving the reef the overall shape of a mushroom. Shark sighting is guaranteed on any dive, with barracuda and Spanish mackerel as common visitors. Currents in the area can change direction within minutes.
Jessie Beazley Reefshark Point
By boat - CMAS * / OW
Jessie Beazley White Sand Cay
By boat - CMAS * / OW
Jessie Beazly South End
By boat - CMAS ** / AOW
Gradual slopes are rich in corals. There is also a drop-off which is undercut, giving the reef the overall shape of a mushroom. Shark sighting is guaranteed on any dive, with barracuda and Spanish mackerel as common visitors. Currents in the area can change direction within minutes.
Jozef Reef
By boat - CMAS * / OW
Junes Reef
By boat - All divers
Kalambuyan Reef
by boat - all levels
A 30min boat ride in the north–west of Okikawa maru this dive-site is one of the best reefs in the region and offers you a beautiful, healthy environment under water with usually pleasant visibility and an excellent diversity of corals and fishes. It is also very good for…
Kogyo Maru
By boat - CMAS ** / AOW
Located in the east of the south-eastern corner of Lusong Island. South of the Olympia Maru, this Japanese freight ship, 158m (518ft) long with 6.352 G.R.T., was sunk by the Americans in 1944. It lies in a depth of 34m (112ft) on its starboard side. The port side is in 22m (72ft).
This is an…
Kongs Reef
By boat - All divers
Kyokuzan Maru
By boat - CMAS ** / AOW
This Japanese freighter measures about 152 m long and lies almost upright at an average 30m depth; she provides a beautiful wreck dive experience. In excellent condition, this huge sunken ship usually has about 20 metres visibility and ideal diving conditions. In the cargo rooms hold Japanese cars…
Lusong Gunboat
By boat - All divers
Located in the southern end of Lusong Island, and northwest of Irako the wreck lies in shallow waters between sea level and 14m. Good for snorkeling and photographing. The wreck was recovered earlier and all the superstructure is gone.
It is covered with sponges and soft corals and provides…
Lusong Reef
by boat - all levels
The reef itself stretches from the Lusong Wreck to the north, for around 2 sea-miles and offers good to excellent quality of hard and soft corals.Because of the protection of a pearl-farm nearby, it has also a pretty good fish life, including turtles, cattle-fish, rays and plenty of macro-stuff like…
Madonna Reef
By boat - All divers
Michel Reef
By boat - All divers
Morazán Maru (former Olympia Maru)
by boat - all levels
Freighter and passenger liner built in England, 1908, sold to Central America, where she served (among others) the route between Honduras and New Orleans. Captured by the Imperial Japanese Navy in Shanghai 1941 and used as an Auxiliary Cargo Vessel.The origin of this vessel was for long time unknown…
North Atoll - Amos Rock
by liveboard - cmas**/ AOWD
The wall is wonderfully covered with huge gorgonian fans and whip corals and if there is some current this place is just packed with large fish! Here you can see so many sharks you'll give up on counting, mostly white tip reef sharks and gray reef sharks. There are also plenty of mackerels,…
North Atoll - Bird island
by liveboard - all levels
This is a steep wall with overhangs, swim throughs and crevices. Some areas have sand trickling down from above like a waterfall and there is a corner where you feel strong currents coming from both sides. The reef top is quite nice with lots of hard coral heads and sandy areas in-between. There are…
North Atoll - Gorgonian Channel
By boat - CMAS ** / AOW
North Atoll - Malayan Wall
By boat - CMAS ** / AOW
North Atoll - Malayan Wreck
By boat - CMAS ** / AOW
You can see the remains of a Malayian ship that stranded here from the mooring place. You can have a strong current in one of the sides, but lots of fish will hang around there too, a large group of dogtooth tuna and even an eagle ray. On the reef top you can see moray eels, angelfishes,…
North Atoll - Marine Park
By boat -
North Atoll - Ranger Station
By boat - CMAS ** / AOW
There is a channel going to the ranger station.
North Atoll - Seafan Alley
By boat - CMAS ** / AOW
North Atoll - Shark Airport
By boat - CMAS ** / AOW
North Atoll - South Rock
by liveboard - all levels/ AOWD
Steep wall with a lot of gorgonian fans, and some overhangs. It's easy to encounter large group of tunas and longface emperors. On the sandy areas there are always a lot of sea cucumbers like the special looking Thelenota ananas. As during nearly every other dive, there are several turtles.
North Atoll - Terraces
By boat - CMAS ** / AOW
North Atoll - Wall Street
By boat - CMAS ** / AOW
North Atoll - Washing Machine
By boat - CMAS ** / AOW
North Rocks
By boat - CMAS ** / AOW
Expert back-up both above and under water is required. A slope runs to 15 meters ending in a wall which seemingly has no base due to its depth. Big snappers and grunts that do not seem to favor the southern reef can be seen around the North Rock. Sharks are a common sight but pelagic fish might not…
Okikawa Maru (former Taiei Maru)
By boat - CMAS ** / AOW
This was a civilian tanker/oiler ordered form Mainila to Coron Bay on the 22nd September 1944. Two days later, she was hit by bombs and sank. She is 160m long and lies two miles south of Concepcion in the northwest of the bay. Confusion has reigned for a while about its true name. Many called it The…
Olympia Maru (former Tangat Wreck)
By boat - CMAS ** / AOW
Located in between the northern tip of Lusang Island and the island of Tangat, this originally thought japanese freight ship, 137m (449ft) long with 5.617 G.R.T, was sunk by the Americans in 1944. The reality is that nobody knows his origin, but it was supposedly built in Europe. The Olympia Maru…
Sand Bar
By boat - All divers
South Atoll - Black Rock
by liveboard - CMAS ** / AOW
Steep wall not covered with much corals. In-between sandy channels coming from the reef top. There are some sharks patrolling, mostly white tip reef sharks and a few Napoleon wrasses. Sometimes mantas are spotted in this area.
South Atoll - Black Rock North
By boat - CMAS ** / AOW
South Atoll - Delsan Wreck
By boat - CMAS ** / AOW
South Atoll - Eiger Wall
By boat - CMAS ** / AOW
South Atoll - Garden Wall
By boat - CMAS ** / AOW
South Atoll - Light House End
By boat - CMAS ** / AOW
South Atoll - Lighthouse
by liveboard - CMAS ** / AOW
Steep wall and a large reef top area. Hard and soft corals, anemones with anemone fishes, lots of anthias.
South Atoll - South West Wall
By boat - CMAS ** / AOW
An array of staghorn coral on a short slope runs down to 15 meters and the start of the drop-off. Rainbow runners and jewfish frequent the area.
South Islet
By boat - CMAS ** / AOW
This area presents good drift-diving opportunities. A wide range of pelagic fishes can be seen in the drop-off, which has a depth in excess of 60 meters. Moorish idols, and crayfish can be observed in great numbers. Snorkeling is possible around the stern of the wrecked log carrier, the Delsan, but…
Tagbao Island (Miniloc)
by boat - all levels
Off the northwest point of Miniloc, this tiny island is also known locally as Tres Marias in reference to the three reefs that lie between the two islands. As it's shallow here, snorkeling is good and beginner divers can expect to see lots of reef fish, colourful corals and painted crayfish.
Tagtuan Reef
By boat - CMAS ** / AOW
Talei Maru/ Concepcion Wreck
By boat - CMAS ** / AOW
Located in the south of the village of Concepcion on Busuanga Island edging at the pearl farm of the Lusteveco Company. The wreck is not visible any more above sea level. The 168m (551ft) long Japanese 10.045t auxiliary tanker Taiei Maru was sunk in 1944 by American planes. It lies almost straight…
Tarok
By boat - CMAS *** / DiveMaster
The Classroom
By boat - beginners
On the west side of the island, right in the middle of this confusion of corals and color is a clearing with white sand at 3 meters (10 feet) of water. This is the site called the classroom, indeed a very ideal place to teach scuba.
The Laberinth
by boat - all levels
This is a boulder formation creating a special environment underwater. One can dive trough the narrow corridors they create, and the occasional swim-through. Some macro life can be found here.
The Wall
By boat -
The Wall (Miniloc)
by boat - all levels
This is one of the most popular dives in El Nido. This wall drops off for around 30m, and it's all covered with soft corals and plenty of nudibranchs.
Turtle Reef
By boat - All divers
Ancient sea turtles swims beside a coral reef garden in Palawan.
Twin Rocks (Miniloc)
by boat - all levels
On the north side of the island, this site again slopes from 13-21m and has a sandy bottom. It is charactarised by a profusion of table corals, sea whips and sponges. You will see small stingray and angelfish here.
Unknown Wreck
By boat - CMAS *** / Rescue
Virgin Island
By boat - CMAS *** / Rescue