Diving in Apo Reef and Coron
In the evenings, you can relax and unwind while watching the sun as it sets into the ocean and islands in the distance. Coron’s wrecks and the area itself are steeped in history which adds to the draw of this unique diving destination. It is a fantastic place to learn to dive or take the PADI Wreck Diver specialty course.
Introduction
Showcasing some of the best wreck diving on Earth with staggering natural beauty. Coron’s Wrecks and the surrounding area are intriguing. Experience the Geological phenomena of Haloclines in Barracuda lake.
Coron is well known as one of the best wreck diving destinations in Asia and each vessel supports its own living reef system. You’ll find an abundance of critters on each wreck including scorpionfish, nudibranch, eels, crustaceans, octopus and other cephalopods. Surrounding each wreck reef system, look out for schooling fish including barracuda, sweetlips, fusiliers, jacks, groupers, occasional reef sharks, stingrays and batfish. Coron is a stunning eco-tour destination for any nature lover. Dramatic limestone cliffs surround magnificent lagoons of Coron Island and lush green vegetation gives this area a ‘land-that-time-forgot’ feel. If you want to combine jungle trekking and staggering natural beauty with some of the best wreck diving on Earth, look no further than Coron. This is the perfect place to spend your days experiencing historic wreck diving.
In the evenings, you can relax and unwind while watching the sun as it sets into the ocean and islands in the distance. Coron’s wrecks and the area itself are steeped in history which adds to the draw of this unique diving destination. It is a fantastic place to learn to dive or take the PADI Wreck Diver specialty course.
Rooms:
Standard package is based on single or twin-sharing.
All rooms are air-conditioned and come equipped with amenities.
Meals:
Breakfast is served, while lunch and dinner is served a la carte. Dishes are a mix of local and western cuisine.
Dive Site Information
Best Time To Dive :
The best time to dive the Philippines is probably between December and April. The wind changes from NE to SW for the monsoon season of June, July, August and September and this opens up some places that are not so accessible for diving in the drier months. It is also quieter at this time.
Morazan Maru – Also known as the ‘Olympia’, this passenger cargo vessel was built in 1907 and later commandeered for WWI by the British. She was captured by the Japanese who utilised her in WWII. At just under 100 metres / 330 feet, the cargo holds are empty but the steel boilers in the engine room are still intact. The large cargo holds and engine room make this a suitable wreck for newly certified or experienced PADI Wreck Divers.
Iraku Maru – Lying at between 30-45 metres and 100-150 feet, this wreck offers several routes according to experience level. Look out for the tornado of schooling jacks just off the wreck as well as snapper, groupers, barracuda and lionfish above the deck.
7 Islands Reef – Also known as ‘Siete Picados’, this protected wreck is a thriving living reef which is teeming with a variety of reef fish and critters. Look into crevices and shaded areas for nudibranch, flatworms, eels, lionfish, scorpionfish and camouflaged bottom dwellers.
Other highlights include schooling barracuda, groupers, batfish and sweetlips. Barracuda Lake – Out of Coron Island’s seven lakes, this is one of the only two which can be visited. Experience the oil-on-water appearance of a halocline where two different densities of water meet.
The thermal layers in the lake sit at around 14-18 metres / 46-60 feet and the temperature differences are up to 10 degrees Celsius between layers. This is a geologically intriguing dive with dramatic scenery.
Okikawa Maru – Also known as ‘Tai Ei Maru’, this is one of Coron’s shallower wrecks with the main deck at 16 metres / 52 feet and the deepest point at 26 metres / 85 feet. This 160 metre / 525 foot long wreck is encrusted in coral and home to a high density of critters and nudibranch. Look out for large schools of snapper, sweetlips, batfish and barracuda.
Reef Basics:
Good for Advanced, Photography, Drift Diving
Depth:
5 – >40m
Visibility:
10 – >40m
Water temperature:
25°C to 31°C
Number of dive sites:
20
Experience level:
Beginner – Advanced
What's Included
2 way land transfer between airport to dive center.
Air tanks and weights provided
What's Excluded
Air fare between Singapore and the airport there.
Dinner
Dive Trip Requirements
Valid passport and Visa (if applicable)
US Dollar or local currency
Personal Medication
Travel Insurance (recommended)
Able to snorkel/swim in the sea
Minimum of PADI Open Water Diver Certification or equivalent (for leisure diver)
How to Get There
Coron’s nearest airport is Francisco B. Reyes Airport which is serviced daily by flights from Manila.
Air-conditioned public vans wait outside the airport ready to bring travellers to Coron.
Private vans can be arranged but you will pay for the empty seats. It is also possible to access Coron by sea from El Nido and San Jose Mindoro.
Make sure you take a boat that departs from the main peer to be sure that it is licenced and has been safety checked prior to departure.
Payment Terms
SGD 100 deposit required upon confirmation of booking of accommodation and dive trip. Payment payable once upon confirmation of booking of accommodation and or with dive trip package/s.
Equipment Rental
Rates (SGD)/ Per Day :
Dive Torch : SGD 10
Dive Computer : SGD 15
Dive Computer - D4i : SGD 30
Camera : SGD 35
Disclaimer
Estimated rates for booking, Exact cost of dive trip booking depends on each dive itinerary and arrangement package. Invoice on the payment details will be sent to your personal email account upon booking.
Includes Boat transport, and for each pax meal - Breakfast, Lunchand transport back and forth to your hotel or resort or hostel or accomodation.
If you will like to book for the accomodation for a stay for 1 Night or more for yourself and family members or for a tour group etc. , please indicate for your accomodation booking, for the number of days/nights of stay here in Singapore, and we will arrange for you.
Subjective to availability.
An invoice will be sent to you via email on the separate payment charges for accomodation stay.
Applicable to local and foreign visitors :
• The arrangement of the sequence of the itinerary is subject to change with/without prior notice.
• In the event that the venue of attraction is closed to visitors, it will be replaced with an alternative venue if possible.
• May request for travel itinerary from us via email.
• During trade fairs or the peak season, accommodation stay may not be inclusive.
All dive trip/s are subjected to the weather conditions and change in itinerary.
If the dive trip unfortunately has to postpone or cancelled, there can be a request for arrangement for another dive trip. Subjected to approval and availability of boat charters.
Cancellation Policy
Any change in trip dates after booking confirmation will be subjected to SGD 100 administrative fees per change/s.
Full fees will be charges for packages cancelled or postponed with less than 28 days notice.
If you cancel less than 28 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, full payment will be non-refundable.
If more than 28 days, 50% of the package price will be forfeited with an administrative charge of SGD 50 Payable to the dive shop.
If you cancel at least 7 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee.
If you cancel between 3 and 6 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is a 50 percent cancellation fee.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.
* The timings are as estimated proposed. Diving trip is subjected to road / traffic / tide / weather conditions on the day of trip.
Additional Information
* The timings are as estimated proposed. Confirmation will be received at time of booking.
Diving trip is subjected to road / traffic / tide / weather conditions on the day of trip.
All dive trip/s are subjected to the weather conditions and change in itinerary.
If the dive trip unfortunately has to postpone or cancelled, there can be a request for arrangement for another dive trip.
Subjected to approval and availability of boat charters.
Passport & Visa Requirements
Countries with a 30-day visa-free entry or require a 25USD 30-day visa on arrival.
Other nationalities which may be required to apply for visa.
