Guest Blog by Phil North

Phil North, from Dive Worldwide takes us on a journey through time to discover the wartime shipwrecks of Coron Bay.

Coron Bay, in the Philippines’ Palawan province, is known for having some of the best wreck diving in the world.

Divers can discover famous Japanese vessels from World War II, along with fascinating historical artefacts, guns and ammunition that have been eerily preserved through time. The sheer number of sunken ships in such a condensed area is a major draw for wreck enthusiasts, but the Philippines islands have also been at the epicentre of major events that have shaped global history.

A Snaphot of the Philippines’ Maritime History

‘The Philippines’ was so named in the 16th century, when Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan claimed the islands for King Phillip II of Spain. Magellan was killed in battle by a local chief, but the eighteen surviving members of his crew became the first people to circumnavigate the globe! For three hundred years, the Philippines remained colonised by the Spanish, until eventually the Americans won the territory in 1898.

The Japanese occupied the islands during World War Two – this fateful strategic move was motivated by disputes between the US and Japan over control of the Pacific and South East Asia. The 1941 Japanese invasion occurred just ten hours before the Pearl Harbour attacks, precipitating one of the most significant turning points in the war.

Shipwrecks! What happened in Coron Bay during WWII?

On 24 September 1944, the third airfleet of the US Navy strike force launched a surprise attack on the Japanese supply fleet, which was hiding in the islands around Coron Bay. Twenty-four Helldiver Bombers and ninety-six Hellcat Fighters destroyed twelve Japanese ships in a devastating attack that lasted less than twenty minutes.

Lost for decades at the bottom of the ocean, this fascinating moment in history is now exclusively experienced by scuba divers.

What’s it like to dive the Japanese wrecks?

Dive Worldwide’s team member and dive expert, Joanna Charter, reflects on personal experiences of diving in Coron Bay. Joanna has dived the Morazan, the Lusong Gunboat, Kogyo and the East Sangat wreck sites, and recommends diving during the half-moon, when the tides are at their weakest:

“Diving the wrecks of Coron was a delight. Most are penetrable. I remember that I was able to explore the engine room of the Morazan Maru and size myself up against the giant boilers, which now play home to many crustaceans.

The cargo holds of the Kogyo Maru are teaming with glassfish and the current that runs over the top has allowed a coral garden to form. The shallower East Sangat wreck is great to explore in the afternoon, after the deeper morning dives, and still gives you that metal fix. Although a lot has been salvaged, the size of the wrecks allows good and interesting access, well worth an adding to any wreck lover’s bucket list!”

Coron wrecks by dive level

Today, Coron Bay  is considered one of the most outstanding wreck diving sites in South East Asia, with access to vast oil tankers, gun boats, sub chasers, cargo and supply vessels, and a seaplane carrier.

There are ten key Japanese shipwrecks for divers to discover: Teru Kaze Maru, Olympia Maru, Irako, Kogyo Maru, Morazan Maru, Lusong Gunboat, Akitsushima, Okikawa Maru, Nanshin Maru and Kyokuzan Maru – but we’ll look at a few of the highlights for each dive level.

Advanced divers

Irako is considered the jewel of the Coron wrecks. Here divers can access a well-preserved 125m long supply vessel, but with strong currents, challenging access points and depths of 33-42 metres, this site is not for beginners. Those who are qualified will be rewarded with access to cargo holds, engine rooms and an abundance of marine life inhabitants.

Akitsushima Maru is another site for experienced divers – this impressive 4.5 tonne warship was designed to carry seaplanes, but it was sunk by torpedo fire. AA-machine guns from the vessel can still be seen on the seabed.

Civilian oil tanker, Okikawa Maru, is the largest shipwreck in Coron Bay at 170m. Although the depths are quite shallow (12-25m), strong currents and low visibility may demand some diving skill.

Novice to Intermediate divers

Kogyo Maru is a relatively easy dive, with a maximum depth of 34m. The 135m Japanese freighter is on its side, and divers can easily access the cargo holds and witness anti-aircraft weapons covered in coral. The Kogyo Maru survived the 21 September 1944 attacks, but was sunk a few days later by US dive-bombers.

Olympia Maru, close to Sangat Island, is very accessible for both divers and snorkellers, with depths of just 3-19m. Here you can see an upright submarine-chaser, along with the chance of colourful mandarin fish and plenty of macro critters.

Another easy dive, albeit with some intermediate elements, is the Auxiliary supply ship Morazan Maru. This is one of the most popular wrecks in Coron for divers and underwater photographers alike, thanks to the stunning black coral-covered portholes, the exciting engine room, and the diverse resident marine life, such as barracudas, squid, sweetlips, groupers and scorpion fish. Experienced divers can discover the air pocket room or swim the full length of the ship!

“Morazan is a nice deep wreck with lots of swim-throughs. It was good to go inside at one end, then drift back along the top. The top of the wreck itself is covered in a garden of plate corals.” – Joanna Charter

Diving Trips in Coron Bay

Eager for your own piece of underwater history? Explore ships bejewelled with soft and black corals, and experience the strange incongruence of encountering schools of fish, critters and even turtles while swimming around 1940s wartime relics.

Dive Coron Bay

Experience up to 12 guided boat dives, exploring the most fascinating wrecks in Coron Bay. You stay at the eco-friendly Sangat Island Dive Resort, which is one of the area’s best kept secrets and has an on-site dive centre. You also have the opportunity to visit the popular dive sites of Cathedral Cove and Barracuda Lake, as well as the topside delights of the Calamian islands. Find out more…

Get Wrecked – Truk & Sangat

Combine two world-leading WWII Japanese shipwreck sites – Coron Bay in the Philippines (includes six dives) and Truk Lagoon in Micronesia (includes 12 dives). Resort and liveaboard accommodation options are available. Find out more…

Get in touch with the friendly Dive Worldwide team for first-hand advice on your next diving holiday to the Philippines. They offer a superb range of resort and liveaboard options. Visit the website, send an enquiry, or call the expert team on 01962 302087.