When is the best time to dive Coron?

The best months to dive Coron are November, December, January, February, March, April, May, when conditions are most favorable.

What certification do I need to dive Coron?

Coron requires a minimum certification of Open Water. Currents are typically moderate and the maximum depth reaches 43 m.

How much does it cost to dive Coron?

A 2-tank dive at Coron averages around $55 USD. The destination is in our mid range tier.

What will I see diving Coron?

Coron is known for whale shark, tiger shark, whale, with 5–20 m visibility and 26–30°C water temperatures.

Why does Coron score 59.2/100 on OkToDive?

Coron earns a 59.2/100 Score based on 12 weighted categories including marine life, coral health, visibility, operator quality, and value. Backed by 980 operator reviews.

Coron Diving — Score: 59.2/100 | Conditions, Operators & Guide

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World Class

Intermediate

Coron

PhilippinesAsia-Pacific

59.2

SCORE

11.9986°N

120.2043°E

In September 1944, US Navy planes sank a fleet of Japanese supply ships in Coron Bay. Today, 12 wrecks sit at 10–43m, transformed into thriving artificial reefs. The Okikawa Maru and Irako are the standouts — massive vessels covered in corals where lionfish and batfish school in former cargo holds. Budget wreck diving at its finest.

WWII Japanese Wreck Capital of Asia

Visibility5–20 m

Temperature26–30°C

Max Depth43 m

Currentmoderate

2-Tank Dive$55

Best MonthsNovember, December, January, February

CertificationOpen WaterIntermediate

Score Breakdown

Marine Life

47.0

Species diversity, megafauna encounters, reef fish abundance, macro life, and endemic species.

Species Diversity

Megafauna Encounters

Reef Fish Abundance

Macro Life

Endemic Species

Click any score to see a detailed breakdown

Marine Life Diversity

47.0

Coral & Reef Health

41.0

Visibility & Conditions

56.0

Dive Site Variety

63.0

Water Temperature

72.0

Depth & Access

68.0

Operator Quality

78.0

Topside Experience

64.0

Getting There

68.0

Value & Cost

63.0

Crowding

57.0

Social Proof

57.0

Key Species

whale sharktiger sharkwhale

Dive Types

wallwreckdriftpelagic

Traveling with Non-Divers?

Your non-diving travel companions will find plenty to enjoy topside while you're underwater. Here are some activities to consider.

Activities for Non-Divers

Kayangan Lake swimmingTwin Lagoon kayakingBarracuda Lake snorkelinghot springsisland hoppingCoron town dining

Nearby Cultural Sites

Coron Town hilltop cross viewpoint
Tagbanua indigenous community

Non-Diver Partner Score

8/10

Excellent for non-divers — they'll love it here.

Family FriendlyYes

Restaurants & Nightlifemoderate

Safety & Emergency

Dive Insurance

Dive insurance is essential. Standard travel insurance often excludes scuba diving. We recommend DAN (Divers Alert Network) for comprehensive dive accident coverage.

Learn More at DAN.org

Hyperbaric Chamber300 km — AFP Medical Center Hyperbaric Unit, Manila

Nearest Hospital5 km

Flight to Manila (1 hr) for chamber; basic hospital in Coron town

Skill LevelIntermediate

Current Strengthmoderate

Top Operators

D' Divers

PADI

4.8

480 reviewsNITROX

Dive Right Coron

PADI

4.7

310 reviewsNITROX

Sangat Island Dive Resort

SSI

4.6

190 reviewsNITROX

Compare This Dive Site

Honest reality check

What your dive shop won't tell you

The minimum certification printed on a brochure is the legal floor, not the honest recommendation. Here's what we actually think you should bring to this site.

Recommended logged dives

60+

Below this we'd send you somewhere easier first.

Recommended certification

Advanced Open Water

What will challenge you

→Moderate currents. Expect to drift — this is not a skill-builder site for a first trip after certification.
→Recreational limit of 40 m is reachable here (max depth 43 m). Gas planning and NDL tracking matter.
→Wreck penetration requires Wreck specialty training at minimum, and often decompression planning. Don't improvise inside.
→Nearest hyperbaric chamber is ~300 km away. Evacuation is slow. Dive conservative profiles and get DAN insurance before you fly.

What will surprise you

→Thermoclines can drop water temp by 4°C between the surface and depth. Your wetsuit choice should match the minimum, not the average.

Shoot here

Photography brief

Subjects are only half the shot. A perfect macro site is useless in a three-knot drift, and a wide-angle dream is useless at 35 m with a murky ceiling. These are the conditions, not the hype.

Macro subjects19

Wide angle71

Viz stability65

Hover friendliness55

Natural light31

Recommended kit

→Wide-angle or fisheye (8-15mm range), dual strobes for close-focus wide angle
→Dedicated video light for dark wreck interiors; don't rely on strobes alone

Level up here

What this site will teach you

The dives that made you a better diver are the ones that made you uncomfortable for the right reasons. Here's what this site will quietly train you for.

Drift diving
intermediate
Reef hook discipline, current reading, group cohesion in flow. The skills you'll build here are what every current-dominant site demands — transferable everywhere.
Wreck penetration fundamentals
advanced
Line laying, gas planning for the way back, and silt-out response. Learn it on a site with clear-water wrecks before you try it in darker water.
Deep profile discipline
technical
Max depth 43 m puts you at the edge of recreational limits. You'll build NDL tracking instincts, gas reserve management, and safety-stop discipline you can't get on 18 m reef dives.
Low-viz navigation
intermediate
Compass bearings, natural navigation references, and trust in your plan when you can't see your fin tips. These are the skills that save dives elsewhere.

What it costsEstimates — calibration pending

7-day trip, per person

Rough ranges anchored to existing regional data — not booking quotes. Land-based trip, standard breakdown.

Budget

$1,950–$2,850

Hostels, shore diving, cheap eats

Flights (RT from US): $1,100–$1,300
Accommodation / day: $50–$100
Diving / day: $50–$60
Food / day: $10–$25
Transfers + misc: $80–$230

Mid-range

$3,100–$4,550

3-star hotels, standard boat ops, mix of restaurants

Flights (RT from US): $1,550–$1,850
Accommodation / day: $120–$220
Diving / day: $60–$70
Food / day: $30–$60
Transfers + misc: $80–$230

Splurge

$5,150–$8,100

Top resorts or liveaboards, premium operators

Flights (RT from US): $2,250–$2,750
Accommodation / day: $260–$500
Diving / day: $70–$90
Food / day: $70–$140
Transfers + misc: $80–$230

Flights priced round-trip from a major US hub. Figures are per person on a shared room. Solo travelers add ~30% to accommodation.

Pair with

Build a trip around it

Most divers fly across the world for one destination and don't realise another worth-it site is 90 minutes away. Here are the honest pairings.

Best dive types here

Coron Diving — Philippines