What is the best time to dive Coron?

The best months to dive Coron in Philippines are November, December, January, February, March, April, May. Water temperatures range from 26°C to 30°C during peak season.

Coron reaches a maximum depth of 43 m, with visibility ranging from 5–20 m. The full depth range requires Advanced certification at minimum; some zones are technical diver territory.

What marine life can you see at Coron?

Coron is known for encounters with whale shark, tiger shark, whale. The site features wall, wreck, drift, pelagic diving across 12 named sites, with a marine life score of 47/100 in OkToDive's ranking.

Is Coron good for beginners?

Coron is better suited to experienced divers. Currents can be moderate and depths reach 43 m. A minimum Open Water certification is required, and OkToDive recommends at least 100 logged dives before visiting.

How much does it cost to dive Coron?

A 2-tank dive at Coron averages around $55 USD, placing it in the mid range tier. Both boat and shore access are available, giving divers flexibility on budget.

Coron Diving — WWII Japanese Wrecks in Palawan

Back to directory

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

Click any score to see a detailed 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

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 shark tiger shark whale

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 score

8/10

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

Family FriendlyYes

Restaurants & Nightlifemoderate

Safety & emergency

Dive insurance

DAN recommends dive insurance for all divers.

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

Coron in Philippines scores 59.2/100in OkToDive's 12-category data-driven rating. Best for wall diving with 5–20m visibility and 26–30°C water temps. A 2-tank dive costs ~$55 USD. Peak season: November, December, January.

Last updated: 2026-05-24

Who should dive here

Best for

+ Wreck diving enthusiasts
+ Experienced drift divers comfortable in current
+ Groups seeking 12+ named dive sites in one area

Skip if

− You don't have Advanced certification
− You need shore access — this is boat-only

Verdict

Choose Coron over similar Asia-Pacific destinations when operator quality matters more than coral health

How Coron compares

Site	Score	Visibility	Cost/dive	Best for
Coron	59.2	5–20m	$55	wall, wreck
Komodo National Park	78.4	9–30m	$100	drift, reef
Tubbataha Reef	76.0	24–46m	$200	wall, reef
Bohol	74.3	10–30m	$60	wall, reef
Kimbe Bay	72.4	15–35m	$150	reef, wall

Current conditions

10/10Excellent

Waves0.3 m

Swell0.22 m

Wind3.1 km/h

Air33.5°C

Overcast

43d ago

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

“Intermediate minimum — deep profiles and variable viz.”

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.

Time of day

When to dive it

Every dive shop gives you this briefing at 7am. We just wrote it down. Tidal dependency: slight. Optimal window: First light to 11am for best visibility..

Morning

Viz
moderate
Current
moderate
Crowd
light

reef exploration
photography

Best light and calmest conditions before afternoon wind picks up.

Afternoon

Viz
moderate
Current
moderate
Crowd
moderate

drift diving
second tank

Wind chop can reduce viz. Still diveable but morning is better.

Month-by-month

Dive forecast

Realistic conditions by month. Viz ranges are what you should actually expect, not best-case marketing numbers. Confidence % is the share of days that match this profile historically.

Month	Viz (m)	Temp (°C)	Current	Sea	Rain	Confidence	Highlights
Jan	13–20	28	Mod	Calm	Light	70%	wreck visibility good, peak season crowds
Feb	13–20	28	Mod	Calm	Light	70%	wreck visibility good, peak season crowds
Mar	13–20	28	Mod	Calm	Light	70%	wreck visibility good, peak season crowds
Apr	13–20	28	Mod	Calm	Light	70%	wreck visibility good
May	13–20	28	Mod	Calm	Light	70%	wreck visibility good
Jun	5–13	29	Mod	Mod	Wet	70%	wreck visibility good
Jul	5–13	29	Mod	Mod	Wet	70%	wreck visibility good, manta season
Aug	5–13	29	Mod	Mod	Wet	70%	wreck visibility good, manta season
Sep	5–13	29	Mod	Mod	Wet	70%	wreck visibility good, manta season
Oct	5–13	29	Mod	Mod	Wet	70%	wreck visibility good
Nov	13–20	28	Mod	Calm	Light	70%	wreck visibility good
Dec	13–20	28	Mod	Calm	Light	70%	wreck visibility good

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.

Deep diving comfort
advanced
Regular dives past 30m build confidence at depth.

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

Budget decision guide

Choose Budget if you prioritize dive count over comfort — hostels and shore diving maximize bottom time per dollar. Choose Mid-range for the best balance of comfort and value — most divers land here. Choose Splurge for premium operators, private guides, and top-tier accommodation — worth it for special trips or non-diving partners.

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