Batangas & Coron

Dive areas you may visit on this itinerary:

Apo Reef: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, is considered by many to be among the best diving in the Philippines. The whole North East side of the reef consists of drop offs and overhangs where Whitetip and Grey Reef sharks, turtles, barracuda and shoals of snapper are common.

Coron Bay: The Japanese World War II wrecks around Busuanga Island, particularly in Coron Bay, are particularly fascinating, with twelve wrecks so far been located in recreational diving depths. It's therefore no surprise that Coron is a mecca for wreck divers. Explore the Japanese ships wrecks from the Second World War, including the Okikawa Maru, a 160-metre-long ship which was sunk by a direct hit on the bow area. You will also dive the Olympia Maru, a massive 120-metre vessel, the East Tangat Gunboat, a shallow dive on this 140 metre long submarine hunter that is ideal for exploration. The two main boilers are a big attraction where hard coral growth is extensive, and plenty of scorpion fish on the decks. You will also have the chance to explore the Akitsusima, one of Coron’s most famous dives, a wreck of the sea plane tender, and Irako, a refrigeration ship for the Japanese Imperial Navy.

Nanshin Maru Dimipac Island: Black Island Wreck, or Nanshin Maru, a small tanker which was converted to take fuels (such as diesel): she is approximately 50 metres long sitting upright on a sandy bottom. Dimipac Island offers relaxed diving, with sandy slopes on which you may meet turtles, dendritic jawfish, leaf scorpionfish, ribbon eel and who knows, maybe even a dugong! The water around the island is relatively warm, with very little current, offering heavenly photo opportunities!

Kyokuszan Maru: Kyokuszan is in Maricaban Bay off the island of Busuanga Island, Coron. Kyokuzan was an auxiliary supply ship of the Japanese Royal Navy sunken by a US carrier-based aircraft. She is approximately 140 metres long, with beautiful corals grown over car parts, tires and the body of the ship

Batangas: The Batangas region is known for the many numerous smaller creatures that can be found along the sloping reefs and soft coral covered walls. It is here you will find many new and often unidentified species of nudibranchs, along with ghost pipefish, pipehorses, seahorses, octopus and frog fish.

Shark Ridge: A great place to see white tip and black tip reef sharks. Manta rays are sometimes spotted here, as well as hawksbill turtles and bumphead parrot fish. Binangaan Drop Off is another fantastic location with huge schools of snapper and tuna. Look out for spotted eagle rays in the blue, as well as other pelagic species.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: You must be an Advanced Open Water diver or equivalent and have logged a minimum of 30 dives to join this safari. This itinerary is suitable for tech divers.