Coron Island

Coron is the third-largest island in the Calamian Islands in northern Palawan in the Philippines. The island is part of the larger municipality of the same name. It is about 170 nautical miles (310 km) southwest of Manila and is known for several Japanese shipwrecks from World War II. Because of its unique ecological features, the entire area is protected by several legal proclamations. The island and the surrounding fishing grounds are part of the ancestral domain of the indigenous Tagbanwa people, officially designated as such on June 5, 1998. The island is known as Calis among the Tagbanwas and Coronians, and its tribal chieftain is Rodolfo Aguilar I. The island comprises two barangays of the municipality of Coron: Banuang Daan and Cabugao. Geography Partially between Busuanga and Culion islands, Coron Island faces the Sulu Sea and forms the eastern side of Coron Bay. It is about 20 kilometres (12 mi) long from north to south, and 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) at its widest point. Part of the North Palawan Block, Coron Island is distinguished by its Late Triassic Coron Limestone. There are 15 lakes nestled in the rugged terrain, of which three have underground connections to the sea. There are a few mangroves in coastal areas. Diving The areas around some of the shipwrecks has rock formations that provide snorkeling opportunities, with underwater visibility up to 80 feet (24 m). The water is often calm. Coron is known for wreck diving. Its world-renowned wreck dive sites are found in depths as shallow as 6 metres (20 ft) and as deep as 46 metres (151 ft). The ten shipwreck diving sites in Coron Bay include the Akitsushima, Irako, Kogyo Maru, Kyokuzan Maru, Okikawa Maru, Olympia Maru, SS.Morazan, Terukaze Maru, and the '"Lusong Gunboat. Dive sites around Coron include many different types of dives, in addition to the world renowned shipwreck dives, Coron offers many opportunities to dive many pristine reefs. Barracuda Lake With dives extending beyond 30 metres (98 ft), offers a unique experience, with water temperatures increasing during descent to more than 38 °C (100 °F) producing a series of thermoclines, in addition its mixture of Salt and fresh water make for an amazing holocline where the two layers mix. "Günter's Cave", also known as Cathedral Cave, because during a specific time of the day, the sun throws a beam of light through a hole in the cave ceiling, illuminating the inside. Is situated on the south east, It is possible to surface in the cave, as the hole in the cave ceiling allows fresh air to enter. The cave is named after Günther Bernert, who was part of the first dive group to explore the cave, after hearing from local fishermen about its existence. Other points of interest Ecotourism has long surpassed diving as the top draw to Coron Island in the last decade. With domestic tourism on the rise due to a rapidly growing middle class, Coron is one of the top destinations for Filipinos to add to their wish lists, with Coron Island home to some of the most iconic sights. Kayangan Lake Luluyuan "Barracuda" Lake Twin Lagoon Gallery See also List of islands of the Philippines Francisco B. Reyes Airport References External links Media related to Coron Island at Wikimedia Commons Coron travel guide from Wikivoyage