Coron Reefs and Wrecks Snorkeling Tour

Snorkelling Coron's reefs and wartime wrecks

Coron, at the northern tip of Palawan, has some of the best wreck snorkelling in the world - a fleet of Japanese ships sunk in 1944 now lying in clear, shallow-enough water to explore from the surface. This tour pairs those famous wrecks with Coron's vivid coral reefs, so you spend the day floating over both living gardens and history. You do not need to dive: many of the wrecks sit shallow enough that snorkellers can see the ghostly shapes below.

The wrecks

Coron Bay holds nearly a dozen WWII shipwrecks, and several rise close enough to the surface to snorkel. Hovering above a hull draped in coral and circled by fish, with shafts of light cutting through the blue, is eerie and beautiful in equal measure. Your guide knows which wrecks suit snorkellers on the day's conditions and points out the features below.

The reefs and lagoons

Coral gardens

Between wreck stops the boat visits Coron's reefs - shallow coral gardens alive with reef fish, and warm, glassy water ideal for easy snorkelling. Some itineraries also swing past the area's signature limestone scenery and a swim stop in a sheltered cove.

Plan your day

The tour suits swimmers and snorkellers of most levels, with life vests for the less confident; the wrecks are a bonus you can admire from the surface. Bring swimwear, reef-safe sunscreen, a towel and an underwater camera - gear is normally provided. Coron is at its best in the dry season from late November to May, when seas are calm and visibility is high. Book ahead, especially in peak months when the best boats go early.