Coron Island

Coron is the third-largest island in theCalamian Islands in northernPalawan in thePhilippines. The island is part of the largermunicipality of the same name. It is about 170 nautical miles (310 km) southwest ofManila and is known for severalJapanese shipwrecks ofWorld War II vintage. Because of its unique ecological features, the entire area is protected by several legal proclamations.^[1]

Coron Island
Geography
Twin Lagoon, Coron Island
Coron Island Location within the Philippines
Coordinates	11°55′45″N120°14′30″E / 11.92917°N 120.24167°E /11.92917; 120.24167
Archipelago	Calamian Group of Islands
Adjacent to	Sulu Sea
Area	71 km² (27 sq mi)
Length	20 km (12 mi)
Width	9 km (5.6 mi)
Highest elevation	600 m (2000 ft)^[1]
Administration
Philippines
Region	Mimaropa
Province	Palawan
Municipality	Coron
Demographics
Population	2649 (2010)^[2]

The island and surrounding fishing grounds are part of theancestral domain of the indigenousTagbanwa people, officially designated such on June 5, 1998.^[1] Known as Calis among the Tagbanwas and Coronians, its tribal chieftain isRodolfo Aguilar I.

The island comprises two barangays of the municipality of Coron: Banuang Daan and Cabugao.^[1]

Geography

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Partially betweenBusuanga andCulion islands, Coron Island faces theSulu Sea and forms the eastern side ofCoron 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 theNorth Palawan Block, Coron Island is distinguished by itsLate Triassic CoronLimestone.^[3]

There are 15 lakes nestled in the rugged terrain, of which three have underground connections to the sea. There are a fewmangroves in coastal areas.^[1]

Diving

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The area around the wrecks has rock formations which provide forsnorkeling opportunities, with underwater visibility extending up to 80 feet (24 m). The water is often calm.

Coron is known forwreck diving. Wreck dive sites are found in depths as shallow as 12 metres (39 ft) and as deep as 43 metres (141 ft). Wreck diving sites in Coron Bay include theAkitsushima,Irako,Kogyo Maru,Kyokuzan Maru,Okikawa Maru,Olympia Maru.^[4]

Dive sites around Coron include many different reef dive sites and "Günter's Cave", also known as Cathedral Cave because during a certain time of the day, the sun throws a beam of light through a hole in the cave ceiling, illuminating the inside. 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.^[5]

Other points of interest

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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 list, with Coron Island containing some of the most iconic.