There are few places in the world which hold a greater abundance of thriving coral ecosystems than Coron Bay. With its nutrient rich, relatively shallow waters, and distance from industrial centers in the Philippines, the norther region of Palawan remains a pristine habitat in which marine life can thrive.
The wreck of the Okikawa Maru, a 160M oil tanker, lays upright with a maximum depth of 26M. It was reported to have been completely full of fuel oil when it was bombed during the attack on September 24th, 1944. The vessel was sunk on October 9th during a follow up attack by US carrier based aircraft. At just over 10,000 gt, the shear size of this vessel is staggering to behold. The bow lays almost severed from the rest of the ship, but remains in line with the hull's structure. The damage from the bomb's which sunk the vessel is awe inspiring.
Almost 80 years later, the Okikawa Maru is heavily encrusted with thriving coral colonies of all varieties. Millions of tropical fish swarm over every corner of the ship's super structure. The growth is nothing short of visually overwhelming. After a descent over the stern, we entered the ship through a small passageway just inside the gigantic rudder, which was an access point to maintain and grease the ship's drive shaft. This hallway lead into the remains of the engine room (the engines were salvaged during the 1950's, as it was explained to me) which we then exited into an administrative deck, where all sorts of ghostly metal fragments remained scattered about. Diving the Okikawa Maru is both a humbling and inspiring experience, and it makes the mind reel to consider how much force it must have taken to send the ship to the bottom.
The Lusong Gun Boat, which is the shallowest of the wrecks in Coron Bay, has transformed into a vibrant coral garden unlike any other in the area. Surrounded by the largest and most ornate stag horn corals i've ever seen - the hull of this vessel hardly resembles a ship after decades of being reclaimed by the sea. Its remains have given life to an astounding array of sponges and soft corals, which ornately decorate the port side of the vessel. Diving the the Lusong Gun boat is a surreal experience, as the vessel's proximity to the surface provides for dramatic beams of light to illuminate the expanse of the coral growth. The Lusong Gun Boat is also very close to Sangat Island, making it an ideal afternoon dive (or snorkeling spot) after a set of deep dives in the morning. The Lusong Gun Boat's shallow depth makes it an ideal dive for new divers, while serving as one of the most exceptional sites for photography and videography.