Coron Dive Report
Coron Bay is situated inside the tropical South China Sea. The average water temperature is around 28 - 30 degrees and we dive with a tropical 3-5 mm wetsuit!
The visibility on the dive sites varies from day to day. Visibility in Coron Bay ranges between 7 and 30 meters depending on the strength of the tidal flow. When the tidal flow is strong at full moon and new moon, visibility is reduced. The tidal flow is less and the visibility is best between the 1/4 -3/4 moons.
Two large local outrigger boats (bancas) are used for dive boats and can accommodate up to 10 divers each. Because of the close proximity to the majority of the wrecks the divers can go back to the resort between dives for meals and surface intervals. Day trips to the further sites and islands are also a regular event.
The dive sites around Sangat Island offer excellent opportunities for technical divers! The average depth, between 25 and 40 meters, is ideal for diving with enriched air. Almost all wrecks are in good condition and penetrations are possible for experienced wreck divers.
At 6:00 am on 24 September 1944, 180 Grumman H6F Hellcat and Grumman SB2C Helldiver planes took off from carriers of vice admiral William F. Halsey's task force 38 and headed for Coron. At the time this was the longest range air attack ever launched from aircraft carriers, 340 miles from target and airborne for more than 6 hours. Several planes were lost after running out of fuel on the return trip; some were shot down by the Japanese fleet in Coron Bay. At 9:00 am the planes reached Coron and located at least 18 large Japanese vessels and started their attacks. After a 40-minute attack the planes left, leaving a scene of devastation. The main concentration of the ships were sunk in the vicinity of Tangat Island, known locally as Sangat Island, the home of Sangat Island Reserve.
