Coron full wreck penetrations
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Coron is well blessed with a wide range of dive sites to suit all tastes and levels of experience, from shallow reefs to advanced wreck diving.
The major attraction however is undoubtedly the wrecks of the Japanese supply fleet sunk in September 1944. Below you will find a description of each wreck.
Irako
A Japanese refrigeration ship located at the mouth of Coron Bay. N 11*58. 059', E 120*02. 412'
The ship was quite large at 9723 tons, 146.9 metres in overall length and 19 metres wide. The engines were two steam powered geared turbines (8300 shp) driving twin props. The steam came from 6 Kampon boilers; the engines provided a maximum speed of 17.5 knots.Probably the best wreck dive in the Philippines. The Irako is quite intact and because of the good visibility you know you are on a big shipwreck. Big groupers, schools of tuna and yellow fin, lion fish and scorpion fish live around this wreck. Two sea turtles live in the crumpled and folded metal of the superstructure. As at August 2005 there is a huge column of Jacks inhabiting the bow area and an extremely beautiful ray of some 2 metres in width could be seen around the mast.
Okikawa Maru
A Japanese tanker, 168 m long. Location: Busuanga Island, 2 miles south of Conception N 12*.01. 128', E 119*.58. 176'. In length, width, and volume the largest of the Coron wrecks. At this depth you may be able to make an hour-long dive. If the Irako isn't the best wreck dive in the Philippines then the Okikawa Maru certainly is! This wreck is totally covered with beautiful corals and offers a large variety of marine-life. The deck is between 10m and 16m and is good for wreck dive beginners.
Akitsushima
A Japanese Seaplane Tender 118 m long located between Culion & Busuanga Islands, near Manglet Island. N 11*59. 218', E 119*58. 417 The IJN Akitsushima was a seaplane tender/carrier. The ship displaced 4724 tons, had a length of 118 metres and was 15.7 metres wide. The ship was powered by four diesel engines driving twin props, a total of 8000 shp, giving a maximum speed of 19 knots. Akitsushima was armed with 10 25 mm anti-aircraft guns, four five inch (50 cal) guns and carried one large Kanwanishi flying boat.
Kogyo Maru
The Kogyo Maru, located N 11*58. 782' E 120*02. 413', was a Japanese freighter carrying construction materials for building a runway for the Japanese war effort in the Pacific.
The Kogyo Maru was built in 1938 by Uraga Dock Co Ltd, Uraga, Japan for Okada Gumi KK. The ship was 6353 tons, 129 mts long, and 18 mts wide. She was powered by two oil fuelled steam turbines (517Nhp) geared to a single shaft. The engines were built by Ishikawajima Shipbuilding and Engineering Co Ltd, Tokyo. Her home port was Osaka.
Olympia Maru
A Japanese Freighter sitting upright in approximately 30 mts of water and located very close to Tangat Island in Coron Bay. N11*58. 291', E 120*03. 707'S
The Olympia Maru was 122 metres long and almost 17 metres wide, displacing 5612 tons. The ship was originally powered by a steam engine but during 2 June to 2 August 1930, an oil two stroke six cylinder engine producing 582hp was installed. The ship was built for Mitsubishi Shoji Kaisha Ltd and was owned by them right up till it sank. It was requisitioned by the Japanese Defence Forces during the War but was still owned by Mitsubishi Shoji Kaisha Ltd.
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