Coron · Philippines · Reef
Malpadon
Sangat Island reef, shallow enough for snorkellers
Area photo: Ray in Manila · CC BY 2.0
A coral reef on the south side of Sangat Island, in a bay better known for its sunken Japanese steel. The published profile runs from 5 to 22 m, and the recommended certification levels start at snorkeller and Discover Scuba Diver, so the top of the reef is within reach of people who are not certified divers while the deeper end is an easy Open Water dive.
Also known as Malpandon.
Where it is and how deep
11.9570° N, 120.0874° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
You are dropped on the south side of Sangat Island, over a coral reef dived between 5 and 22 m. The recommended certification runs from snorkeller and Discover Scuba Diver up to Open Water, which sets the shape of the dive: the group works the slope at whatever depth it is qualified for, with certified divers following the reef down towards 22 m while snorkellers stay over the top of it.
Coron Bay is dived above all for the ten Japanese wrecks recorded in it, and Malpadon is one of the alternatives to them, a reef rather than steel, shallow enough that the whole profile sits well inside no-decompression limits. Beyond the 5 to 22 m band and the certification levels, nothing is published for this site: no visibility, no current figures and no species list, so go in without expectations about what the reef is holding.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Prime |
Season follows Coron: Dry December to April brings glassy seas and the best visibility; in the wet months bad weather sometimes stops diving.
Sources
More dive sites in Coron
Wreck
A 35-ton seaplane crane on a warship lying on her side at 35 m
Fresh water over salt, and 38 degrees below the thermocline
Reef
A channel drift at 1 to 3 knots between two wrecks
Cave & cavern
A fallen tree lit by daylight inside a cavern under Coron Island
Coral garden
Very large sea fans among soft-coral gardens
A 35 m gunboat in 3 to 19 m, open to any certification
Wreck
A 145 m provisions ship with its deck areas at 28 to 35 m
Wreck
A bulldozer and cement bags still in the cargo holds
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