Coron · Philippines · Wreck · Reef
Skeleton Wreck
Swim out through the ribs of an open hull onto the coral
Photo: Firth m · CC BY-SA 4.0
Skeleton Wreck is what remains of a steel-hulled boat about 25 m long: only the keel, ribs and stringers, lying down the reef off the northwest corner of Coron Island. It is a shallow wreck that can be reached from the beach, and its open frame suits divers who are just beginning their scuba training.
Also known as Skeleton Gunboat.
Where it is and how deep
11.9540° N, 120.1926° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The bow lies in 5 m close to the island and the frame runs down the reef slope to the stern at 22 m. At 14 m a gap in the starboard side of the hull lets divers swim from inside the skeleton of the boat straight out over the coral. The reef around the wreck is inclined at about 45 degrees and makes a colourful coral dive of its own, ending as deep as 25 m.
The wreck
- Vessel
- Unnamed steel-hulled boat
- Type
- Steel-hulled boat, keel and ribs only
- Length
- 25 m (82 ft)
- Cause
- Not recorded
- Lies
- Down the reef off Coron Island's northwest corner, bow at 5 m and stern at 22 m
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.
Questions divers ask
Can Skeleton Wreck be dived from the shore?+
Yes. The wreck is beach accessible, with the bow at 5 m, which is why it is used for divers just beginning their scuba training.
Sources
- Wreck and Scuba Dive Sites of Coron Bay — Dive Right-Coron
- Wreck Dives — Sangat Island Dive Resort
- OpenStreetMap — OpenStreetMap contributors
Photo credits
- A snorkeller in a white shirt and red shorts dives down over the coral-covered ribs and keel of an open wreck in deep blue water. by Firth m, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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