Jay
Need to dive more!
I recently did a few days of diving on the shipwrecks and one dive at Barracuda Lake and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.
The dives are not Penetration dives as per the latest PADI definition by @boulderjohn, but in the regular definition of the word they are. I didn't find anything too scary, and their briefings (and q&a) were thorough. Diving the propellor shafts were a lot of fun. Shipwreck info links are below.
Corto Divers has a max Diver
M ratio of 3:1 (the best ratio in Coron) and each of their DM/DIs has several hundred dives on each ship and know each ship like the back of their hands. One diver lost a wrist computer at 8m on one dive, and the DM found it within 2mins at 35m!! Their Banca is comfortable and the meals at lunch are great. They have the best rental gear I've seen. They'll also give you a map of the best restaurants around town. For more info here's their website: Welcome to Corto Divers - Diving Center in Coron, Palawan
Their sister hotel, Corto del Mar is great and they have a free pickup & drop-off from/to the airport. Everything can be booked via the dive shop.
The lake dive is nothing like I could have imagined. It's a fresh and saltwater later with crazy thermoclines. You don't need a wetsuit as the minimum temperature near the surface is 30deg, and the max is 39 deg. The lake is named after a sole resident Barracuda. It has a soft silty bottom that you can literally head plant in to. You can also take off your fins, and moon-walk (jump) around the boulders and tree trunks between them. Get there early to avoid the mass of snorkelers. It's a 3min walk up/down some steps in your dive gear but the scenery's spectacular.
Shipwreck Info links:
Ship Wrecks - Corto Divers
http://scubatechphilippines.com/scuba_blog/the-shipwrecks-of-coron-wreck-diving-philippines/
Specifications of Japanese ships sunk in World War Two attack on Coron Bay, Busuanga Island, Palawan Province, Republic of the Philippines.
Hotel link: Corto del Mar Hotel - Resort in Coron, Palawan
The dives are not Penetration dives as per the latest PADI definition by @boulderjohn, but in the regular definition of the word they are. I didn't find anything too scary, and their briefings (and q&a) were thorough. Diving the propellor shafts were a lot of fun. Shipwreck info links are below.
Corto Divers has a max Diver
Their sister hotel, Corto del Mar is great and they have a free pickup & drop-off from/to the airport. Everything can be booked via the dive shop.
The lake dive is nothing like I could have imagined. It's a fresh and saltwater later with crazy thermoclines. You don't need a wetsuit as the minimum temperature near the surface is 30deg, and the max is 39 deg. The lake is named after a sole resident Barracuda. It has a soft silty bottom that you can literally head plant in to. You can also take off your fins, and moon-walk (jump) around the boulders and tree trunks between them. Get there early to avoid the mass of snorkelers. It's a 3min walk up/down some steps in your dive gear but the scenery's spectacular.
Shipwreck Info links:
Ship Wrecks - Corto Divers
http://scubatechphilippines.com/scuba_blog/the-shipwrecks-of-coron-wreck-diving-philippines/
Specifications of Japanese ships sunk in World War Two attack on Coron Bay, Busuanga Island, Palawan Province, Republic of the Philippines.
Hotel link: Corto del Mar Hotel - Resort in Coron, Palawan