Lusong Gunboat: A Wreck You Can See Without Scuba Diving
Coron is famous around the world for its World War II shipwrecks.
But there's a problem for most visitors:
They're not scuba divers.
Fortunately, you don't necessarily need a tank, regulator or diving certification to see one.
Welcome to Lusong Gunboat.
What Is Lusong Gunboat?
Lusong Gunboat is a small Japanese World War II wreck lying beside Lusong Island in Coron Bay.
The vessel is generally believed to have been a gunboat or submarine chaser, although its exact identification remains uncertain.
It was lost during the American air attacks against Japanese shipping around Coron Bay in September 1944.
Today, instead of sitting deep underwater like many of Coron's larger wrecks, Lusong lies extremely close to the surface.
You Can See It While Snorkeling
This is what makes Lusong special.
The wreck slopes down into shallow water, with much of it visible from above when conditions are good.
At low tide, part of the wreck can even break the surface.
Put on a mask, float above it and suddenly the shape of a ship begins appearing beneath you.
No scuba certification required.
The Wreck Has Become a Reef
More than 80 years underwater have completely changed Lusong.
Hard and soft corals have colonized the metal structure, while reef fish move around the remains.
You're therefore seeing two stories at the same time:
a World War II wreck and the marine ecosystem that has grown around it.
Do not stand on, grab or remove anything from the wreck. Apart from protecting a historic site, this also protects the coral that now covers it.
Combine It With Lusong Coral Garden
Lusong Gunboat is commonly visited together with nearby Lusong Coral Garden.
That's an excellent combination.
The wreck gives you history.
The Coral Garden gives you a much broader reef experience.
Many Reefs & Wrecks itineraries then continue to Pass Island, where the emphasis changes completely to white sand, swimming and lunch.
Some itineraries also include East Tangat Wreck.
Is It Worth Visiting?
If you're already an experienced wreck diver, Lusong isn't the most dramatic wreck around Coron. Much larger vessels lie deeper in Coron Bay.
But for a snorkeler?
It's one of the easiest ways to understand why Coron became famous for wrecks in the first place.
One moment you're floating over tropical coral.
The next, you realize that the reef beneath you is growing over a ship sunk during one of the most important wartime attacks in the waters around Palawan.
That's a snorkeling experience you don't find everywhere.
Discover Coron's reefs, wrecks and the right tour for you with ilovecoron.com.
Because I Love Coron.
