Skeleton Wreck and Malwawey Reef
Location and Island-Hopping Access
Skeleton Wreck is located along the rugged limestone coast of Coron Island, tucked between popular coastal stops like Banul Beach and Malwawey Reef.
Because it sits only 15 to 20 minutes across the passage from Busuanga Island, it is exceptionally easy to reach by traditional motorized bangka outrigger boat departing from Coron Town Proper. Skeleton Wreck is widely featured on major day-trip itineraries, particularly Coron Tour B and comprehensive Coron Super Ultimate Tours. Because of its gentle depths, it is routinely paired with nearby reef stops for a full morning or afternoon of marine exploration.
World War II History
The story of Skeleton Wreck dates back to September 24, 1944, during the height of World War II:
- Operation Hailstone & Air Strikes: U.S. Navy Task Force 38 launched a massive surprise airstrike on a supply fleet of Japanese supply ships, gunboats, and freighters hidden throughout the islands and bays of Coron.
- The Sinking: Several Japanese ships were struck and sunk in deep waters across the bay, while this smaller vessel—believed to be a 25-meter-long Japanese fishing boat or supply ship—was hit and came to rest on an incline along the shallow reefs of Coron Island.
- How It Got Its Name: Over decades of subsea exposure, the wooden decking and outer hull weathered away, leaving behind only the steel structural ribs of the ship. This exposed framework resembles a ribcage or skeleton resting on the ocean floor, giving the site its descriptive name.
Tagbanwa Stewardship and Protection
Skeleton Wreck lies squarely within the official ancestral domain owned, managed, and strictly protected by the indigenous Tagbanwa people.
- Ancestral Domain Title: Under the Tagbanwa tribe’s landmark Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) granted in 1998, the island’s coastal coves, marine waters, and inland lakes are legally stewarded by the indigenous community.
- Conservation & Marine Management: The Tagbanwa tribe enforces strict marine protection policies around the wreck, prohibiting anchoring on the surrounding reef, controlling tourist traffic, and collecting eco-tourism fees that directly fund local community programs, schools, and environmental monitoring.
Features for Tourists & Snorkelers
Unlike many of Coron’s larger WWII shipwrecks that sit in deep water and require technical scuba diving equipment, Skeleton Wreck is uniquely accessible:
- Shallow Depths: The top of the wreck rests at a depth of just 5 meters (16 feet), while the stern slants downward to around 12 to 15 meters (40–50 feet).
- Excellent Visibility for Snorkelers: Because the keel starts so close to the surface, non-divers and casual snorkelers can easily view the entire outline of the ship from above without scuba gear.
- Freediving & Photo Opportunities: The calm, sheltered water makes Skeleton Wreck a world-class playground for freedivers. Capable breath-hold divers can easily dive down to frame photos or videos inside the open steel ribbing.
- Abundant Marine Life: Over the decades, the steel framework has transformed into an artificial reef. The wreck is heavily encrusted with soft corals, sponges, and brain corals, hosting schools of damselfish, parrotfish, bannerfish, and occasional sea turtles.
Entrance Fee and Logistics
- Entrance Fee: 150 PHP per person.
- Tour Packages: For travelers joining an organized group island-hopping day tour (such as Tour B or the Super Ultimate Tour), this entrance fee is typically bundled into the overall tour price.
- Private Charters: Visitors chartering a private outrigger boat pay the 150 PHP entrance fee directly to the Tagbanwa wardens stationed at the site.
