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Jan 14, 2012 Coron, Palawan
Free-Diving Calumbuyan Reef, Coral Garden and Lusong Gunboat
Blue-Balls Dive Calumbuyan Island was a blue-balls dive for me a few years back. My buddy then was inexperienced and was overwhelmed by the initial plunge. That also stopped me from making the most out of the dive. Now, with just me to worry about, I could make up for everything I wasn't able to do.
Snorkelling Tour Fortunately, Calamianes Expeditions and Ecotours was offering that tour together with 2 other destinations - Coral Garden and the Lusong Gunboat. There is no island hopping or beach bumming on this one except for Calumbuyan Island. This tour is essentially a snorkelling tour.
Beware of Fake Calumbuyan Islands Calumbuyan Island is not a short trip from Coron Town. It took us about 2 hours to get there on boat. I heard that due to its distance, some unscrupulous boat operators mislead their guests to a much closer "Calumbuyan Island" - that's according to Chris, the island caretaker. Yes, best to take the legit tour operators than be taken for a ride (pun intended too).
Calamianes Expeditions Ecotours office
Calumbuyan Island This time, I had the full appreciation of what Calumbuyan is all about. This is one of the best reef system I have been to. The corals were thick, lush and intense - from soft coral types to hard ones, I was lost in the myriad of a coral forest. It was difficult to find access to the reef from the island, and equally hard to get back to the island due to thick corals that blocked access. I wanted to encircle the entire island but I was already fatigued by the time a french couple took to the reef to dive around it. I could have joined them. I'll be back. And this time, I'll bring my tent and stay until I have Calumbuyan coming out of my ears.
Lusong Coral Garden
This one is a boat dive and takes the cake for reef coverage. It's a massive coral system that stretches along the Lusong Island coastline for about a kilometer. It's not as intense or vibrant though as Calumbuyan.
Lusong Gunboat
Thickly covered with corals, the ship's bow is only a meter from the surface but its stern plunges down deep. Because it's a common party boat stop, there was heavy traffic from people with vests snorkellling above the wreck. But to truly appreciate this ship, you need to free dive and peek at the inviting holes - they're big enough to go into, but not without tanks.
Cold But Satisfied With all the boat travel and the deep plunges I took, I was exhausted and couldn't wait to get back to dry land and warm up. Since we were all wet, going back with the low sun and sea breeze hitting us, it felt hypothermic. Bring your windbreaker if you do this tour....but yes, you must do this tour if you love snorkelling or free diving!
--- TheLoneRider
disclosure: Calamianes Expeditions and Ecotours became clients after my initial talks with Al and Mae. This blog is not a lip-service for them - they just happen to be doing a great job and I subscribe to their vision of a community-based social enterprise.
This Tour: | Calumbuyan Island Eco-Tour (Tour G) P990 Calumbuyan Island, Lusong Gunboat, Coral Garden |
Contact: | Mae and Al Linsangan |
Location: | #11 San Agustin St., Bgry. Poblacion 3, Coron, Palawan, Philippines 5316 |
Landline: | (02)984.7795 |
Mobile: | +(63)919.305.4363 / +(63)920.254.6553 +(63)915.254.3246 |
Email: | corongaleri@yahoo.com |
Coconut Insider: | Calamianes Expeditions and Ecotours |
Google Map > Busuanga
Busuanga, Palawan, Philippines
tourist attractions
hotel, beach house and accommodation
tour and expedition
- Tribal Adventures Tours - multi-day kayak expedition, day tours, island tours, mountain biking, snorkeling, hiking
+63 998.999.3049 | tribaladventures@gmail.com
- Calamianes Expeditions & Ecotours - island tours, community based ecotourism experience
+639193054363 / +639202546553 / +63 9152543246 / 02 984 7795 | corongaleri@yahoo.com
- beaches, islands, snorkeling, scuba diving, wreck diving
- you want to add some more? please submit on the form below
- slow and unreliable internet
Coron Blogs
- Beach Life at Palawan SandCastles Oct 31-Nov 22, 2016
- Mountain Biking the Trails of Busuanga with Outback Greg of Tribal Adventures Oct 31-Nov 22, 2016
- Yoga at Palawan SandCastles, Busuanga Oct 31-Nov 22, 2016
- In Search of Dugong Nov 21, 2016
- 3-Day Circumnavigation of Coron Island by Kayak Nov 17-19, 2016
- Exploring Culion Nov 5-7, 2016
- Traveling with Cheng Oct 31-Nov 8, 2016
- Tribal Adventures in Coron with Outback Greg Jan 13-17, 2016
- Chillingout in Coron Town, Busuanga Oct 23-29, 2012
- Camp Life in Camp Calauit Oct 18-23, 2012
- Mountain Biking Fund Raising Event in Cheey, Busuanga Oct 20, 2012
- Salvacion-Cheey Traverse Oct 19, 2012
- Into The Black Jan 31, 2012
- Blurring the Lines of Work and Play Jan 30, 2012
- Free-Diving Calumbuyan Reef, Coral Garden and Lusong Gunboat Jan 14, 2012
- Exploring Dive Link Resort Jan 13, 2012
- Coron Island Tour - Malcapuya, Banana and Bulog Islands Jan 10, 2012
- Wreck Diving in Coron with Rocksteady Dive Center Jan 8, 2012
- Diving Barracuda Lake and Kogyo Maru Jan 4, 2012
- Banol Beach, Barracuda Lake, Calachuchi Reef, Siete Pecados Marine Park, Alcatraz Reef Island Tour Dec 27, 2011
- Coron Ultimate Island Tour by Calamianes Expeditions Ecotours Dec 24, 2011
- Life's a Beach at Camp Calauit Dec 17-31, 2011
- Traversing the Northern Coast of Busuanga Island Dec 14-16, 2011
- Skin Diving and Beach Camping at Calumbuyan Island Mar 10-12, 2010
- Sea Kayaking, Beach Camping and Skin Diving with Outback Greg on his Tribal Adventures Tour Mar 9-14, 2010
- Coron Skin Diving Mar 30, 2008
- Coron Kayaking Mar 31, 2008
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