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skin diving

Free-Diving Calumbuyan Reef, Coral Garden and Lusong GunboatJan 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 Calamianes Expeditions Ecotours office

Calumbuyan Island 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 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 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.

Calamianes Expeditions and Ecotours
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

01calumbuyan 02chris 03tree 04headstand
05hammock 06coral_garden 07lusong_gunboat 08gunboat-wreck

Google Map > Busuanga

Google Map Busuanga, Palawan, Philippines

tourist attractions in Busuanga tourist attractions hotels in Busuanga hotel, beach house and accommodation expedition in Busuanga tour and expedition
  • Tribal Adventures Tours 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 Calamianes Expeditions & Ecotours - island tours, community based ecotourism experience
    +639193054363 / +639202546553 / +63 9152543246 / 02 984 7795 | corongaleri@yahoo.com

Great Things Going for Busuanga

  • beaches, islands, snorkeling, scuba diving, wreck diving
  • you want to add some more? please submit on the form below

Not So Great Things Going Against Busuanga

  • slow and unreliable internet
Coron Blogs
  1. Beach Life at Palawan SandCastles Oct 31-Nov 22, 2016
  2. Mountain Biking the Trails of Busuanga with Outback Greg of Tribal Adventures Oct 31-Nov 22, 2016
  3. Yoga at Palawan SandCastles, Busuanga Oct 31-Nov 22, 2016
  4. In Search of Dugong Nov 21, 2016
  5. 3-Day Circumnavigation of Coron Island by Kayak Nov 17-19, 2016
  6. Exploring Culion Nov 5-7, 2016
  7. Traveling with Cheng Oct 31-Nov 8, 2016
  8. Tribal Adventures in Coron with Outback Greg Jan 13-17, 2016
  9. Chillingout in Coron Town, Busuanga Oct 23-29, 2012
  10. Camp Life in Camp Calauit Oct 18-23, 2012
  11. Mountain Biking Fund Raising Event in Cheey, Busuanga Oct 20, 2012
  12. Salvacion-Cheey Traverse Oct 19, 2012
  13. Into The Black Jan 31, 2012
  14. Blurring the Lines of Work and Play Jan 30, 2012
  15. Free-Diving Calumbuyan Reef, Coral Garden and Lusong Gunboat Jan 14, 2012
  16. Exploring Dive Link Resort Jan 13, 2012
  17. Coron Island Tour - Malcapuya, Banana and Bulog Islands Jan 10, 2012
  18. Wreck Diving in Coron with Rocksteady Dive Center Jan 8, 2012
  19. Diving Barracuda Lake and Kogyo Maru Jan 4, 2012
  20. Banol Beach, Barracuda Lake, Calachuchi Reef, Siete Pecados Marine Park, Alcatraz Reef Island Tour Dec 27, 2011
  21. Coron Ultimate Island Tour by Calamianes Expeditions Ecotours Dec 24, 2011
  22. Life's a Beach at Camp Calauit Dec 17-31, 2011
  23. Traversing the Northern Coast of Busuanga Island Dec 14-16, 2011
  24. Skin Diving and Beach Camping at Calumbuyan Island Mar 10-12, 2010
  25. Sea Kayaking, Beach Camping and Skin Diving with Outback Greg on his Tribal Adventures Tour Mar 9-14, 2010
  26. Coron Skin Diving Mar 30, 2008
  27. Coron Kayaking Mar 31, 2008
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Cheey, Busuanga


CORON ESSENTIALS:

Coron Tribal Adventures    SandCastles beach resort Coron Busuanga
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Busuanga Essentials
Tribal Adventures Tours - multi-day kayak expedition, day tours, island tours, mountain biking, snorkeling, hiking
Expeditions BnB - grand opening, all new, Coron Town location
Calamianes Expeditions & Ecotours - island tours, community based ecotourism experience
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