Lusong Coral Garden
Lusong Coral Garden, the vast coral garden beneath Lusong Island in southwestern Coron, Palawan province, offers crystal-clear water and great visibility. This is thanks to a strong current that constantly moves, benefitting both the corals and the visitors.
Firstly, the current brings in a fresh supply of nutrient-rich water that nurtures the many coral and fish species. Then for snorkelers and divers, it pushes you along the shelf so that you can simply drift along without having to kick your fins.
The aquatic area is so large that local guides allow divers and snorkelers to spread out to the different areas of the reef system. In fact, boats would typically drop off passengers on one end of the reef and then move to the other, waiting for drifting tourists to gather. The reeftop at 4 meters already boasts densely packed soft, stony, and leathery corals, including gorgonian sea fans and large Acropora table corals. The drop-off reaches at least 40 m.
It is often remarked that the corals here outnumber the fish. Even so, there are lots of small reef fish to see: clownfish, anemones, puffer fish, and blue or grey Linckia sea stars among a wide variety of corals, including stinging hydroids and Dendronephthya “soft tree” corals. Coron guides frequently assert that Lusong Coral Garden is the best snorkeling site in the Calamianes archipelago.
How to get there
The most convenient way to get to the Lusong Coral Garden is by booking Coron island-hopping tours that already include the coral garden as one of its stops. Otherwise, you can head to the Coron Town Proper and charter a boat going to Lusong Island.
Best time to visit
It's best to visit the Lusong Coral Garden during the summer season in the Philippines, which typically starts in March and ends in May.
