Coral Bay Beach and Dive Resort
Barangay Maglambay, Popototan Island, Busuanga, Palawan, Philippines, 5317 - See map
Conveniently situated in the Busuanga part of Palawan, this property puts you close to attractions and interesting dining options. Don't leave before paying a visit to the famous Puerto Princesa Underground River. Rated with 4 stars, this high-quality property provides guests with access to massage, restaurant and fitness center on-site.
Highlights
Facilities
Airport transfer
Shuttle service
BBQ facilities
Fitness center
Spa
Private beach
Game room
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Highly Recommended Island Resort”
My partner and I stayed at the Coral Bay Resort for four nights in early March 2012. We decided to go to this resort as we wanted to do some diving on our trip around Palawan, but also enjoy relaxing on an island resort. We planned on only spending part of our stay at this resort diving but it was soo good that we ended up spending the majority of our stay diving. During our stay we completed our Advanced Open Water dive course in addition to some recreational dives. The diving on the wrecks is absolutely amazing and the dive centre is extremely professional. The dive instructor Steve is an extremely good instructor and has a real passion for his job. The resort is picturesque and the rooms are locally built beach huts with small balconies. The rooms are generally very clean. The water is tepid (not hot and not cold) which is generally very pleasant to shower/wash in due to the high temperatures outside. The electricity for the resort is supplied by a generator (which we couldn't hear at all - so it is definitely quiet) and it runs from 6 pm to 6 am. Although there is 24 hour wifi access nearby the main office but the connection speeds are quite slow. The staff are generally very friendly, responsive and helpful. The owners were also very friendly. The food is served in a buffet style for all meals, but is freshly cooked and very good quality (much better than some considerably more expensive resorts that we stayed at). The menu is generally a mixture of Philippine and European dishes and there a good amount of variety each day. This resort provides a fantastic alternative to staying in the cramped, busy and generally not that pleasant town of Coron. Even if you are not into diving the resort also offers other activities such as island hopping, trekking, kayaking and snorkelling. Although if you are even considering trying diving or learning to dive then this is a fantastic place to go with easy access to some world class wreck dive sites.
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Off the beaten paths, simple and charming resort”
my friend and i stayed at the coral bay dive and beach hotel in early february 2012. i decided to go there as coron is one of the new hot destinations in the philippines, less than one hour away from manila (where i now live), and has amazing wreck diving. i wanted to combine diving with some "surface" adventures, but we ultimately ended up spending the majority of our time diving. the day before flying back, we kayaked just off the resort beach and it was amazing. apparently you can see dugong (sea cows) frequently just around the corner from the resort, in the afternoon. we did not, because we went late, but other guests did. i think there are other attractions (island hopping, trekking), but if you are not into diving and staying for more than three days, i would probably suggest to stay on the main island (busuanga or coron) so that you have more places to explore. the hotel is simple but very charming. rooms are bush huts with hammock hanging outside. they are clean but without hot water. electricity runs at night between 6 pm and 6 am. the absence of air-con makes the adjustment to the hot temperature easy (there are fans in the rooms). my american [hint: air-con dependency] friend did not complain :d the staff was extremely friendly and helpful. they first checked us in in a regular room above the dive shop. i went to the reception and politely said that i booked a luxury room so the room i got was not what i expected. i was given a larger more comfortable room (in a cottage) in no time. i could really appreciate that. food in european and filipino. bread (real non-sweet european bread) is baked every day. i stayed only three days, and the variety over that time frame was good. you can always get one meat and one fish dish. this was helpful because the friend who was with me does not like fish. steve, the dive instructor is a delight. if you want to make a person happy, bring him mark and spencer milk chocolate digestives!
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Quiet Paradise!”
We had an amazing time at Coral Bay Beach and Dive Resort. The communication with the resort even months before our arrival was prompt and professional. Pick up from the airport is a good option as they will take you directly to the resort (50 min by van, then another hour by boat). We were welcomed by the manager with drinks and showed to our bungalows. The bungalows are simple, yet with good taste, comfortable beds, mosquito nets, and a decent bathroom. There is not electricity during the day, which was fine with us as we did want a relaxing holiday. The resort's staff were super friendly, accommodating to our requests and made all the arrangements for our island hopping tour plus a kayak day. My husband did diving through the Dive center and was really pleased with the instructor's professionalism, good quality equipment and just the beautiful spot to dive. We were with a group of two other families with young kids and they had an amazing time. The kids can play by the beach, swim in the shallow pool-like waters by the resort and still enjoy some snorkeling by the corals. We stayed 6 nights and had a wonderful time. If you want a relaxing place, beautiful exuberant nature and sea life, this is a great place to go. Food wise, you are a bit limited in the choices since you depend on the only restaurant in the resort and it can take some time for the food to come. However, the staff was really friendly and tried their best to accommodate us. Highly recommend Coral Bay Beach and Dive Resort.
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Perfect getaway ”
I stayed at Coral Bay Beach and Diver Resort for 4 days and 3 nights in early March 2014. The resort is located in the idyllic Popototan Island and quite far off from the main Coron town. Warning: if you are looking for an island resort with an active night scene and five star/urban amenities (AC, hot shower, pool, spa, gym), go to Boracay/stay in Coron town/ or other high end resorts in Coron/Busuanga Islands. Coral Bay is a simple, serene well maintained resort with basic amenities. The island runs on a generator so the power is off between 6AM to 6PM. Wifi is available at the reception and dining areas, albeit limited - this didn't bother me at all as I chose to stay at the resort to relax and stay off the grid for a few days. Mobile reception for Smart telecom is limited to none - Typhoon Haiyan knocked off the Smart cellular tower in the island. All villas at Coral bay come with a hammock in the deck, for best views, pick the waterfront villas. The waterfront villas are about $65 to $75 USD a night - at Coral bay you get to see views that comes with a hefty tag price in other places in a reasonable, cost effective rate. Coral bay has its own house reef - its about 200 meters from the reception area. The water is crystal clear with rich and plentiful marine life. The dive center is well equipped. The owner, divemasters and the rest of the staff (office management, kitchen, housekeeping) are friendly, welcoming, and helpful.The resort has private boats for island hopping and has a speed boat for private transfer to and from the airport. The price for the speed boat transfer is a bit steep ($55 USD) but worth every penny as this gets you to the mainland in half hour as compared to the free, regular boat transfer that can take more than 2 hours. I highly recommend Coral bay and would stay here again. This is a little gem in paradise!
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Great place, super relaxing time spent at resort.”
My girlfriend and I arrived at the Coral Bay Resort near the end of our trip in the Philippines and it was exactly what we were looking for. We spent our days relaxing on the beach right near our room and went swimming in the very warm and beautiful beach. The staff at the hotel were extremely attentive and were always close by if we needed anything. We really can't say enough about how great the staff were, they epitomize Philippino hospitality and attentiveness. Probably the highlight of our trip though was the incredible snorkelling which we did each day. There was an amazing coral right in front of the resort and the amount of sea life was stunning. Better than what we saw in Hawaii, best ever. We didn't get a chance to take advantage of any of the day adventure trips such as snorkelling just because we only wanted to relax and chill which we did. Lastly, the 3 meals provided were top notch and we could eat as much as we wanted. Great place for couples if you are looking for a romantic getaway in an amazing location with stunning views.
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Fantastic!”
Wonderful place. The current managers, Claudia and her husband, will go the extra mile for you - for example they helped my boyfriend organise a surprise birthday cake for me. All the staff are lovely. The setting is fabulous. It's very peaceful and romantic there. We did two discover scuba dives in the bay and I think it would be a great place to get your PADI, especially if you're like me and a little nervous or prone to seasickness - the bay is very sheltered, calm and tranquil. Steve the dive-master is great, a really nice guy and extremely capable. The reef and small (modern, not from WW2) wreck in the bay really are some of the best features of the place - you can go snorkeling whenever you like, for as long as you like. As others have pointed out, it's not luxurious, Coral bay is more natural and relaxing, so if that's your thing I highly recommend it!
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Stunning resort, amazing location”
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Coral Bay. We stayed four nights and wished we were staying longer. The couple who own the place are very friendly and helpful. The rooms are large and beautifully decorated, mosquito nets provided (although we barely needed them) and you get your own balcony and hammock. Being located on an island on the beach there is amazing snorkelling, diving and other activities you can do. The bar was a bit pricy - but then again they would have to get everything delivered from the main island so it is not unreasonable. The power is only on 6pm-6am but this is not a problem because during the day you are out and about and the sea breeze is cooling :) Wi-fi is fast and always available. We had the best time and would love to return.
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one word: wow!”
me and my wife staid at the resort during our honeymoon in philippines. the place is located on an island (40 mins by van and another 40 mins by boat) far from coron town. the place is amazingly designed to integrate with the surrounding nature. the stuff was very nice and helpful and always had time for us, if needed something. our deal included three meals a day, and the food was excellent (big breakfast), in addition to that, you can order food and extras from the bar. we stayed at a deluxe room with a sea view and a fan. the room was made of bamboo with bamboo furniture, exactly how we expected to find in a tropical island resort (much better then the new western resorts which popped like mushrooms after the rain in thailand islands). the room had a big window facing to a balcony with a big bamboo hammock in front of the sea, which was excellent because we had nice sea breeze during the night. electricity is running from 6pm to 6am which is nice, but you don't actually need it. we didn't even used the wifi at all (they have it, but only near the reception). we scuba dived in there house reef, which was nice (but not more then that). the diving equipment was in a very good condition (most of it is new). i can write much more, but i will summarize the review by saying that the best thing about the place is that i can't wait to go back there.
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Genuine coral island experience”
This is a genuine coral island experience. If you are after a natural isolated diving resort with great training, and access to the best wreck diving in the Philippines, then this is it! If you prefer club med, then please read the resort conditions carefully to avoid disappointment! This is a remote site, with only water access, one of its attractions! We loved it and will certainly be going back soon.
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Remote and quiet heaven”
The resort is a great place to getaway from the hustle and bustle of a city or town. The resort is located at a remote island and only this resort in the island. However, there is still enough to do if you want some activities. Great hikes on the island to have a brilliant sunset/sun rise view and to other parts of even more remote beaches. You can also scuba dive or snorkel nearby the resort - which you can swim to. It has a beautiful coral site. You can also walk/hike 45 mins to a village and greeted by extremely friendly villagers (a must do if you are staying at this resort). We received warm greetings upon our arrival by one of the owner. It feels like I arrived in Fantasy Island! He explained about the facilities on the resort and set our expectations right. No power after 6am, no air-cond, no hot water, wifi connections not stable and it may take about 30-45 mins to get your dinner after you order. Although these sound like a downside, I actually didn't mind any of them. It is very breezy at the resort so it's cool enough without aircond and it didn't feel uncomfortable at all in the room. Food is better than I expected and I am not surprised having to wait long for food especially when the resort is full during the New Year eve holiday. Wifi connection is unstable but I expected this being in a remote island - connection is much better on the hills or north part of the island facing South China Sea. Overall I enjoyed my stay but if you are looking for a place with air-cond, shops, wifi and convenience, you may as well stay in town.
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Great Location, Poor Service”
Transfer - We arrived at the airport at around 9, and were met by a woman who informed us that we would have to wait until 10.45pm for another couple arriving before we could be transfered to the resort. Since we had got up a 5am to catch the 8am flight from Manila so as to make the most of our time at the resort, we resented being ask to wait for the next flight to arrive. Had we known we would of caught the 10am flight and got more sleep! A 2 hour wait at Busuanga airport was not how we had imagined our holiday starting, and were somewhat annoyed that the resort was putting its own interest ahead of its customers. Walk/Hiking - Walk on the island very poorly signposted. The trail (which is not very clear at times) divides into 2 paths at several points with no indication which to take. General information/service - When we arrived and through the duration of our stay very little information was given regarding the resorts services/facilities. One notable exception however was the diving instructor who was very helpful and informative when we inquired about diving.
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Best resort ever”
this was probably the best resort we have stay at. from the moment you made the booking to the moment the boat took you back to coron, you were well looked after. the danish owners were very welcoming and helped in every way they could. the food provided was of an excellent standard. the diving services available were of a high standard and the instructors were very accomodating. less that 50m from the resort there is a wonderful reef which is superb for both diving and snorkling. in fact this reef was in the best condition of any we saw in the philipines. the resort is very eco-friendly with generator power running from 6pm-6am. there is very little else on the island except for a small village about 1km away around the cove.
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A silent resort”
Coral Bay describes itself as a silent resort - one of the few left in the world. It is in an island 1 hour away from Coron and quite peaceful. No noisy videoke bars, no water sports activities involving machines and no loud people. Unfortunately due to its remote location some facilities which we normally expect from a resort are unavailable. Electricity is turned on only from 6pm-6am and an hour midday. There are no air conditioned rooms and the water supply is not very strong. Despite this it was a great vacation especially since we were aware of these facts when we booked the stay. The staff (especially Sheryl and Lucy) are very warm and accommodating!
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Hidden Paradise”
we loved the location. popototan island is a good 1h drive and 1h boat journey away from coron. it's absolutely quiet, no speed boats, no karaoke, no nothing. perfect for relaxation. the dives were great, we did our first wreck dives ever and we loved it. the owners and the staff are very friendly. there's always plenty of food at the buffet. a lot of meat, delicious fish and potatoes/rice. the best thing in our opinion is the resorts own house coral reef, just off the boat pier! you can go snorkling or diving without any planing when ever you want! we even saw a sea turtle, a water snake, box fishes, lion fishes, barracudas and many other fascinating animals in this reef. we will hopefully return one day!
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One of the most untouched spots of coron area”
It's a very quiet island resort with rich offerings. Rooms were really nice. Staff was friendly. Due to time limitation we were only able to make discovery diving around resort area. Was more than enough, saw couple of lion fish, baby sharks etc. Open buffet breakfast, lunch snd dinner is maybe the most tasty amd fresh food you can find in Coron area. It's impossible to be bored on the island, resort offers FOC kayaks, pool, chess, dart activities. The only cons is the long transportation time to the island. Shortest transportation from corom town or air port to the resort takes around one and a half hour(45 minutes shuttle bus and 45 mintes boat ride) Due to transportation limitations it took 3 hours for us to arrive the island ( we were obliged to go to the airport first to pick up another guest and boat delayed around 20 minutes). But for our return the owners were helpful enough to arrange transportation to Coron town only for me and my wife. Make sure that you stay iat least 3 days so you can enjoy it fully.
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Simply outstanding!”
so many good things to say! location is outstanding, as is the accomodation - your bed is literally metres from clean and warm tropical ocean. the room itself was very comfortable. the 3 buffet meals daily - simply superb. the dive centre is great too, and the instructor steve is very friendly and knowledgeable about the main diving attractions in the area - the ww2 wrecks. divemaster gerald is great too. they arrange transfers from the airport or coron town as required. overall, the best accomodation i've experienced in the phillipines.
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Wonderful”
Excellent location with house coral reef with superb snorkling. Professional and sympathetic dive master. Cottages are spacious and comfortable, even with aircon.
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Nice location, shame about the food + activities”
The Coral Bay Beach and Dive Resort is located in a remote west island in Palawan, about 2.5 hours by boat from Coron Town. It's in a gorgeous natural setting, and wonderfully peaceful. It's the type of place you go to snorkel in the coral, go diving, visit local islands, and generally relax in the tranquility. Unfortunately the resort is spoiled by the quite ordinary food, the low level of service, and the lack of activities. It would have been nice to be offered a morning fishing cruise to the West Philippines (or South China) sea, to catch something fresh for the barbeque, to have a guided snorkel session to explain what all the lovely corel and beautiful fish were, have some music about the place, have a regular clothes washing service, or even just have staff come to you to offer you a drink, rather than to have to constantly visit the bar. None of this was on offer, the place felt no so much a like a resort but just a hotel on a beach. Also the beach huts were on a beach with mangroves; which you couldn't actually walk onto, meaning the only way in the water was via the pier. In short: beautiful location, but the staff need to lift their game.
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perfect solitude and terrific coral reef”
Our stay at Coral Bay was wonderful. No city/town noise or pollution, helpful staff, delicious food, beautiful surroundings.
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it is paradise”
This is a fantastic hotel where you can live the survivor feeling. Take the rekayaks and go to the other islands close to the hotel.The diving teacher Steven is a very friendly and helpful guy.You can also go to diving lessons with him as the area is a diving paradise.
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