Barracuda Lake

The third destination of our island hopping tour in Coron Islands is the Barracuda Lake. From all the stories I've heard and read online, I expected nothing much and i thought that the place will be boring.

(The docking area of the tourist boats)
From what I've heard, Barracuda Lake is just a super deep lake with nothing much to see in it. Having been to Kayangan, just before proceeding to this lake actually made me interested into exploring what the latter has to offer.
(The clear waters in the jump off point)

So, upon arriving at the place. Our boat docked at the jump-off point of Barracuda Lake where there is a nice wooden platform. It serves as the gateway to the lake.



(The platform which serves as a jump off point to Barracuda Lake)

Just like in Kayangan, you need to climb a set of stairs to get to the Lake. The hike going to Barracuda Lake is much easier and shorter as compared to Kayangan.

(The gateway to the Barracuda Lake)
The wooden staircases is a big help cause it makes the pathway more accessible as compared to making your way to the lake through walking on lime stones. Don't worry because the woods used to build the stairs are of good quality, i heard it's made of Narra.

(There are wooden staircases which provides easier access to the lake)


This will be your welcoming view upon entering the lake.


(The entrance to the lake)
 When we arrived, there were already some tourists in the lake, I think a group of 3-4 were already there, including the divers. But after approximately 30 minutes, we had the lake to ourselves. The calm waters and the tranquility of the place is super relaxing.



There was once a barracuda seen in this lake that's why it was called as such. It is a very deep blue lake which makes it a famous diving spot. This is one of the unique places to dive in. Some people gets scared of this lake not only because of the barracuda story but mainly because of its deep waters.


(Scuba divers in Barracuda)

During the time of our visit, there were scuba divers who went diving at the said like. Me and my cousin Henrielle was totally entertained while watching them scuba dive just underneath us. The water of the lake is super clear that you will be able to see the divers in the deep. We also had so much fun bursting the bubbles which rises to the surface from the divers below.


(Barracuda Lake, June 2015)


The lake is surrounded by huge limestone mountains and if you will make an effort to swim to the middle of the lake, the 360 degree view of the karst will astonish you.



The lake is a great place to swim and just relax in. I like the serenity of the place.





Not only will you be amused with  the view of the limestones, but you will also be surprised with the underwater changes in temperature, there are parts in the lake which feels warm and then it gets cold again. It's actually quite interesting that I searched about it online and i found out about Thermocline.


(The amusing view of the limestones surrounding the lake)


If you're an adrenaline activity junkie, you could try cliff diving here in Barracuda Lake. There's this rock where you could climb up and jump off of. Just take caution while climbing the rock as it may have sharp edges.

(A foreigner preparing to jump off that cliff)

As to the stories I've read and heard, you're all wrong. Barracuda lake is not boring, it's actually an interesting place to see, it's a definition of the saying "Less is More". The rock formations underwater are really fascinating to my eyes. But just like some of you, I was a bit afraid that the so-called resident Barracuda of the lake might show up and the deep waters of the lake also made me a bit frightened or shall i say paranoid. What made me more confident is the view of the divers below.

For me, Barracuda Lake is a place worth visiting in the Coron Islands. If you're planning a trip to Coron make sure to include this on your list of must-see places. Enjoy God's wonderful creations!!


Entrance fee: P100 per person

Here's a short video of the lake:




ADIOS!!


-The Palaweña Explorer

4 comments:

  1. wow, Coron definitely looks the absolute dream destination! I have a friend who recently went diving there, and she keeps telling me of how awesome this lake is (https://dive.site/explore/site/barracuda-lake-5LBK) guess I'll have to start planning my trip there and experience the effects of the thermocline for myself!
    also, thank you for writing such a comprehensive post on this spectacular area, it's gonna be really helpful when planning my trip!

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    1. Thank you! I do hope you enjoy your trip to Coron. They really do have amazing dive sites there. There's this lagoon there called twin lagoon where you can experience the effects of the thermocline even without diving. They also have amazing shipwrecks! Please do share with me your diving experiences in Coron after your trip. Enjoy Palawan!

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