Loveless Reef - Palawan
Loveless Reef isn't just a reef, it’s a living monument. We love that this site feels like a secret, a place you stumble upon and never forget. It's the skeleton of a Japanese cargo ship, sunk during WWII, now completely overtaken by coral. Dropping down, the wreck emerges from the blue, a dark shape festooned with gorgonian fans and soft corals that sway gently in the current. You can trace its outline, sometimes even peer into open hatches where schools of fusiliers swirl like silver smoke. Our favourite part? The stern, where a massive resident grouper often lurks, almost camouflaged against the encrusted metal. Clownfish bob amongst anemones on the deck, and we’ve spotted turtles munching on sponges near the bow. It’s a comfortable dive for most, not too deep, though sometimes a mild current means you’ll want to drift along the length of the ship. Go early if you can; the light filtering through the water onto the wreck is magical.
- Location
- Palawan, Philippines, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- 9.853333, 114.278890
- Type
- wreck
Best Time to Dive in Palawan
The warmest water temperatures in Palawan occur in January, averaging 29.0°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 29.0°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 29.0°C (air: 27.2°C)
- February: 29.0°C (air: 27.2°C)
- March: 29.0°C (air: 27.6°C)
- April: 29.0°C (air: 28.6°C)
- May: 29.0°C (air: 29.1°C)
- June: 29.0°C (air: 28.5°C)
- July: 29.0°C (air: 28.2°C)
- August: 29.0°C (air: 28.4°C)
- September: 29.0°C (air: 28.1°C)
- October: 29.0°C (air: 28.0°C)
- November: 29.0°C (air: 28.2°C)
- December: 29.0°C (air: 27.8°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Palawan
- Alicia Annie Reef (reef)
- Amy Douglas Reef (reef)
- An Nhon Nam Reef - 5-20m (reef)
- Ardasier Reef (reef)
- ASIA PACIFIC - 0m (wreck)
- Bahura
- Bãi cạn Nâu Bắc Lớn - 5-15m (reef)
- Baker Reef (reef)
- Baker Reef - 5-20m (reef)
- Baker Reef - 5-20m (reef)
- Bamford Reef (reef)
- Bamford Reef (reef)
- Barque Canada Reef (reef)
- Bin Reef (reef)
- Block 1
Marine Life in Palawan
Home to 6 recorded species including 2 other, 2 sea snails & nudibranchs, 1 whales & dolphins, 1 sharks & rays.
Notable Species
- Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
- Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
- Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Fig cone (Conus figulinus) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Noble Cone (Conus nobilis) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Bluespotted bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium plagiosum) - Sharks & Rays
Recommended Packing List for Loveless Reef
Based on average water temperature of 29.0°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories