instagram famous : barracuda lake’s underwater playground

as a child, i spent many hours watching the little mermaid, and many more dreaming of subaqueous worlds and the wonders that they held. recently, i discovered that the filipino archipelago is home to an underwater world to rival that of atlantis. barracuda lake has become somewhat of an instagram phenomenon in recent years, highlighting a hidden gem in the phillipines. the natural wonder is somewhat of an underwater world. its astonishingly clear waters and dramatic limestone skyscrapers make it a veritable playground for avid divers.

perhaps most fascinating about lake barracuda is its strata or layers of water that make diving here a truly unique experience. wading around on the surface one can expect, one can expect comfortable temperatures of about 27 degrees celsius. venture down further, however, and you’ll experience surprisingly warm waters of around 37 degrees after 13 metres. the odd phenomenon is due to the fact that the lake contains layers of both freshwater and saltwater. beyond the fact that this means divers can forgo the need for a wetsuit, people have reported feeling a sensation of weightlessness in the lake, akin to bounding across the moon or floating in space. once you reach the bottom (the lake is 40m deep at its max point), the water cools down once again, and divers are treated to sand that feels silky and ‘jelly-like’ - perfect for underwater play.

how to get there

barracuda lake is located on coron island. it can be reached via a short boat ride from coron, followed by a 15 minute walk along a wooden walkway.

know before you go

you’ll need a diving certification to explore the depths of barracuda lake. coron island is home to various dive shops where you can receive accreditation.