Area dive shops do make the visit
as a day trip and try to squeeze in
three dives. With a fast boat it is not
so bad. With a slow banca, it is a
long day.
Also like Tubbataha, there’s little
protection from the elements. It
must be dived during calmer
months. December to May is
considered the season for this area
although some nearby dive shops
will go if conditions look to be calm
in the off season. One small island,
Apo Island, has a lighthouse and
the reef is a dual lagoon system
divided by a narrow channel that
runs west to east.
Dive sites include Shark Ridge,
Binangaan Dropoff and North Wall
are some of the famous sites and at
these and others a diver can expect
to see big fish like dogtooth tuna,
whitetip/blacktip/gray reef sharks,
wahoo, Spanish mackerel,
Napoleon wrasse and bumpheads.
Flowing currents can bring in
mantas, barracuda schools, bigeye
jack shoals and even apex predators
like tiger sharks. 400+ species of
fish and 500 corals have been
identified here. The reef is now
well-protected and a park fee is
charged to keep the rangers in food
and supplies. On the whole, it is a
very healthy reef system and the
walls are spectacular.
Bainangaan Dropoffis an
amazing wall that eventually drops
away into the abyss and is best
known for its scalloped
hammerheads and manta rays.
Apo Islandhas soaring walls
covered in swathes of soft coral and
sponges with seas turtles grazing
along the wall and resting among
the ledges.
Shark Ridge has black and
whitetip reef sharks and often an
encounter with manta rays. It is
peppered with shallow caves and
overhangs with roaming groupers.
Apo 29is a sea mount with
currents and lots of pelagic action.
Normally done with a long blue
water drift in. Once atop
the mount divers can hold
on or hook in and watch for
thresher sharks and various
reef sharks, possible
scalloped hammerheads,
mantas and shoals of
schooling pelagic fish. It is
an advanced and very
exciting dive.Dogtooth Tuna