Dive Sites Apo Island
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Chapel Point
This dive point gets its name from the Church that overlooks this site. It consists of a gentle slope of white sand and patches of Coral leading down to about 12m/40ft. It drops off into an impressive wall. There are many colorful Tube and Finger Sponges along the wall. Gorgonian Sea Fans that sprout from the volcanic rocks and golden colored Leather Corals you can find here. Polyps shimmer in the sunlight, making it an impressive sight.
The dive along the wall are a number of small overhangs and ledges to explore. The home of Clearfin Lionfish and White-Eyed Moray Eels. You come across a small cavern at about 20m/65ft that sometimes has a school of Silversides hiding from predators. This cavern makes a great photo opportunity, as there is a colorful soft coral hanging from the ceiling. At midnight Snapper are often hanging out in the entrance.
As you ascend to the reef flat, clouds of colorful reef fishes can be seen around the expanse of stunning Hard Corals and Sail fin Shrimp Gobi’s. In n the sandy patches, Ribbon Eel hang out of their burrows looking for food, Blue fin Trevally hunt for their next meal, Banded Sea Kraits chase down prey. Most of the dives Huge Green Turtles are seen.
Baluarte
This is one of Apo Island dive sites where you can see the volcanic nature of the island. Baluarte is an easy dive site with minimal to no current and a varied topography. There is a small wall, followed by a sandy slope scattered with Hard Coral formations. Anemones full of symbiotic creatures and beautiful Leather Corals. You can see many different reef fish species here, plus the odd Green Turtle and Banded Sea Krait.
Largahan
Largahan a very diverse dive site. Hard Coral formations separated by dark volcanic sand, ledges with deep undercuts. There is a fair-sized wall, and a Soft Coral garden in the shallows. Apo Island’s volcanic origin is very evident in this site, as bubbles are produced by underground geothermal activity and continuously stream from the sand. This is a good site for macro subjects. Regular sightings of a variety of different Nudibranch, Flatworms, Scorpion fishes, the occasional Frog fishes and Ribbon Eels can be found in Largahan. We don’t dive this site regularly, as we have the macro life on the coastal sites.
Rock Point East
Rock Point East, a large finger-shaped reef protruding from Apo Island South East corner. We have sometimes stronger current, which ensures incredible fish life and Coral formations, as well visit from larger pelagic fish.
The east side of Rock Point is a steep wall, which leads to a plateau. Depending on currents, divers have the choice of continuing to the west side. Exploring the plateau or doing a U-Turn and returning along the east wall. You can find Colorful clouds of schooling fish, impressive hard and soft coral formations. Schooling Fusiliers, Butterflyfishes, Surgeonfishes, Long fin Banner fish and Red-Toothed Trigger fishes are some of the species that are very numerous in this site, plus hunting Giant and Blue fin Trevally too. Like on all dive sites on Apo Island, there is always a high chance of seeing Turtles and Sea Snakes.
Marine sanctuary
Marine sanctuary, a no fishing zone, and a maximum of 12 divers plus guides are permitted to dive at a time. This high level of protection benefits the whole of Apo Island, allowing fish stocks to regenerate. The sanctuary is a sloping reef with spectacular hard coral growth, and this huge diversity of Corals is one of the most notable characteristics of Apo Island dive sites. Almost every square meter of this site is bursting with the myriad hues and textures of different Coral colonies. The famous ‘Clown fish City’ is located in the Marine Sanctuary. /vc_column_text]