Apo Island Protected Landscape and Seascape

9° 4.5′ N · 123° 16.3′ E

The Philippines' showcase community-run reserve. In 1982 Apo's fishers, guided by Dr Angel Alcala of Silliman University, closed a 450 m strip of their reef to fishing, and the spillover filled their nets. Today the island has more than 650 fish species, more than 400 corals and turtles on nearly every dive.

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Position: OSM 'Marine Sanctuary' dive site on the south-east side. The marine reserve is managed under the NIPAS law by a Protected Area Management Board (Wikipedia). Sanctuary rules (philippinedives.com, 2026): mandatory local guide; at most 15 divers a day in the core sanctuary; no night diving in sanctuaries; only residents may fish. Wikipedia notes the original south-east sanctuary has been 'temporarily' closed since Typhoon Sendong in 2011 with snorkelling banned there, so ask the rangers which zones are open. Twelve dive sites ring the island: Coconut Point ('washing machine' drift, advanced; OSM 9.0852N 123.2698E), Chapel (wall; 9.0773N 123.2671E), Rock Point East/West (sharks), Mamsa Point (trevally), Largahan (volcanic bubbles, macro), Katipanan, Cogon, Kan-uran, Baluarte. Visibility 15-35 m. The nearest hyperbaric chamber is in Cebu City.

Apo Island Protected Landscape and Seascape

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