Diving Apo Island

Apo Island (what means grandson in the local dialect) is just about 8 kilometers off the southern coastline of Negros Oriental. The small volcanic Island is under the jurisdiction Dauin, 17 kilometer south of Dumaguete City.

The whole island and the surrounding coral reef is a protected area. There are about 800 people living on the Island. Their income some years ago was fishing. Even it is a protected area, there are 2 places around the Island where traditional fishing (hook or bamboo-fishtraps) is allowed.

Diving Apo Island is an absolute “Must” if you visit the Dumaguete area. It is also a snorkeling heaven. The coral variety is breath-taking and you feel like in an aquarium while Scuba diving and exploring the underwater-world of Apo.

If you need a kick you go for a drift dive at Cogon, Mamsa or Coconut Point. Chapel Point in front of the small village offers a beautiful wall with small caves and overhangs, while the area around Rock Point is a pure coral and color-flash. The marine-lab of the Silliman University in Dumaguete documented over 650 species of fish and 400 different species of corals.

There are two dive operators and two resorts on the Island. When you plan to spend a few days there keep in mind that the life on the Island is very simple. All freshwater has to be imported from Negros and electricity is only a few hours in the evening available. Photographers may have problems to charge the batteries completely. The Voltage barely reaches 200 V.

The Dive Shops and resorts around Dumaguete organize almost daily trips to Apo Island. The bangkas leaving around 8:00 am and coming back in the afternoon. Depending on the divers demand, they go to Apo for two or three dives.

If you don’t want the service of a resort, just travel to Malatapay and take one of the public bangkas for a few hundred peso. The trip to Apo Island takes about 40 minutes from there. When reaching the Island don’t forget to register at the collector’s house. Visitors pay at the moment 150 Peso per day. Divers some additional fees. Most resorts include that in their trip-fees.

Apo Island is one of the main dive-spots of the Philippines. Don’t miss it, when traveling the Visayas.

Divesite Map Apo Island

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