Apo Reef is a world renowned atoll in the middle of the South China Sea offering steep walls and many pelagic.
Apo Reef Natural Park (ARNP) is one of the most famous scuba dive destinations of the Philippines right in the middle of the South China Sea in between Mindora Occidental, Coron and the Calamian Island Group. It was awarded the status of Natural Park in 1996 finally beginning to stop illegal activities such as dynamite fishing and fish poisoning. This fantastic atoll actually consists out of the three islands Apo Island, Apo Menor or Binangaan Island and Cayos del Bajo, all nicely surrounded by white sand. Apo Island is about 25 hectares large and only has a huge 35 meter high lighthouse and a ranger station that reminds scuba divers about some sort of human life. There are no accommodation, no food and divers only get here by boat from Pandan Island of by a liveaboard. Apo Reef offers a mangrove lagoon which provides for a complete different eco system and attracts many birds as well.
Apo Reef is with its protected forty square kilometers a haven for marine life offering more than three hundred different fish species and more than five hundred species of coral. You can also find many endangered green sea turtles and hawksbill turtles. Some of the popular spots are around the northern tip of Apo Reef, around Apo Island, Merope Reef and a dive site named Hunter's Rock, famous for its many sea snakes. Its many steep and deep drop-offs attract many pelagic such as tuna, trevally, barracuda, but also manta rays, eagle rays, hammerheads, thresher sharks and different types of reef sharks. Its dynamic ecosystem is waiting for full exploration of interested scuba divers around the world becoming one of the often mentioned location in scuba photography contests.