What marine life can you see diving in Apo Reef?

Divers in Apo Reef can encounter the following species: Bigeye Trevally, Blacktip Reef Shark, Blue-Ringed Octopus, Bluespotted Cornetfish, Brownbanded Bamboo Shark, Bumphead Parrotfish, Chambered Nautilus, Clark's Anemonefish, Disco Clam, Dogtooth Tuna, Dusky Batfish, Emperor Angelfish, Flamboyant Cuttlefish, Garden Eel, Giant Moray, Giant Oceanic Manta Ray, Giant Trevally, Giant clam, Glider Flyingfish, Golden Spadefish, Great Barracuda, Great Hammerhead Shark, Green Sea Turtle, Grey Reef Shark, Humphead Wrasse, Jenkins' Whipray, Leaf Scorpionfish, Longtail Butterfly Ray, Mandarinfish, Mimic Octopus, Moorish Idol, Ocellaris Clownfish, Ocellated Eagle Ray, Ornate Ghost Pipefish, Painted Frogfish, Peacock Mantis Shrimp, Pelagic Thresher Shark, Pennant Coralfish, Potato Grouper, Pygmy Seahorse, Reef Manta Ray, Ribbon Eel, Round Ribbontail Ray, Scalloped Hammerhead Shark, Silvertip Shark, Spot-fin Porcupinefish, Tawny Nurse Shark, Tentacled Flathead, Thorny Seahorse, Threadfin Butterflyfish, Titan Triggerfish, Tomato Clownfish, Whale Shark, Whitetip Reef Shark, Yellow Longnose Butterflyfish, Yellowfin Tuna, Zebra Shark.

What is the best time to dive in Apo Reef?

The best months to dive in Apo Reef are January, February, March, April, May, November, December, offering optimal visibility and conditions.

What is the water temperature in Apo Reef?

Water temperatures in Apo Reef range from 26°C to 31°C throughout the year.

Where is Apo Reef located?

Apo Reef is a dive destination located in Philippines, in the South China Sea.

Apo Reef

Philippines · South China Sea

OVERVIEW

Why dive in Apo Reef?

Apo Reef is the second-largest contiguous coral reef system in the world and the largest in the Philippines, renowned for its exceptional biodiversity. It boasts over 400 coral species and between 385 and 530 fish species, including a high chance of encountering sharks, manta rays, and various turtles. The park offers dramatic walls, extensive coral gardens, and often strong currents that attract large pelagic species, making it an adventurous destination best suited for experienced divers.

WATER TEMPERATURE -

VISIBILITY -

CURRENT STRENGTHModerate – Strong

BEST SEASON

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Frequent sightings

Blacktip Reef Shark

Carcharhinus melanopterus

A small, agile requiem shark recognized by the distinctive black tips on its dorsal, caudal, and pectoral fins. Commonly found patrolling shallow coral reefs and lagoons, it is one of the most frequently encountered reef sharks in the Indo-Pacific.

Bumphead Parrotfish

Bolbometopon muricatum

The bumphead parrotfish is the largest species of parrotfish, known for the characteristic hump on its head. They are predominantly herbivores, grazing on coral reefs by scraping off algae and live coral, and are often seen in large schools.

Giant Trevally

Caranx ignobilis

The giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis) is a large, powerful predatory fish found throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific region. Known for its steep head profile and robust body, it can reach up to 170 cm in length and 80 kg in weight. This apex predator feeds primarily on fish, but also consumes crustaceans and cephalopods, often hunting in solitary or small groups, though juveniles form schools.

Great Hammerhead Shark

Sphyrna mokarran

The great hammerhead is the largest hammerhead species, recognizable by its wide, flat head and tall, curved dorsal fin. As a migratory apex predator, it uses its unique head for enhanced sensing and pinning down prey.

Green Sea Turtle

Chelonia mydas

The green sea turtle is a large marine reptile distinguished by its heart-shaped carapace and a single pair of prefrontal scales.

Grey Reef Shark

Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos

The Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) is a medium to large-sized requiem shark, common in Indo-Pacific coral reefs and adjacent waters. Characterized by its grey body and a distinctive broad black band on the trailing edge of its caudal fin, it is a fast and agile predator. These sharks are known for their social daytime aggregations, which disperse at night for individual hunting.

Humphead Wrasse

Cheilinus undulatus

The Humphead Wrasse is one of the largest reef fish, identifiable by a prominent hump on its forehead and thick fleshy lips. It is a protogynous hermaphrodite, meaning individuals are born female and some transition to males later in life. This carnivorous species plays a crucial role in coral reef ecosystems by preying on hard-shelled invertebrates and toxic animals like the crown-of-thorns starfish.

Ocellated Eagle Ray

Aetobatus ocellatus

The Ocellated Eagle Ray, also known as the Whitespotted Eagle Ray, is a large ray characterized by a dark greenish-grey to black dorsal surface covered with numerous white spots, and a white underside. It possesses a flattened, diamond-shaped body, a prominent snout, and a long, whip-like tail armed with venomous spines. This species primarily feeds on hard-shelled invertebrates, such as mollusks and crustaceans, which it crushes with its specialized dental plates.

Pelagic Thresher Shark

Alopias pelagicus

The Pelagic Thresher Shark is recognizable by its extremely long caudal fin, which can be as long as its body and is used to stun prey. It is an active, fast-swimming carnivore found in tropical and subtropical open ocean waters, often near the surface but capable of diving to considerable depths. This species exhibits ovoviviparity and is unfortunately classified as Endangered due to overfishing and slow reproductive rates.

Reef Manta Ray

Mobula alfredi

The Reef Manta Ray (Mobula alfredi) is a large filter-feeding ray found in tropical and subtropical waters, primarily around coral reefs and coastal areas. Known for its pelagic lifestyle, it feeds on zooplankton and exhibits complex social behaviors, often forming aggregations at feeding or cleaning stations. This species is listed as Vulnerable due to threats from overfishing and its slow reproductive rate.

Scalloped Hammerhead Shark

Sphyrna lewini

The Scalloped Hammerhead Shark is a large, migratory shark easily recognized by the central indentation on its hammer-shaped head. These sharks are found globally in warm temperate and tropical coastal and oceanic waters, often forming large schools around seamounts and islands. They are primarily nocturnal foragers, feeding on a diverse diet of bony fishes, cephalopods, crustaceans, and smaller sharks and rays.

Whale Shark

Rhincodon typus

The whale shark is the largest fish in the world and a gentle filter feeder.

Whitetip Reef Shark

Triaenodon obesus

The Whitetip Reef Shark is a slender, medium-sized shark easily identified by the distinctive white tips on its dorsal and upper caudal fins. Primarily nocturnal, it spends its days resting in caves and under ledges on coral reefs and hunts at night for bony fishes, crustaceans, and cephalopods. These sharks are generally social, often found in groups during the day, but can hunt individually or cooperatively.