The Reef

The Apo Reef Lighthouse: Two Perspective

If there is one dive site which is frequently visited by divers who go to Occidental Mindoro, it is none other than Apo Reef Natural Park. Acclaimed as: [1.] Asia’s Best; [2.] The Second Largest Coral Reef in the World; and [3.] The Diving Mecca of the Philippines.

It is located 20 miles west of mainland Mindoro. The Reef offers a good drift-diving opportunity with crystalline blue water covering an area of 35 square kilometres of coral reefs teeming with a wide variety of marine life. This atoll-like reef is divided by a narrow channel into two lagoon systems (north and south). The channel runs east to west from 1.80 and 27.00 metres deep with a fine white sand bottom, numerous mounds and patches of branching corals under the deep blue water.

The reef water abound with 385 species of colourful marine fishes live in the general area, including families of sharks, stingrays, mantas, school of jacks and snappers, swarms of tropical aquarium fish and the crevice-dwelling morays, blennies and gobies. It has no less than 500 species of corals which includes soft corals and branching types of hard corals. All of these conspire to give divers a rewarding experience that should never be missed.

The Reef has three islands namely Apo Island, Apo Menor also known as Binangaan Island, and Caios del Bajo. The white beaches and the physical attributes of these islands offers tourists a wholesome place for rest and recreation. The islands are accessible by outrigger boats.

The Reef encompasses 15,792 hectares of both land (29 hectares) and water (15,763 hectares). The buffer zone surrounding the protected area has a marine area of 11,677 hectares. It is located within the municipality of Sablayan.

Note · Most of the information were taken from the official website of the Local Government of Sablayan. For further information about the province and its other tourist attractions, please visit: elgu2.ncc.gov.ph. You may also visit Philippine Tourism's official website: www.tourism.gov.ph.