Apo Reef Natural Park

Apo Reef Natural Park sits in the Mindoro Strait off the coast of Occidental Mindoro in the Philippines, forming the second largest contiguous coral reef system in the world after the Great Barrier Reef. It is a protected marine park with a lagoon at its center and dive sites spread across its outer walls and channels, drawing divers on liveaboard trips and boat charters out of Mindoro or Coron. Diving here is rated technical, over a reef bottom with visibility generally described as great, though strong currents have been reported. Manta rays are a confirmed presence on the reef, and divers have also reported barracuda, batfish, damselfish, fusiliers, hammerhead sharks, nudibranchs, snapper, surgeonfish, thresher sharks, trevally, tuna, and whale sharks. The area's remoteness means trips typically require a longer boat crossing than reefs closer to shore, and the pelagic sightings are a large part of what draws divers out this far.

Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.

• SurgeonfishSurgeonfishReported here · unconfirmed
• SnapperSnapperReported here · unconfirmed
• Whale SharkRhincodon typusReported here · unconfirmed
• BatfishBatfishReported here · unconfirmed
• Manta rayManta rayConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
• NudibranchNudibranchReported here · unconfirmed
• FusilierFusilierReported here · unconfirmed
• Thresher sharkThresher sharkReported here · unconfirmed
• TrevallyTrevallyReported here · unconfirmed
• Hammerhead sharkHammerhead sharkReported here · unconfirmed
• DamselfishDamselfishReported here · unconfirmed
• TunaTunaReported here · unconfirmed
• BarracudaBarracudaReported here · unconfirmed
• Blackspotted PufferArothron nigropunctatusReported here · unconfirmed
• Painted Spiny LobsterPanulirus versicolorReported here · unconfirmed
• Whitetip Reef SharkTriaenodon obesusReported here · unconfirmed
• Giant MorayGymnothorax javanicusReported here · unconfirmed
• Napoleon WrasseCheilinus undulatusReported here · unconfirmed
• Harlequin SweetlipsPlectorhinchus chaetodonoidesReported here · unconfirmed
• Boring Giant ClamTridacna croceaReported here · unconfirmed
• Sixbar WrasseThalassoma hardwickeReported here · unconfirmed
• Neon FusilierPterocaesio tileReported here · unconfirmed
• Bird WrasseGomphosus variusReported here · unconfirmed