Katipanan

Negros, Negros Oriental, Dauin, Apo Island, Visayas, Philippinesreef18 m maxbeginner

Conditions & tides

KatipananApo Island

Fair · 4/5

conditions visualisation

Fair4/5

Some chop right now — best window today 8 AM–6 PM.

Wind19 kn NE

Current~1 kn SW · model

Swell

0.3 m · 4s · E

Water

30 °C

Max depth

18 m

Conditions through the day

7 AM7 PM

Calmest current near slack — 15:15 & 05:00 local

Sunrise 05:38 · Sunset 17:23 local

Show details

Tide · local

Outlook — select a day for full conditions

On-face swell 0.0 m — the component of the swell aimed at this site’s exposed face. Current is a regional model value (Copernicus, ~9 km grid) — a guide to the area, not a precise reef measurement. Imagery © Esri · not depth or visibility.

Scored by DiveConnect's site-physics model

Marine forecast via Copernicus Marine. Score is a rule-based guide from swell/wind vs. the site's exposure — always dive your own assessment.

Dived here today? How were conditions vs. what we showed?

About this site

Katipanan is a reef dive site on Apo Island, known for its exceptional soft coral gardens in the shallows. The site can be dived in either direction depending on the mild current, making it a versatile dive. The shallows between 5 and 10 metres deep host the best soft coral gardens on the island, and for this reason Katipanan is also considered the top snorkelling site on the island. Hard corals continue from 10 metres down to the maximum depth of 18 metres, with the bottom composition remaining consistent throughout.

Conditions at Katipanan are generally gentle, with only mild current, which is why the dive can be approached from either direction. Light currents and great visibility make this a welcoming site, and the difficulty level is rated suitable for beginners.

Marine life at the site includes sea turtles, which can be seen in the area in front of the village, alongside the extensive soft and hard coral coverage. The reef also holds reef fish, sea fans, sponges, nudibranchs, frogfish, and ghost pipefish, with pelagic species such as tuna, jacks, and barracuda also visiting the site.

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