Mainit means hot in the local language. Towards the end of this exhilarating drift dive you’ll see yellow patches of sand that are hot to touch. This is due to the nearby thermal hot springs.

This sloping patchy reef can have some strong currents and has a school of pretty big Barracuda’s patrolling. Big Spanish mackerel can be seen here and in the sandy areas look out for snake eels.

Depth: 20m/60ft
Ability Level: 4
Travel Time: 10 minutes

A favorite with macro enthusiasts. This dive site is critter heaven. It starts on a sandy slope that can seem bare at first but upon closer inspection you’ll see lots and lots of weird critters.

After a couple of minutes you’ll reach a bunch of old car tires that are covered in corals and sponges and house an abundance of marine life. You can expect to see Frogfish, Cuttlefish, Pygmy Squid, Nudibranchs, Scorpionfish, Lionfish, Moray Eels and all sorts of Crabs and Shrimps here.

If you have a particular critter on your wish list, you’ll likely find it here. This is also a great night dive.

Depth: 18m/60ft
Ability Level: 1-2
Travel Time: 1 minute

Starting at the same slope as the tires, this dive site ends in a beautiful sloping reef home to lots of anemones inhabited by Clownfish, Shrimps and Crabs. Scorpionfish are common here and so are Nudibranchs.

Depth: 20m/70ft
Ability Level: 1-2
Travel Time: 1 minute

Our house reef is located right out front of the restaurant and is home to some amazing marine life. It has some old car tires covered with corals and sponges, a nice sandy slope full of well-camouflaged critters, and reef on either side of the tires. Seahorses are common here, you’ll also see a couple of tiny Bug Eyed Squat Lobsters, Sawblade Shrimps, Cowries, lots of Shrimp Gobies, Scorpionfish, Razor fish a school of Yellow Snappers, Reef Squid at night and sometimes different kinds of Ghost Pipefish. This is our most popular night dive.

Depth: 20m/70ft
Ability Level: 1-2
Travel Time: 1 minute

This sloping reef can be a nice drift dive on the right tide. Lots of reef fish hang out here and a Green Sea Turtle is also commonly seen here. On the sandy area before the slope you can see some Frogfish, Nudibranchs and all sorts of other critters that live in the ‘muck’.

Depth: 20m/70ft
Ability Level: 2-3
Travel Time: 3 minutes

A deeper muck dive that for sure has something hiding that you’ve never seen before. Flamboyant Cuttlefish, Frogfish (as tiny as a grain of rice), Soft Coral Crabs, Devilfish and many more macro favorites. There’s also a car wreck here and some older boat wrecks that host numerous critters.

Depth: 30m/100ft
Ability Level: 4
Travel Time: 3 minutes

A deep dive where the main attraction are two car wrecks that lay in about 100ft/ 30m of water. The cars have lots of fish live around them, schools of Snappers, big Lionfish, Sweetlips and Angelfish are very common. On the wrecks you’ll also see lots of Hinge-beak Shrimps and other Crustaceans. On the sandy slope up look out for Ghost Pipefish, Devil Scorpionfish, Frogfish and Dragonettes.

Depth: 30m/100ft
Ability Level: 4
Travel Time: 5 minutes

Another great muck dive. As with most dive sites in the Dauin area, the sand or ‘muck’ is home to numerous spectacular little critters. This sandy slope is a fun hunting ground for Dragonettes, Frogfish, Scorpionfish, Pygmy Pipehorses, Seahorses, Nudibranchs, Seamoths, Octopus, Cockatoo Waspfish, Flounders and Pipefish.

Depth: 20m/70ft
Ability Level: 1-2
Travel Time: 5 minutes

Our most popular dive site, once you dived it you’ll understand why. The start of the dive is a sandy slope with some mooring block that are home to Ghost Pipefish, Frogfish, Different Shrimps and Crabs, Sea slugs and much more. The Reef itself is very healthy and hosts lots of different reef fish. A school of yellow tail Barracuda patrols the reef, Damselfish and Anthias color the reef and turtles are also present. On the edge of the reef you can sometimes see Blue Ringed Octopus and Leaf Scorpionfish.

Depth: 24m/80ft
Ability Level: 2-3
Travel Time: 5 minutes

Just like it’s brother Dauin Norte, this dive site starts on a rich sandy slope and ends in a beautiful reef. Jawfish, Blue Ribbon Eels, Pipefish, Squat Lobster, Razor Wrasse Nudibranchs and uncountable numbers of Garden Eels are common here.

Depth: 20m/70ft
Ability Level: 1-2
Travel Time: 7 minutes

Ginama-an means ‘man made’ in the local language and this dive site is made up out of old car tires. These tires attract a lot of reef fish in this area and are covered in colorful sponges and corals. Harlequin shrimp can be seen here and also Whip Coral Shrimps and Gobies, Frogfish, Anemonefish, Pipehorses and Pipefish.

Depth: 20m/70ft
Ability Level: 2
Travel Time: 10 minutes

This div can have some current and sometimes turns into a nice drift dive. When there is no current you can find all sorts of critters on the reef. When there is current just drift along the reef and enjoy the company of Yellow Snappers, Jacks and the occasional Turtle. In the sandy area Blue Spotted stingrays are pretty common.

Depth: 20m/70ft
Ability Level: 3-4
Travel Time: 12 minutes

Two reefs and some Tires make up this dive site. Seamoths, Seaslugs, Anemonefish and Ghost Pipefish are regularly seen here. A very good spot to look for Nudibrachs as well.

Depth: 20m/70ft
Ability Level: 2
Travel Time: 13 minutes

This sloping reef is our Mandarin dive. In the shallow area, around some lettuce corals you can see the graceful Mandarin fish every night. With some patience you can even see them mate. We do this dive every day when requested. Best time to see the Mandarin Fish is around dusk. Octopus, Lobsters and Scorpionfish are also common here. During the day you can dive the whole reef and enjoy the view of countless reef fish.

Depth: 20m/70ft
Ability Level: 2
Travel Time: 15 minutes

A bit further down south you’ll find the Basac Sanctuaries. Basac Norte is mainly a sandy slope with some coral rubble and patches of reef. Lots of critters that prefer the muck over reef live here. We’ve found Nudibranchs, Flying Gurnard, Fingered Dragonettes and Blue Spotted Stingrays here.

Depth: 20m/70ft
Ability Level: 2
Travel Time: 30 minutes

A bit further South lies this Healthy Colorful reef. Enjoy the slow current as you drift by all sorts of corals and reef fish. It looks more like Apo Island than Dauin. Lots of Sweetlips, Snappers, Groupers, little Gobies and Clownfish.

Depth: 20m/70ft
Ability Level: 3-4
Travel Time: 30 minutes

A drift dive with a nice reef that hosts a school of Barracuda. Moray Eels are common and so are Lionfish, Anemones and Anemonefish, Snappers and Damselfish.

Depth: 20m/70ft
Ability Level: 3-4
Travel Time: 40 minutes

Our most southern dive site. This is another drift dive that can have some strong current. The white sand and reef will remind you of Apo Island. Lots of Damselfish, Anthias, Groupers, Snappers and Anemonefish.

Depth: 24m/80ft
Ability Level: 4
Travel Time: 45 minutes

Largahan is a very diverse site; it has coral bommies separated by dark sand, ledges with deep undercuts, a fair-sized wall, and a soft coral garden

Apo Island’s volcanic origin is very evident in this site; bubbles produced by underground geothermal activity continuously erupt from the sand in between the coral bommies.

This is a good site for macro buffs; nudibranchs, frogfishes, flatworms, scorpionfishes, and a blue ribbon eel can be found amongst Largahan’s nooks and crannies.

Depth: 5-20m
Ability Level:
Travel Time: 45 minutes

CThis is a dive site so unique that the volcanic nature of the island can be seen as steady streams of bubbles erupt from the sand, shimmering as they catch the sun light.

This is an easy dive site with a varied topography. A little wall dive, followed by a slope littered with coral heads and joining back on a fringing reef.

Depth: 20m/70ft
Ability Level: 2-4
Travel Time: 45 minutes

Chapel consists of a very gentle slope of sugar white sand and mixed coral heads leading to a very steep slope which looks more like a ski pist than a divesite! This in turn makes way for an impressive wall with many overhangs and small caverns to explore.

Clouds of colorful reef fishes can be seen on the reef crest while spiny lobsters, nudibranchs, fire dartfishes, sasilfin gobies, and a blue ribbon eel can be found on the wall. Several very lucky divers have also seen thresher sharks on this site. Sea snakes and turtles can often be found on the reef flat on top of the wall. The shallow parts have very healthy hard corals.

What to see regularly: lionfish, scorpionfish, blue fin trevally, nudibranches, surgeonfish, black and white snappers, fusiliers, golden sweepers, garden eels, moray eel, turtle, batfish.

What to see if you are lucky: sea moth, comet fish, frogfish, napoleon wrasse, bumphead parrotfish, giant trevally.

Depth: 7-30m
Ability Level: 2-4
Travel Time: 45 minutes

Katipanan is named after the small cowry shells often seen on this site. Situated on the Southern side of the island this is an easy dives site with little or no current.

It is a gentle slope with soft corals and a step down to a sandy slope and can be dived in the direction of Rock Point West or towards Chapel Point, effectively it is two dive sites in one! Good Macro dive.

Depth: 20m/70ft
Ability Level: 2-4
Travel Time: 45 minutes

The west side of Rock Point is a steep slope which leads to a plateau at the tip of the point. Depending on currents divers have the choice of continuing to the east side, exploring the plateau or returning along the west slope.

The deeper parts of the slope have great hard corals and sponges with larger fish passing by. The shallower section are covered in a luxurious soft coral forest. It’s some of the healthiest and most prolific corals you will ever see. Soft corals being a favorite food of hawksbill turtles, several of them are often seen while diving these sites. Frogfishes and nudibranchs can also be found here.

What to see regularly: nudibranch, flatworms, scorpionfish, blue fin trevally, black-and- white snappers, potato grouper, coral grouper, mappa pufferfish, white eye moray eel, batfish, turtles.

What to see if you are lucky: fire dart goby, sea moth, comet fish, frogfish, manta ray.

Depth: 5-20m
Ability Level: 2-4
Travel Time: 45 minutes

Sometimes known as the 'washing machine', this site is usually done as a drift dive because of the prevailing currents that are almost always present. Schools of big eye trevallies, solitary giant trevallies, Spanish mackerel, red snappers, midnight snappers, and clouds of anthias and fusiliers are always seen here. The sloping reef of this site is also a good place to look for turtles and sea snakes. Keep an eye out for the meter-long bumphead parrotfish that is sometimes seen on this site.

At slack tide and during certain phases of the moon Coconut is suitable for novice divers, but otherwise it is strictly for advanced divers with drift diving experience. At one point there is a sand channel running between two rock cliffs which provides shelter from the current and is an excellent place to sit and watch the show!

What to see regularly: many different types of jacks and snappers, sweetlips, emperor fish, fusiliers, barracuda, tuna, rainbow runners, turtles, sea snakes, batfish, potato grouper.

What to see if you are lucky: napoleon wrasse, bump head parrotfish, reef sharks, manta ray, whale shark.

Depth: 5-25m
Ability Level: 4
Travel Time: 45 minutes

Cogon Point is often subjected to fierce currents, making it an exhilarating drift dive only suitable for more experienced divers. The dive starts on a sloping reef with excellent mixed corals and sponges and finishes along a wall with luxurious soft corals.

Strong currents guarantee remarkable marine life activity with all kinds of fish cruising the reef and huge schools of big eye trevallies (jacks) hanging in the blue.

What to see regularly: big eye trevallies, blue fin trevallies, giant trevallies, banded seasnakes, turtles, mangrove snappers, black and white snappers, scribbled snappers, five lined snappers, boxfish, clown triggerfish, scribbled filefish, pyramid butterflyfish, longfinned bannerfish.

What to see if you are lucky: napoleon wrasse, cuttlefish, bumphead parrotfish, batfish, eagle ray, mantis shrimp, blue spotted stingray, flatworm, frogfish.

Depth: 12-25m
Ability Level: 4
Travel Time: 45 minutes

Mamsa Point is the local word for jack fish (trevallies) and this is an excellent place to see big schools of hundreds of jacks. Sometimes they swim in a circle for protection, and if you are really lucky you might see the larger pelagics, like tuna, that are hunting them.

This sloping reef and steep wall are covered in hard and soft corals and sponges as well as hordes of other marine life species. There is often a strong current, so at times this site is not suitable for all divers.

What to see regularly: big eye trevallies, blue fin trevallies, giant trevallies, banded seasnakes, turtles, mangrove snappers, black and white snappers, scribbled snappers, five lined snappers, boxfish, clown triggerfish, scribbled filefish, pyramid butterflyfish, longfinned bannerfish.

What to see if you are lucky: tuna, napoleon wrasse, cuttlefish, bumphead parrotfish, batfish, eagle ray, mantis shrimp, blue spotted stingray, flatworm, frogfish.

Depth: 5-25m
Ability Level: 4
Travel Time: 45 minutes

Another wall dive with lots of undercuts, good hard coral growth, and beautiful soft coral gardens. Sailfin gobies and nudibranchs can be found on the wall as well as the occasional large grouper.

While swimming among the soft corals, divers should keep an eye out for the elusive radial filefish.

Depth: 5-25m
Ability Level: 2-4
Travel Time: 45 minutes

This marine sanctuary is a “no fishing” area and a maximum of 15 people are permitted to dive here each day. This high level of protection benefits the whole of Apo Island, allowing fish stocks to regenerate.

The Sanctuary is a sloping reef with spectacular hard coral growth. One of the most notable characteristics of Apo Island is the diversity of its coral reefs, and the Sanctuary is a prime example of that. Almost every square meter of this site is bursting with the myriad hues and textures of different coral colonies. This is also the site where Clownfish City can be found.

What to see regularly: many species of clownfish, moray eels, fusliers, butterflyfish, angelfish, nudibranchs, scorpionfish, giant trevally, snappers, sweetlips, different species of surgeonfish, fantastic hard and soft corals.

What to see if you are lucky: sea moth, flounder, napoleon wrasse, bump head parrotfish, turtle, frogfish, ghost pipefish, long nose hawkfish.

Depth: 5-25m
Ability Level:
Travel Time: 45 minutes

Rock Point is a large finger shaped reef protruding from Apo Island's south east corner. It's exposure to open sea currents ensures incredible fish life and coral formations as well as occasional visits from 'big stuff'. The east side of Rock Point is a steep wall which leads to a plateau at the tip of the point. Depending on currents, divers have the choice of continuing to the west side, exploring the plateau or returning along the east wall.

Colorful clouds of schooling fish, impressive hard and soft coral formations and interesting macro subjects can be found here. Fusiliers, butterflyfishes, surgeonfishes, and red-toothed triggerfishes are very numerous in this site. Hunting giant trevallies and blue-finned trevallies can sometimes be seen on this site. As with all other sites on Apo Island, there is always a good chance of seeing turtles and sea snakes here. Keep an eye on “the blue”.

What to see regularly: big schools of red tooth triggerfish, pyramid butterflyfish, longfin bannerfish and fusiliers, unicornfish, black-and-white snappers, blue fin trevallies, potato grouper, nudibranch and stunning corals.

What to see if you are lucky: remora, turtle, sea snake, batfish, moray eel, frogfish, manta ray.

Depth: 5-25m
Ability Level: 2-4
Travel Time: 45 minutes

Tambisan is a nice dive with schools of smaller fish, some large gorgonians clinging to the wall, colonies of green tubastrea, black corals and hundreds of invertebrates.

There are also several small cavelets and crevices populated by sweepers and soldier fish. The reef top, above 10m, is home to lots of anemones.

Depth: 10-40m
Ability Level:
Travel Time: 1 hour

Paliton wall starts at 7 meters and in parts plunges down to around 50 meters. It is covered with soft corals and beautiful big sea fans. There is a very large over hang full of glass fish and lionfish at about 35 meters and visibility is usually excellent.

What to see regularly: many nudibranchs, soft corals, sea fans, eels, scorpionfish, lionfish, groupers, anthias, fusiliers, copper sweepers.

What to see if you are lucky: mantis shrimp, ribbon eel, cometfish, banded seasnake, flatworms, barracuda.

Depth: 12-40m
Ability Level:
Travel Time: 1 hour

The sanctuary is a huge coral garden in which no fishing is allowed. The hard and soft corals are in excellent condition and are home to many interesting creatures. What starts as a shallow slope becomes steeper with depth. It’s also a great spot for snorkeling. It’s a wonderfully relaxing dive through a beautiful coral garden.

What to see regularly: superb hard and soft corals, fusiliers, many nudibranchs, clownfish, parrotfish, schools of juvenile barracuda, razor fish, groupers.

What to see if you are lucky: mantis shrimp, ribbon eel, cometfish, banded seasnake, flatworms, barracuda, turtle, cuttlefish, ribbon eel, sea moth.

Depth: 12-40m
Ability Level:
Travel Time: 1 hour