Description of the attraction
The huge coral Reef Apo stretches over an area of 34 square kilometers. off the coast of Western Mindoro. It is the second largest reef in the world and the largest in the Philippines. The entire territory of the reef and the surrounding waters are part of the national park with an area of 274 square kilometers. Initially, the reef was taken under protection in 1980 as part of a marine reserve, then the local authorities declared it a "special tourist area", and in 1996 a national park was formed. In 2006, the Philippine Department of the Environment and Natural Resources submitted an application to the UNESCO Committee to list the Apo Reef as a World Natural Heritage Site. Fishing of any kind has been prohibited in the park since 2007.
The reef consists of two systems separated by a channel about 30 meters deep. Several ecosystems have been registered on its territory at once - in addition to coral colonies, of which there are 400-500 species, and seaweed, you can see mangroves here. The waters are home to sharks, manta rays and spiny-tailed rays, not to mention hundreds of species of tropical fish and invertebrates. Today, Apo Reef is one of the most popular diving spots around Mindoro, and some call it the best in Asia.
In the eastern part of the reef system, there is the so-called Shark Ridge - an underwater ridge that goes to a depth of 25 meters. Whitetip and blacktip sharks and rays can often be seen here. Another interesting dive site is the Binangaan Wall, around which gorgonians, groupers, skarfish and huge tunas scurry around. And the northern parts of the reef go under water to a depth of 900 meters! There are very strong currents here. To the west of the main reef lies the small island of Apo, and not far from it is the Rock of Hunters, around which thousands of sea snakes gather in June and July to produce offspring.
The easiest way to get to Apo Reef is by air - a flight from Manila to the town of San Jose in the Western Mindoro province takes 45 minutes. From San Jose you need to take a bus to the town of Sablayan (the journey takes about 2 hours), and from there - by boat to the reef.
