Blue Mango Dive Center - Apo Reef

It’s a bit of a misnomer, this site. You won’t find a dive shop down here, but you will find an excellent wall dive, a favourite of ours in Apo Reef. We usually drop in just off the mooring, descending onto a plateau that slowly slopes before dropping sharply into the deep. The wall itself is riddled with overhangs and small caves, perfect for poking around for macro stuff like stout red shrimp or a tiny two-toned pygmy squid if you’ve got a good eye. Look out into the blue, and you’ll often spot reef sharks cruising by. We’ve had some fantastic encounters here, and it’s one of the more reliable spots for them in Apo. The corals are pretty healthy, too. You’ll see big heads of star coral and fluted clams everywhere, their mantles a vibrant blue. Keep an eye out for the flash of a bird wrasse zipping past, or the more sedate movements of a bear paw clam nestled in the reef. Current can pick up a bit along the wall, but it’s usually manageable and just adds to the drift. It’s a site that rewards those who take their time, but also offers the excitement of pelagics for those who prefer to keep their eyes on the blue.

Location
Apo Reef, Philippines, Southeast Asia
Coordinates
11.949510, 121.931390

Marine Protected Area: DENR Antique, BFAR Antique, Office of the Provincial Agriculture (OPA) Antique and Rare Inc.

Best Time to Dive in Apo Reef

The warmest water temperatures in Apo Reef occur in June, averaging 30.3°C. The coolest conditions are in February at 27.8°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 28.1°C
  • February: 27.8°C
  • March: 28.2°C
  • April: 29.1°C
  • May: 30.1°C
  • June: 30.3°C
  • July: 29.9°C
  • August: 29.6°C
  • September: 29.7°C
  • October: 29.8°C
  • November: 29.5°C
  • December: 29.2°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Apo Reef

Nearest Dive Centres to Blue Mango Dive Center

Marine Life in Apo Reef

Home to 181 recorded species including 171 reef fish, 5 seagrass & algae, 2 other, 1 whales & dolphins, 1 hard corals, 1 clams & mussels.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for Blue Mango Dive Center

Based on average water temperature of 29.3°C, currents 8 cm/s.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°C water needs minimal exposure protection
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories