Cave
Protected Area
El Nido Managed Resource Protected Area
Why dive here
With 176+ marine species recorded in the area - including giant moray eels, sea turtles, sperm whales, lionfish and pufferfish - Cave offers some of Apo Reef's richest cave diving. Water ranges 28-30°C, warmest May, June, July.
The Cave at Apo Reef offers a different vibe than some of the more exposed reef walls. It’s less about big pelagics and more about the smaller, often overlooked creatures tucked away in crevices and under ledges. We’ve spotted Duncker's pipefish here, doing their slow sway, and occasionally a shy Shortfin False Moray peeking out. It's a dive that rewards patience and a keen eye, perfect for photographers or anyone who enjoys slowing down and really exploring the nooks. You won’t find dramatic swim-throughs, but the cave provides a fascinating habitat for species like the Hayashi's Cardinalfish and the almost invisible Sparse Eviota.
Safety Notes
Overhead environment - never enter without proper cave/cavern training, redundant equipment, and a guideline.
Nearest Dive Centres to Cave
Dive shops near Cave
Bem's
Turtle Divers
Down Under Dives
Palawan Divers
Deep Blue
Sea Sphere Dive Center
Reviews for Cave
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Cave
Cave Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Cave, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (12.33, 121.06) (26km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
30°C
86°F · Range: 28.1–31.3°C
Current Speed
3.16 cm/s
Direction: E (108.4°)
Chlorophyll-a
0.049 mg/m³
Very clear (oligotrophic)
Salinity
32.63 PSU
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU)
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