Apo Reef, Philippines
    DENR Antique, BFAR Antique, Office of the Provincial Agriculture (OPA) Antique and Rare Inc.

    Island staff

    Best months: Oct–Feb

    Protected Area

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

    Why dive here

    With 176+ marine species recorded in the area - including giant moray eels, sea turtles, sperm whales, lionfish and pufferfish - Island staff offers some of Apo Reef's richest diving. Water ranges 28-30°C, warmest May, June, July.

    Best timeOct–Feb
    WetsuitA 3mm shorty or thin full wetsuit
    Marine lifeGiant Moray Eels, Sea Turtles, Sperm Whales, Lionfish and Pufferfish · 176+ species recorded
    Water28-30°C · warmest May, June, July
    StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

    Island Staff. Even the name makes us smile, thinking of the friendly faces back on the liveaboard. This site, though often overlooked for its flashier neighbours, holds a special place in our logbooks. It’s a gentle drift along a sloping reef, perfect for those mornings when you want to ease into the day or an afternoon dive after lunch. We love how the sunlight catches the fluted clams, their iridescent mantles pulsing with colour. Keep an eye out for the odd tassled coffinfish, they’re masters of disguise, blending in with the rubble – a real ‘aha!’ moment when you spot one. The nudibranchs here are also fantastic, especially the bicolor nudibranchs, little bursts of purple and orange against the coral. This isn't a high-octane pelagic hunt, but more a chance to slow down, explore the nooks, and truly appreciate the smaller, intricate details of the reef. We'd suggest taking it easy, hovering over the patches of star coral, and seeing what you can find.

    Today05:4217:3711h 55m daylightGolden hour 17:09

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    Conditions

    Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Island staff

    Island staff Ocean Conditions

    Monthly averages for Island staff, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (12.33, 121.06) (26km away)

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    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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