Mabuti - Apo Reef
Mabuti often gets overshadowed by some of Apo’s deeper, more dramatic walls, but for us, it’s where you go when you want to slow down and really look. We love this site for its incredible density of small, fascinating critters, especially if you’ve got a keen eye and a good macro lens. Drop down and just pick a patch of reef to hover over. You’ll see it come alive. We've spent entire dives in one small area, spotting Chestnut Blennies darting in and out of their holes, the electric glow of a Coral Beauty, and Redface Eels poking their heads from the coral. Keep an eye out for the Rosy Frogfish, they’re masters of disguise here. The Manini schools drift like shimmering clouds, and if you’re patient, you might even catch a Mimic Surgeonfish doing its best impression. It's a photographer's dream, especially for those who appreciate the subtle beauty of reef life over the big pelagics. Forget racing the current, Mabuti is about the quiet hunt, the reward of finding something truly unique in the details.
- Location
- Apo Reef, Philippines, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- 12.656416, 120.411250
Marine Protected Area: Apo Reef Natural Park
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
- 7 Islands Reef, Diving (NDC) (reef)
- Agnay Sanctuary (reef)
- Agpanabat Caves Canyons (cave)
- Agpanabat Sanctuary (reef)
- Akitsushima (wreck)
- Akitsushima (wreck)
- Aladin
- Alad North
- Alad Sanctuary Garden (reef)
- Alad South
- Apo 29
- Apo Island - South (Mabuti) - 25m
- Apo Menor
- Apo Reef (reef)
- Aqualife Divers Academy
Nearest Dive Centres to Mabuti
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
- Species code: Ea (Enhalus acoroides) - Seagrass & Algae
- Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) - Reef Fish
- Blue-finned Rock Cod (Cephalopholis microprion) - Reef Fish
- Rock Cod (Cephalopholis boenak) - Reef Fish
- cymodocea (Cymodocea rotundata) - Seagrass & Algae
- Orange-lined Triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus) - Reef Fish
- Bristle-toothed Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus striatus) - Reef Fish
- Two-spot Bristletooth (Ctenochaetus binotatus) - Reef Fish
- Sunburst Butterflyfish (Chaetodon kleinii) - Reef Fish
- Blackspot Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigrofuscus) - Reef Fish
- Ghost Cardinalfish (Nectamia fusca) - Reef Fish
- Bandcheek wrasse (Oxycheilinus digramma) - Reef Fish
- Banded Goatfish (Parupeneus multifasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Telescopefish (Epibulus insidiator) - Reef Fish
- Kihikihi (Zanclus cornutus) - Reef Fish
- Red Sea Butterflyfish (Chaetodontoplus mesoleucus) - Reef Fish
- Scarlet wrasse (Pseudocheilinus evanidus) - Reef Fish
- Banded Toby (Canthigaster valentini) - Reef Fish
- Angel abu polos (Centropyge vrolikii) - Reef Fish
- Blue-scaled wrasse (Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Mabuti
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