Shark Airport - Apo Reef

Shark Airport. Just the name stirs up a bit of a thrill, doesn’t it? This isn’t a place for dawdling; it’s for divers who appreciate a bit of pace and a lot of action. We’d suggest you aim for early morning if you can swing it, before the dive boats start piling up. Drop in and you’re immediately swept into a current, which is exactly what we want here. The main event, as the name suggests, is the sharks. White-tip reef sharks cruise by, often in groups, sometimes just circling lazily in the blue. You’ll feel the pressure changes as they pass, a subtle shift in the water. We’ve had dives here where we just hung back, letting the current do the work, watching them glide past us over and over. Beyond the sharks, the corals here are healthy, thick plates and bommies that cling to the wall. Keep an eye out for the smaller stuff too, especially the blennies poking their heads out of crevices. It’s a fast dive, usually a drift, so keep your buoyancy dialled in. If you like your dives with a bit of a push and a decent chance of pelagics, Shark Airport is our pick.

Location
Apo Reef, Philippines, Southeast Asia
Coordinates
12.668138, 120.432640

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

Nearest Dive Centres to Shark Airport

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 Shark Airport

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