Sir Daniel Point - Apo Reef

Sir Daniel Point always feels like coming home, even if it’s your first time. We love this site for its sheer, gentle abundance, a soft drift that unfolds new little dramas with every fin kick. It's a slope that eases down from the reef top, around 5 metres, into the deeper blue, so you’re never truly sure how deep you’ll end up. Sunlight filters down, dappling over huge formations of hard corals, creating perfect hideaways for the shyer residents. We’ve spent entire dives just hovering, watching the procession: schools of fusiliers are a constant presence, sometimes so thick they block the light for a second. Look closely, and you’ll spot the little guys that make this place sing – the delicate Coral Hawkfish perched on a coral head, a flash of iridescent Blue-scaled Wrasse darting by, or a curious Bicolor Blenny peeking from its hole. Our favourite moments here are often the quiet ones, the simple joy of watching a Tailspot Cardinalfish school shimmering in a shaded crevice. If you hit it right, typically mid-morning before the currents pick up too much, the visibility is fantastic and the marine life feels particularly active. It’s a site that rewards patience, a place where you can truly slow down and just be part of the reef.

Location
Apo Reef, Philippines, Southeast Asia
Coordinates
12.690056, 120.540830

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 Sir Daniel Point

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 Sir Daniel Point

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