Apo Island Sanctuary - Dumaguete

There are sanctuaries, and then there's Apo Island Sanctuary. This place isn't just a poster child for community conservation, it’s a living, breathing testament to what happens when everyone pulls in the same direction. We love that you can genuinely feel the difference here. Drop in, and you're immediately enveloped by the sheer volume of fish. Schools of dark-fin chromis and flag-tailed glass perchlets are so dense they shimmer like liquid silver, parting around you then reforming. Our favourite time to dive here is early morning, before the day boats crowd the mooring lines. That’s when you’re most likely to see the big parrotfish, the princess parrotfish in particular, cruising unbothered, or spot one of the resident freckled anglerfish tucked into a coral head. The hard coral gardens are just stunning; you can really spend a whole dive just hovering, watching the orange-lined triggerfish dart among them, or trying to pick out a black blenny peeking from its hole. It’s an easy dive, mostly shallow, perfect for photographers or anyone who just wants to soak in a thriving reef. The hundreds of sea turtles here are also a highlight, munching on seagrass or resting on the coral, seemingly unconcerned by divers.

Location: Dumaguete, Philippines, Southeast Asia
Coordinates: 9.073000, 123.272000
Type: reef

Marine Protected Area: Apo Island Protected Landscape & Seascape

Best Time to Dive in Dumaguete

The warmest water temperatures in Dumaguete occur in January, averaging 26.8°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 26.8°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

January: 26.8°C (air: 26.7°C)
February: 26.8°C (air: 26.6°C)
March: 26.8°C (air: 27.3°C)
April: 26.8°C (air: 28.1°C)
May: 26.8°C (air: 28.5°C)
June: 26.8°C (air: 27.8°C)
July: 26.8°C (air: 27.4°C)
August: 26.8°C (air: 27.6°C)
September: 26.8°C (air: 27.6°C)
October: 26.8°C (air: 27.3°C)
November: 26.8°C (air: 27.3°C)
December: 26.8°C (air: 27.0°C)

Nearby Dive Sites in Dumaguete

Nearest Dive Centres to Apo Island Sanctuary

Marine Life in Dumaguete

Home to 522 recorded species including 440 reef fish, 18 sharks & rays, 15 sea cucumbers, 12 sea snails & nudibranchs, 9 seagrass & algae, 9 hard corals.

Notable Species

Scarlet wrasse (Pseudocheilinus evanidus) - Reef Fish
Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) - Reef Fish
Banded Toby (Canthigaster valentini) - Reef Fish
Comettailed wrasse (Oxycheilinus bimaculatus) - Reef Fish
Six-line wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia) - Reef Fish
Wrasse (Thalassoma lunare) - Reef Fish
Blackspine Unicornfish (Naso minor) - Reef Fish
Barred Unicornfish (Naso thynnoides) - Reef Fish
Two-spot Bristletooth (Ctenochaetus binotatus) - Reef Fish
Angel abu polos (Centropyge vrolikii) - Reef Fish
Sleek Unicornfish (Naso hexacanthus) - Reef Fish
Blue-scaled wrasse (Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura) - Reef Fish
Clark's anemonefish (Amphiprion clarkii) - Reef Fish
Blenny (Istiblennius dussumieri) - Reef Fish
Bristle-toothed Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus striatus) - Reef Fish
Horned Squirrelfish (Sargocentron cornutum) - Reef Fish
Blue-ribbon wrasse (Stethojulis trilineata) - Reef Fish
Bloodspot pipefish (Corythoichthys haematopterus) - Reef Fish
Sunburst Butterflyfish (Chaetodon kleinii) - Reef Fish
Bandcheek wrasse (Oxycheilinus digramma) - Reef Fish

Recommended Packing List for Apo Island Sanctuary

Based on average water temperature of 26.8°C.

Shorty or Rashguard - warm 27°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