10-25m
    Visayas, Philippines
    Apo Island Protected Landscape & Seascape

    Sanctuary

    Best months: Jan–Mar

    Protected Area

    Apo Island Protected Landscape & Seascape

    Why dive here

    With 554+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, blacktip reef sharks, blue-spotted stingrays, manta rays and mobula rays (devil rays) - Sanctuary offers some of Visayas's richest reef diving. Water ranges 28-31°C, warmest May, June, October.

    Best timeJan–Mar
    WetsuitA 3mm shorty or thin full wetsuit
    Marine lifeBarracuda, Blacktip Reef Sharks, Blue-Spotted Stingrays, Manta Rays and Mobula Rays (Devil Rays) · 554+ species recorded
    Water28-31°C · warmest May, June, October
    CharacterReef dive · max 10-25m
    StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

    Sanctuary, somewhere in the Visayas, is a reminder that sometimes the best dives aren’t about sheer size or pelagic thrills. We love how intimate it feels here, like a perfectly curated aquarium where every creature is posing for a portrait. The real stars are the smaller things, of course. We're talking about the Pictus Blennies, darting between the coral polyps, and those delightful little Northern Bicoloured Triplefins. Keep an eye out for the Common Dragonets, too; they're often a bit shy but worth the wait. Our favourite time to drop in is late morning, after the initial rush, when the sunlight filters down, making the colours pop. It’s an easy dive, mostly shallow, so you can really take your time scrutinising every crevice. We’d suggest moving slowly, perhaps just covering a small section thoroughly rather than trying to see it all. This site is perfect for photographers, or anyone who just wants to chill and truly observe the smaller residents without worrying about strong currents or deep deco stops. The Black Sea Cucumbers are surprisingly photogenic, if you're into that sort of thing.

    Typical Sanctuary Dive Profile

    5m10mSafety Stop0m10m max~60 min estimated bottom time

    Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.

    Today05:3617:3411h 58m daylightGolden hour 17:06

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    Conditions

    Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Sanctuary

    Sanctuary Ocean Conditions

    Monthly averages for Sanctuary, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (10.3, 124.07) (19km away)

    ExcellentGreatGoodFairPoor★Best monthsThis month

    October Averages

    Sea Temperature

    31°C

    87°F · Range: 29.5–32.2°C

    Air Temperature

    24°C

    76°F

    Wind Speed

    3.27 m/s

    6.4 knots

    Atmospheric Pressure

    1010 hPa

    Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data

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