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DESTINATION OVERVIEW | Apo Reef is the largest coral reef in the Philippines and a highly significant reef system that has a good, if small selection of scuba diving sites. The surrounding National Park consists of three tiny islands and two separate submerged coral reefs, which are divided by a channel.
Apo Reef lies 33 kilometres west of the town of Sablayan on Mindoro. This isolation has it's benefits though the surrounding waters are now – finally – protected. For many years, Apo had attracted divers but destructive fishing practices discouraged marine tourism. When divers stopped coming altogether, the situation worsened. However, conservation bodies, working in conjunction with local government, have culminated in the area being considered by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Inside the park’s boundaries and buffer zone are coral reefs, seagrass beds and a shallow lagoon ringed by mangrove forests, which acts as a spawning ground and nursery for marine species as well as a sanctuary for birds. The bonus for divers are the sharp drop-offs and steep walls that are patrolled by larger marine species. Turtles and sharks are fairly common and the corals are mostly in good condition.
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