Saturday 9 April 2011

Diving Apo Island

Oct. 2006
Apo Island
Negros Oriental


NatGeo photo by Chelle
A whole day spent diving one of the world's best marine sanctuaries, Apo Island in Negros Oriental. Not to be confused with Mindoro's Apo Reef, an equally rich marine habitat, Apo Island has been Siliman University Marine Laboratory's project. With documented 650 species of fish and an estimated 450 species of corals, it has become one of the Philippines' premier dive sites and a favorite snorkeling area.

This was the time I was still discovering underwater photography and had my very first u/w camera -- a sony---pre-"Fey" period (for those who may not know, "Fey" is my present u/w rig). So no strobes, no macro lenses, no nothing that time, just the simple point and shoot camera in an u/w case with build in flash.
Finding Nemos


From Dumaguete, we hired a jeepney to bring us to Malapatay, Dauin, for the 30-minute boat ride to the island.


boat ride to Apo Island
....just one of those schools...@Mamsa Point...
...and one of those species...
Diving 3 dives sites for the day, with me staying at a very shallow 10-15 ft on the 3rd dive because of my scheduled flight the following day. Surface Interval #2 and lunch was spent at the Apo Island Beach Resort.
...while having SI... 
...Malapatay, Dauin beach....

...having fun in between dives...
There are only 2 resorts in the island for those interested to stay for a night or two: Apo Island Beach Resort and Liberty's Lodge.

Not happy with the  underwater photos I took. Thus, would love to go back with "Fey" and dive Apo Island and Ducomi Pier very soon.







7 comments:

  1. we're planning to also go there for our trip in Dumaguete and Siquijor sometime in November,... 'luv your post! thanks for sharing your experience...

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  2. Thank you! Visiting Dumaguete is not complete without going to Apo Island. Would love to visit Siquijor and dive there soon too. :)

    Goodluck sa personal challenge mo. Wish I can do the same paglaki ko. :)

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  3. I have yet to discover the underwater world... And probably try underwater photography too!

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  4. It's a totally different and beautiful world down there PTJ, I am sure you'll get addicted too like I did. Been diving for almost 14years and doing u/w photography for 4years. =)

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  5. waaaahhhh i miss apo island!!! and my experience with sea snakes, unforgettable!

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  6. We've seen a sea snake too while diving one of the sites. I freeze everytime I see one. Good thing my encounters with them are about a few feet away, so I always do a detour. hihihi.

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  7. Sadly 2 typhoons destroyed the sanctuary. However all other sites are pretty much OK and still worth a visit. :-)

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