Snorkling in Apo Island

[The Dane]

We went to Apo Island the other day, and after we paid our dues for the marine sanctuary snorkling fee's we walked to the other side of Apo Island to see what the fuss was about.

Let me tell you this, snorkling in Apo Island is awesome, all I was missing was the Animal Planet sticker, this was like taken out of one of their tv programs.

While snorkling in Apo Island Marine Sanctuary you will see lots of clown fish, parrot fish and lot more. Some of these fish were up to 2 foot long.

Visibility was the best I have seen underwater as well, and we went there on a semi rough day, I want to go back next week or so when the sea calm down a little.

I booked a room in Apo Island Beach resort next month as well, one of my good friends from Denmark is coming over to visit us, so I want to show him what we found and drag him over to the Apo Island Marine Sanctuary for some serious snorkling too.

[Bandit]

We did some snorkeling at the same spot around Christmas 2002.

Apo's okay, but the bit about it being one of the top ten dive sites in the world is like the claim of the Great Wall of China being the only man amde thing visible from space. (If that was true you could see Perdices Ave from space..)

I've been to Apo, and I'm a NAUI diver, and it ain't all that.

I just searched and Apo doesn't come at all when looking for top 10 dive sites.

[yabs]

I think the sanctuary is very very good but its just too small
an area to say its in the top ten areas of the world.
The rest oif the island looked decimated from dynamiting to me
so what we are elft with is the sanctuary area which is about
1km square but within this area the coral coverage is very high.
what is your best area then bandit?

[cebudiver]

the best coral growth isnt even in the small sanctuary - its around on the other side of the island at coconut

[yabs]

what are the currents at coconut like though
is it possible to swim out to it

[cebudiver]

its a bit of a swim but can be done - its getting back in thats a problem when conditions arent right - the start of the dive is not too bad, but near the exit point the current is usually a bit strong and sometimes very strong - but thats why the corals are nice - I dive it when conditions are good - usually in spring and summer - it is considered a more advanced dive because of the current

[choy]

Is it cheaper to make the arrangements with a dive shop in Dumaguete before going to Apo Island? Or better go there by ourselves then just rent the equipment from any dive shop in the island?

[tsinkoy]

My friends and I are looking to snorkel in Apo Island around March next year, is that a good time? Cebudiver says Spring and Summer are good times to go, but last time I checked Dumaguete doesn't have a spring season.

[cebudiver]

" but last time I checked Dumaguete doesn't have a spring season "
????? where did you check ????
spring is a little drier than summer and a little calmer than winter - its the best time to dive Apo or most of the other places in the region

[yabs]

you mean the same time as spring in mist northern latitudes?