APO REEF NATURAL PARK

The 34-square kilometer Apo Reef in Occidental Mindoro is the second largest contiguous coral reef in the world and the largest in the country. Also considered as the second largest atoll-like reef in the country, Apo Reef consists of two separate coral reefs that are separated by a 30-meter deep channel with a fine white sand bottom, numerous mounds and patches of branching corals under the deep blue water.

It is in Apo Island where park rangers who patrol the reef’s boundaries have put up their quarters, as well as basic amenities for visiting divers – except potable water or electricity. It also features a historic lighthouse that dates back to the Spanish Colonial Period. 

The Apo Reef Natural Park, including its peripheral buffer zone, is a marine sanctuary and is thus a “no-take zone”. This means fishing within the reef is banned. It is a popular site for tourists, who bask in its fine white sands, leisurely stroll along boardwalks within the mangrove area, or marvel at the extremely diverse coral species and other marine life that include sharks and rays.