Diving with turtles

Close encounter with the turtle:

http://youtu.be/Y4fokkeX9pc

Apo Reef

Apo Reef, the second largest contiguous coral reef in the world after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, lies in the middle of the South China Sea about two hours west of Sablayan by motorized bangka (a Philippine outrigger boat).

The consensus in most dive circles is that Apo is the top dive site in the country, the only real competition coming from the even more remote Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea, many hundreds of kilometres away, which is only accessible for a few months each year.

Once you reach Sablayan, there are now several dive operators to choose, including the reliable Sablayan Municipal Ecotourism Office which can set you up with a group for a full day of snorkelling or diving. With a group of 10 or more, you will pay only about 4,300 pesos per person for three dives, full equipment rental and boat transport to and from the reef.

The diving is phenomenal year-round, but the crossing to the reef can be rough in the peak rainy season (July to September) and from December to February when the northeast monsoon winds are at their strongest. The water is flattest and the visibility is best from late March to May.


Read more: http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20121011-the-undiscovered-jewel-of-the-philippines