Katipanan Dive Site, Apo Island

Beautiful place from the color of the water and the experience of swimming with the sea turtles. The guides here are experts in finding the turtles and pointing them out. You feel safe with them at all times. Overall a great experience.

Access and Arrival: Getting to Apo Island is a bit of an adventure. From Dumaguete, the journey requires wading through water to board boats, as there are currently no piers at either Negros or Apo Island. Local Community: The island itself is quite modest, with visible signs of poverty. While the snorkeling guides are locals, which helps support the community, it’s apparent that much of the tourism revenue does not significantly benefit the residents. Marine Life: I’ve never seen so many sea turtles in just two snorkeling trips—12 in total, including large green sea turtles and another species. Other marine life includes sea snakes and pufferfish. However, the overall biodiversity and abundance of fish can’t compare to other spots (anymore?). Coral Condition: Turtles can be found right in front of the village, but the coral reef in this area is heavily damaged. Causes include boat anchors, diesel pollution, tourists standing on the corals, and untreated wastewater from the village. Heading south along the island, you’ll find better-preserved coral and more marine life. Overall Experience: Despite the environmental challenges, it’s an enjoyable and affordable experience. Seeing so many turtles up close is truly special, though the ecological state of the area leaves room for improvement.

Saw lots of turtles with our guide. We had excellent grilled fish.