Huge coral reef Apo spread over an area of ​​34 sq.km. West coast of Mindoro. It is the second largest reef in the world and the largest in the Philippines. The whole area of ​​the reef and surrounding waters are part of the national park area of ​​274 sq.km. Originally, the reef was taken under protection in 1980 as a part of the marine reserve, and then the local authorities declared him a "special tourism zone", and in 1996 was founded National Park. In 2006, the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources Committee has applied to UNESCO for inclusion of Apo Reef as a World Natural Heritage. Since 2007, the park is prohibited fishing of any kind.

The reef consists of two systems separated by a channel depth of about 30 meters. On its territory is registered several ecosystems - in addition to the colonies of coral, of which there are 400-500 species of seaweed and you can see the mangroves. The waters are inhabited by sharks, manta rays and stingrays, not to mention the hundreds of species of tropical fish and invertebrates. Today Apo Reef is one of the most popular dive sites in the vicinity of Mindoro, and some call it the best in Asia.

In the eastern part of the reef system is the so-called Shark Ridge - an underwater ridge that goes to a depth of 25 meters. There can often be seen Whitetip and Blacktip sharks and rays. Another interesting dive site - wall Binangaan around which scurry gorgonians, groupers, skarovye fish and huge tunas. And the northern part of the reef leave under water to a depth of 900 meters! There are very strong currents. To the west of the main reef is a small island Apo, but not far from it - an island of rock hunters around which in June and July, thousands of sea snakes are going to produce offspring.

To reach Apo Reef is easiest by air - a flight from Manila to the town of San Jose, in the province of Western Mindoro takes 45 minutes. From San Jose you need to get on a bus to the town of Sablayan (the trip takes about 2 hours), and from there - by boat to the reef.