Apo Reef is a magnificent marine biosphere community of the coast of Philippines that covers 34 square kilometers. It is one of the most famous diving sites in the World.
Location: Mindoro Occidental
Area: 34 square kilometres
Located on the southeastern edge of the South
China Sea, it is only 2½ hours by boat from the diving island of
Pandan Island on the west coast of Mindoro (15 nautical miles), 6-8
hours from Puerto Galera on the northeast coast of Mindoro and 4-6
hours from the island’s capital Coron on Busuanga / Palawan (21
nautical miles from the north-east of the island). The eponymous Apo
Island should not be confused with the Apo Island of the same name
near Negros.
The Mindoro Strait is an important sea route for national and
international shipping routes to China, Korea and Japan. In order
not to run aground in the shallows, there is a large lighthouse
(coordinates: 12 ° 40 ′ N, 120 ° 25 ′ E). Its radio beacon is also
an important landmark for air traffic.
history
The reef was looted with dynamite and later cyanide fishing well
into the 1990s. Large areas have not yet recovered from this. With
the presidential decree of September 6, 1996, the Apo reef became
part of the Apo Reef Marine Natural Park. 8 park rangers are
permanently stationed on Apo Island to enforce the total ban on
fishing.
nature
Among the 47 species of migratory and domestic birds is the
endangered collar pigeon (also Nicobar pigeon, Caloenas nicobarico).
Soup (Chelonia mydas) and Hawksbill Turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata)
use the seclusion to lay eggs. In a 1981 study, 190 species of coral
were counted. 78 species of invertebrates such as giant clams
(Tridacnidae), crawfish (Pasulirus), the conch (Charonia tritonis)
and the pearl boat, also called Nautilius, are only a part of the
underwater world. There are also dolphins and 385 fish species
observed to date, including sharks, rays, manta rays, and whale
sharks.
use
The reef is world famous among divers and snorkelers, in the region
only the Tubbataha reef and the reef system around the Cagayan
archipelago, both in the Sulusee, are comparable.