Apo Reef

The Apo Reef shipwreck dives refer to the wreck diving sites found near or within the waters surrounding Apo Reef Natural Park, the largest contiguous coral reef system in the Philippines and one of the most biodiverse marine protected areas in the country. Unlike a single famous wreck in one exact spot, “Apo Reef shipwreck” is often used by divers to describe several scattered wreck dive opportunities around the park’s deeper outer slopes and nearby currents. These wrecks vary in size and condition—some are older fishing or cargo vessels that have become fully encrusted with coral, while others sit partially intact on sandy or rocky bottoms. What makes these wrecks especially notable is the environment around them. Apo Reef is exposed to open ocean currents, so visibility can be excellent on good days, often revealing dramatic scenes: steel hulls wrapped in soft corals, schools of barracuda circling above, reef sharks passing in the blue, and dense clouds of tropical fish using the wrecks as artificial reefs. Diving here is considered advanced-level due to strong currents, deep profiles, and remote conditions. Most dive trips to wreck sites in the area are done from liveaboards or specialized expeditions, rather than shore-based tours. Overall, Apo Reef’s wreck dives combine historical remnants and natural reef growth, turning human-made structures into thriving underwater ecosystems—an eerie, beautiful mix of history and marine life set against one of the richest reef systems in Southeast Asia.