Swimming with turtles in Apo Island, Philippines
Guides and Itineraries,  Philippines

Updated Guide to Apo Island (Negros Oriental): Snorkel with Turtles!

Share this:

Definitely one of the best activities in the Visayan region involves snorkeling in Apo Island.

Apo Island is a small volcanic island located at the southeastern tip of Negros Oriental. Its surrounding marine habitat is a marine preserve, with about 400 species of corals and 650 species of fish. It’s also a popular sighting spot for sea turtles!

Apo Island is also one of the best eco-tourism sites in the Philippines. It’s one of the few places to create a balance between tourism and conservation. In fact, tourism revenue benefits the local families in the area.

Ultimate Buffet Guide: 10 Best Buff...
Ultimate Buffet Guide: 10 Best Buffets in Manila

For casual tourists, Apo Island is mostly known for its sea turtle sighting, but I find the snorkeling experience in its coral gardens just as equally amazing. Here’s my experience at Apo Island in Negros Oriental!

My snorkeling tour in Apo Island

I was staying in Dumaguete City and only planned for a day tour in Apo Island. Since I was alone and didn’t want the hassle of looking for other tourists for boat sharing, I signed up on a joiner tour to Apo Island via Harold’s Mansion.

We rode a jeep to Zamboanguita. From there, we transferred to a boat which then took us to Apo Island.

Apo Island in Dauin
Apo Island

Swimming with turtles

We stopped several meters from the shore of Apo Island, where the sea turtles can be spotted. We were divided into groups of 4 and assigned a single guide. Our guide beckoned us to follow him as he looked for sea turtles.

Sea turtle in Apo Island
One of the tour joiners swimming with a sea turtle.
Sea turtle in Apo Island
Sea turtle in Apo Island

We immediately saw one near the shore, but there were too many people so we went a little further. At one point we saw two sea turtles together. The other one — which is the biggest one that I’ve seen, with head the same size as a human’s, if not bigger — stopped to eat some sea grapes. We had time to watch it and take photos and videos.

Swimming with turtles in Apo Island, Philippines
Hello there! That’s me at the front. 🙂

We weren’t allowed to touch the sea turtles and advised to keep our distance, but it was still amazing. We were so close with them I resisted the urge to hug one (probably a bad idea anyway).

There are also manta rays in this area of Apo Island, but they are in the deeper parts of the sea, about 20-30 meters down.

Snorkeling in wide coral gardens

After the waves had gotten stronger, we went next to two snorkeling sites. I must say, Apo Island features the best underwater scenery I’ve seen as of yet, better even than the Coral Garden in Coron. The corals are diverse and massive and there are all sorts of sea vegetation.

You need to freedive to see the best sights. I’m a modest swimmer and can easily tire, so I stayed on my lifevest and floated from above. Our guide stayed by me and was very enthusiastic to capture the underwater tableau, volunteering to take my GoPro as he dived smoothly down to the ocean floor. I appreciated this gesture immensely, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to see what it’s like at the bottom.

As I was later browsing the videos, I was blown away. It seemed like a natural setup for an underwater-themed magazine. There’s so much sea plants and marine creatures I hadn’t seen before. In fact, halfway through making screenshots from the videos, I stopped and thought, there is too much beautiful in here it was actually tiring.

These are some of my GoPro shots. I just enhanced them a little, but honestly it’s close to the raw photos. I showed some to my friends and they were also amazed.

Snorkeling in Apo Island, Negros Oriental
Coral garden in Apo Island, Negros Oriental
Coral garden in Apo Island, Negros Oriental
Inverted umbrella-like corals.
Coral garden in Apo Island, Negros Oriental
Heart, heart.
Coral garden in Apo Island, Negros Oriental
The corals in Apo Island are so huge!
Coral garden in Apo Island, Negros Oriental
Coral garden in Apo Island, Negros Oriental
Coral garden in Apo Island, Negros Oriental
Coral garden in Apo Island, Negros Oriental
Coral garden in Apo Island, Negros Oriental
This is part of a giant rock structure at the bottom. The sides are filled with all sorts of sea plants.
Snorkeling site in Apo Island, Negros Oriental
Snorkeling site in Apo Island, Negros Oriental
These small blue fishes glow under the sea.

Honestly, with its underwater grandiose, Apo Island should be one of the highlights of visiting the Philippines.

If these photos aren’t convincing enough, here’s a short video of my snorkeling/freediving adventure in Apo Island:

How to get to Apo Island

Apo Island is accessible from Dumaguete City. Here are the commute directions:

  • From anywhere in Dumaguete City, ride a tricycle to Siaton. From there, ride a jeepney to Malapatay, Zamboanguita. (Total travel time is 20-30 minutes.)
  • Walk toward the port and rent a boat to Apo Island (boat ride 30-45 minutes). You can also look for other joiners to share costs with you.

If you’re going to join a package tour, transportation is usually already covered via a private jeep.

How to book tours in Apo Island

The tour in Apo Island is reasonably priced, especially given the great experience. A day tour covers the turtle sightseeing spot and two other snorkeling areas.

NOTE: Rates are updated as of 2022.

Joiner tours

If you’re solo, I recommend signing up for a joiner tour as I did. I only paid a little more than I would if I did it DIY, and the convenience and helpful guides from the dive center were all worth it. In fact, I’d definitely recommend going for a joiner tour, especially for solo travelers.

I booked the tour from Harold’s Mansion.

  • Package inclusion: return transfer from Harold’s Mansion in Dumaguete to Zamboanguita, boat ride, fees, lunch, use of lifevest and snorkeling gears
  • Schedule: 6AM up to 3PM
  • Rate: P1200 per person

Tip: Make sure to reserve in advance to get a confirmed slot.

Hotels and beach resorts also offer tours, but they are usually expensive. I’ve seen prices ranging from P2000 to P3000 per person. Your best option is to look for budget-friendly travel agencies in Dumaguete City.

You can also book an Apo Island tour via Klook!

DIY tours

If you’re planning on doing it DIY, here are the current rates in Apo Island:

Boat transfer and tourP3500 good for 3 pax
P4000 for up to 6 pax
P5000 for up to 9 pax
Entrance feeP100 for adults
P50 kids
Guide feeP300 (good up to 5 people)
OptionalMask and snorkel rent – P100
Life jacket – P200
Cottage rental – P300

Food – P200 per person

Where to stay in Apo Island

Here are the places you can stay at in Apo Island:

  • Apo Island Beach Resort
  • Liberty Lodge and Dive
  • Mario Scuba Diving and Homestay
  • Ronors Lodging House
  • H-H Rooms for Rent

There are also regular and dive resorts which are close to Apo Island by boat, located at either Zamboanguita or Dauin. Some of these are:

  • Allura Resort Dive and Spa. Located in Zamboanguita, this is a highly rated resort that is close to Apo Island. Book here.
  • Thalatta Resort. Located in Zamboanguita, this is another good option especially for divers. It has its own beach and is close to Apo Island. Book here.
  • Acqua Dive Resort. Located in Zamboanguita, this is a peaceful resort where you can hang out at the pool or garden or take a boat trip to Apo Island. Book here.

If you’re only on a day tour, it’s best to stay in Dumaguete since it’s the gateway to other attractions in the region. Book discounted rooms in Dumaguete.

Apo Island Travel Tips

  • Make sure to bring reef-friendly sunscreen!
  • Don’t forget to bring a bottled water, as the activity can get pretty tiring.

Contact

Here are important contact details:

  • Joiner tour: Harold’s Mansion – Facebook | 09173024455 or 09173024455
  • DIY tour: For reservations, you may contact Ate Mila at 09066891049. Walk-ins are also allowed.

Click here to book an Apo Island tour via Klook.

That’s it for our travel guide to Apo Island, Negros Oriental. What do you think about snorkeling and swimming with turtles in Apo Island? 🙂

What to read next:

Are you into snorkeling and freediving? Check out these places:

If you like this post, share it in Pinterest!

Swimming with turtles in Apo Island, Philippines | dive spots in the Philippines | ethical animal tourism

Get discounts on your travels!

Klook logo

Enjoy discounts with KLOOK using our promo code: TARALETSANYWHERE

Share this:

18 Comments

    • Aude

      Hello thank you for your tips and explanation, it was useful.
      To update your data, as of today the prices have increased:
      Boat in Malatapay min 3,500 pesos for 3 pax then 4,000 pesosup to 6 pax, 5,000pesos for 9 pax + 5 pesos terminal fees.
      We took the bus from Dumaguete terminal to Malatapay flea market return 110 pesos.
      Last but not the least, they offer a package Snorkeling gears with a guide 300 pesos per person (no change for admission fees) . Thank you for taking the time to share your experience

  • Brian

    hello! when you say 1200php covers everything, does it include the 100php entrance fee to the island and the guide? thanks!

  • Mike Clegg - Travel and Destinations

    Looks absolutely incredible and super impressed you managed to get such good photographs on your GoPro! You must have had good light down there! My underwater shots are always quite hit and miss.

    • Katherine

      Thanks, Mike! I honestly don’t know what you mean by good light underwater though, I would love to know more about this. From experience the clarity of the water makes or breaks the underwater shots. 🙂

  • Leslie Price

    “There is too much beautiful here”- I know the feeling! Sometimes you just have to put your camera down and take it all in! I commend your restraint, however- I would never have been able to stop myself from hugging that magnificent turtle.

  • When In My Journeys

    Wow! Just Wow! I think that snorkeling in Apo Island is absolutely amazing. You’re right when you said that the photos were like pages from an underwater-themed magazine. They’re so alive and inviting. I know how to swim but not that confident underwater. And a post like yours (and Adrenaline Romance’s 🙂 ) just wants me to overcome that fear more and more.

  • Alyssa Jaren

    Beautiful photos! and I love turtles!!! I spent a month in the Philippines but didn’t managed to explore the Visayas region more. Should definitely return again one day!

    • Katherine

      There’s a lot of good places in Visayas… and Mindanao (although a lot of provinces in there aren’t safe for tourists, which is too bad because they have some of the most unique, untouched attractions in the country). Hope you can visit Apo Island if you decide to come again. 🙂

  • Adrenaline Romance

    Very beautiful photos. We scuba dived in Chapel Dive site (where the corals are), and the reef’s raw beauty blew our minds. And our divemaster said that this is just the “normal” beauty. Which means, the other sites around Apo Island are even more magnificent.

    Apo Island is among the best dive sites in the world, and we’re planning to make more dives there this year. 🙂

    • Katherine

      I kinda figured there are more snorkeling/diving sites in Apo Island. I read in your blog it’s home to 650 species of fish. 🙂 I’m interested in particular to how they preserve the sites.

Leave a Reply to Leslie Price Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.