Apo Reef

34 km² coral atoll in the Mindoro Strait, roughly 28 km west of Occidental Mindoro — the second largest contiguous coral reef system in the world after the Great Barrier Reef. Two lagoons split by a sand channel are ringed by walls dropping past 40 m. Shark Ridge and The Cathedral pinnacle near Binangaan Islet reliably hold whitetip and grey reef sharks, with blacktips patrolling the outer reef and occasional scalloped hammerheads passing through. Oceanic manta rays cruise the perimeter from November to May alongside giant Napoleon wrasse, schooling jacks, and hawksbill turtles working a coral garden of more than 400 hard and soft species. Visibility past 30 m is routine in the dry season; strong currents along the outer walls keep most dives at advanced level.