FAQ

There's a ferry called "Bunso" sailing from Coron to San Jose every Monday and Friday morning (6-8 hours). From San Jose, take a 2-hour bus or van ride to Sablayan.

You can hire a private boat to Abra de Ilog (approximately 1 hour), then take a bus to Sablayan (2-3 hours). During dry season, there's also an overland route via tuk-tuk to Abra de Ilog, though the road is rough and only passable in sunny conditions.
The safest and most reliable but also the most time consuming option is a bus via Roxas to San Jose, then continue to Sablayan.

Our diving season runs from October through May, with peak season from December to March. While Apo Reef can be dived year-round weather permitting, we avoid the rainy season (June-September) for safety and comfort. Water temperatures are slightly cooler from January to April, which often brings increased pelagic activity!

We don't operate our own accommodation in Sablayan, but there are several hotels and guesthouses / resorts available around Sablayan. We're happy to recommend options - just drop us a line!

To confirm a booking, we usually ask our valued customers for a deposit of PHP 5,000 per person. Please get in touch to check availability for your preferred dates and arrange payment. See our Payments section for available payment methods.

Apo Reef's remote location means we organize trips only when we can gather a minimum number of divers on our boat - we don't run daily departures. Check our schedule page for planned & confirmed trip dates, or contact us to express interest in specific dates. Once we have enough divers confirmed, we'll notify everyone and finalize the trip.

We understand that plans can change. Our cancellation policy is:

• More than 28 days before departure: 100% refund
• 8-28 days before departure: 50% refund
• 7 days or less before departure: No refund

Cancellations must be submitted in writing (email, WhatsApp, or Messenger).

Safety always comes first! If weather conditions make the trip unsafe, we'll either reschedule or provide a full refund of your deposit. We monitor weather forecasts closely and will inform you as early as possible if conditions look unfavorable.

All certification levels are welcome to dive Apo Reef! While an Open Water certification is sufficient, an Advanced Open Water certification is a plus as it allows you to fully explore Apo Reef's deeper dive sites and walls. Unfortunately, it is not allowed to dive there without a valid certification (no discovery dives at Apo Reef).

While Apo Reef is suitable for all certification levels, we recommend having at least a few dives under your belt after your initial certification. The boat ride is long, and conditions can be rough - including potentially strong currents. If you're a newly certified diver, let us know - we'll make sure you're comfortable and well-supported!

We prioritize scuba divers as these are dedicated diving expeditions. However, snorkelers are welcome to join if there's space available on the boat, particularly if they're part of a diving group. Please contact us in advance to check availability.

Besides Apo Reef, we offer local dives around Pandan Island - a relaxed island just off Sablayan's coast, perfect for easy diving and turtle encounters.
For experienced divers seeking adventure, we can organize day trips to Discovery Bank, a submerged pinnacle about halfway to Apo Reef. This is proper offshore diving with possibly strong currents - advanced divers only!

We offer SDI (Scuba Diving International) and TDI (Technical Diving International) courses, from entry-level through to Divemaster. Our specialty courses include NITROX, Deep Diving, and more - a perfect chance to improve your skills and knowledge during one of our Apo Reef trips.

We're proud about being a SDI/TDI facility! SDI (Scuba Diving International) and TDI (Technical Diving International) are globally recognized certification agencies with the same worldwide acceptance as PADI. Many divers actually prefer SDI's modern, flexible approach to dive training - and your certification will be welcomed at any dive center around the world.

Due to marine park regulations, entry-level courses cannot be conducted at Apo Reef - you need a valid certification to dive there. However, portions of advanced courses and specialties are perfect for Apo Reef trips - combining skill development with world-class diving!

Yes, we offer and highly recommend e-learning! It allows you to complete the theory portion at your own pace before arriving, giving you more time in the water during your stay.

We sleep in tents on the reef‘s beautiful island - a true camping adventure amongst palm trees and under the stars!
Tents and basic camping equipment are provided and included in our package.

No, there's no cell phone coverage around Apo Reef.
It's the perfect opportunity for a digital detox and to fully immerse yourself in the natural beauty around you!

Yes! Electricity is available from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM daily.
We recommend bringing power banks for additional charging capacity, especially if you're using underwater cameras extensively.

Resources are very limited at a remote location like Apo Reef - some brackish water is available on the island. Since it's still slightly salty, we bring fresh water for rinsing off after your bath - though it's limited to a few scoops per person.

Yes! We can cater to vegetarian and vegan diets. However, please note that vegan options may be somewhat limited depending on seasonal availability of local ingredients.
Please inform us of any dietary requirements when booking.

While we provide everything for your basic needs, here is a list of useful items to consider:

• Insect repellent
• Refillable water bottle/tumbler
• Dry bag for personal items
• Red light flashlight (to preserve night vision)
• (Reef-safe) sunscreen and sun protection
• Personal toiletries (eco-friendly preferred)

Unfortunately, we're not able to process credit card payments at this time.
However, we offer several alternative payment methods including wise.com, bank transfers and PayPal for your convenience.

Our preferred payment method is cash (PHP or USD) at our dive shop in Sablayan.

For deposits or advance payments, we also accept:

• wise.com (our recommendation for international transfers!)
• GCash (Philippines e-wallet)
• Bank transfer
• PayPal
• Cryptocurrency (please contact us before initiating)

Yes! Please find our bank account details below.

GCash is easy - just input our details:
Eleazar Duria | +639762314872