Page Title

Home

Libertys diving on APO

Liberty’s Lodge APO

Liberty’s Lodge Valencia

About us

Dive courses

Lodge rooms 1-6

Discover area around

Dive sites 1-2

Lodge rooms 7-20

Discover Dumaguete

Get here and away

Dive sites 3-6

Dive pictures

Maps around APO

APO village life

Dive sites 7-10

APO Pictures

Helpful Informations

APO history and help

Liberty´s dive Truno

APO press & oppinons

Offers + last minute

www.apoisland.com

Liberty´s Lodge and Dive

Former name : Pauls diving and Libertys Lodge

Dive sites 3-6 around APO Island

Largahan

Largahan is a site with very little current and the majority of the dive is spent between 6m and 14m depth. On a recent dive an acknowledged coral expert found a very high diversity of coral species. This makes it ideal for all levels of experience. We start the dive over a dark sandy bottom which often has volcanic bubbles rising shimmering from the floor. As we leave the sandy area we cross large expanses of hard coral, passing several 2m high walls, before we arrive at the main wall. In this area there are several sections of small staghorn coral where Mandarinfish (Synchiropus splendidus) make their home. These fish are very secretive but with patience as many as 9 have been seen.

The top of the wall is at about 10m and the bottom is at 35+m. Halfway along the wall is a big cave with a large gorgonian fan hanging from the roof. Typical fish here include Bignose Unicornfish (Naso vlamingii), Bluefin Trevallies (Caranx melampygus), Black and White Snappers (Macolor macularis), Pyramid Butterflyfish (Hemitaurichthys polylepis) and multitudes of Fusiliers.

In the later, shallower, part of the dive we see soft corals on a long small wall and many large old massive corals amongst the volcanic boulders lying at the foot of the cliff. Here there are Giant Clams (Tridacna sp.), Nudibranchs (Chromodoris and Nembrotha sp.), Two-Spot Snappers (Lutjanus biguttatus), Parrotfish (Scaridae), Ring Tailed Surgeons and often a school of 100+ Yellowtail Barracudas (Sphyraena flavicauda). The dive finishes on a small sandy area with Blue Razorfish (Iniistius pavo).

Rock Point (East and West)

Rock Point is the southern tip of the island which points towards Mindanao. This is an area with generally light but very variable current. We start the dive on the eastern or western slope, depending on the current. The east side is a 45° slope with huge schools of Redtooth Triggerfish (Odonus niger), Schooling Bannerfish (Heniochus diphreutes) and Pyramid Butterflyfish (Hemitaurichthys polylepis) with many unicornfish, surgeons and fusiliers “just passing by”.

Sanctuary

The Sanctuary is on the east coast of the island and it comprises a large plateau area, stretching 100m from the shore to a wall, which goes down to 30-40m before
sloping down to the depths. This is an area with generally light but sometimes variable current. We start the dive on the wall, swimming south. Here there are many Black Triggerfish (Melichthys niger). We pass large fields of staghorn coral before ascending to the plateau to return.

One of the highlights of Sanctuary is clownfish city, which is a group of half a dozen very large corals with anemones growing all over them. These anemones are populated by large numbers of Tomato Anemonefish (Amphiprion frenatus), which swirl around with many other small fish. There are many wrasses and goatfish, schools of Bigmouth Mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta), Highfin Rudderfish (Kyphosus cinerascens) and juvenile Barracuda. Another of the highlights is the school of juvenile Bigeye Jacks (Caranx sexfasciatus) that swim around you in 3m of water.

Text Box: Notice The thaipoons in Dec 2011 and Jan 2013 have heavyly damaged the corals of the Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is temporarely closed to let it recover. All other dive sites are open.