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Mamsa Point |
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Mamsa starts halfway down Cogon, you drift along the slope, past the school of Jacks before reaching the big boulders at Mamsa Point and the wall beyond. Many fish hang out at this point including Humpback Snappers (Lutjanus gibbus) and a Bluelined Grouper (Cephalopholis formosa). |
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Around the corner and out of the current, the character of the wall changes. Now there is plenty of soft coral on the vertical wall with gentle down currents on the sandy slopes between the underwater headlands. There are many Bignose Unicornfish (Naso vlamingii) holding territories on the headlands with many other surgeons and fusiliers. The dive finishes with the superb hard corals of Kan-u-ran. |
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Kan-u-ran |
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Kan-u-ran on the east side of Apo is between the Sanctuary and Cogon. It is named after one of the original inhabitants Uran. Here you will find the deepest wall on Apo. Starting in the north from 10m to 50m deep, gradually tapering out in the southern part of the dive. On the shore side of the wall is a large plateau some 80+m wide. Large areas are dominated by Staghorn Coral (Acropora sp), beautiful fields of branching coral covering areas the size of football fields. Trumpet fish (Aulostomus chinensis) and Groupers (Cephalopholis sp.) abound. |
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A feature of Kan-u-ran are the Pyjama Cardinalfish (Sphaeramia nematoptera) spending the day resting in the staghorn coral at the Sanctuary end of the dive. Coming back along the wall it is common to see a wide variety of nudibranches. Hiding with their camouflage are plenty of Scorpion fish (Scorpaenopsis sp.). Off the edge of the wall schools of fusiliers (Caesio sp) go racing by. |
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Coconut Coconut has its moments, depending on the time of year, the tides and the moon. In the North East winds (November - May) the currents are strong often creating a washing machine effect. Welcome to the coconut express, climb aboard the express and hang there as the current pushes you along. Great Barracudas (Sphyraena barracuda) Giant Trevallies (Caranx ignobilis)(1.5 m long), huge Angelfish (Pomacanthus semicirculatus & Pomacanthus sexstriatus), schools of Bigeye Jacks (Caranx sexfasciatus), Batfish and turtles (Green and Hawksbill). |
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There is just too much to describe or to take in on one dive. As your express slows down you continue your dive in Coconut south amongst beautiful hard corals and the reefs smaller inhabitants. A particular highlight on the reef flat is the very well camouflaged Short Dragonfish (Europegasus draconis) and many species of Pipefish. T he way that we dive Coconut varies depending on the season. From May to November the winds come from the South West and on some days we are able to dive the shallow part of coconut, which is as mind blowing as the deeper realms. |
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Cogon |
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Cogon is named after Cogon Village, which in turn is named after a type of grass. This dive site has its moments, depending on the time of year, the tides and the moon. Sometimes there is a strong current. Most of the year it is a good, moderate paced, drift dive. The dive starts at the buoy near to Olo point, the northeastern corner of the island. In the first part of the dive we swim down to a sandy slope where we have a good chance of seeing a King Mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson). using the current we turn along a slope full of colourful hard coral, with Scribbled Filefish (Aluterus scriptus), Mappa Puffers (Arothron mappa), Mangrove Jacks (Lutjanus argentimaculatus, Mamsa in the local dialect) and many Angelfish. |
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Dive sites 6-10 around APO Island |
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www.apoisland.com
Pauls Diving and Liberty´s Lodge on APO Island |