Apo Island #1 dive site?

I read something in a Philippine online newspaper claiming their Apo
Island is the #1 dive site in the world... (?)

I know this has to be a gross exaggeration. While I've only been
snorkeling at Apo Island, from talking to one of the two resort owners
there, it doesn't seem to offer much.

How is Apo Island rated or regarded internationally?

R N <surfinusa@webtv.net> wrote:

> I read something in a Philippine online newspaper claiming their Apo
> Island is the #1 dive site in the world... (?)
>
> I know this has to be a gross exaggeration. While I've only been
> snorkeling at Apo Island, from talking to one of the two resort owners
> there, it doesn't seem to offer much.
>
> How is Apo Island rated or regarded internationally?

there are two Apo's in the Philippines for diving, one is average the
other is reputed to be really good.

The Island is average the reef is good
Apo Reef is off the coast of Mindoro Occidental

Apo island is near Negros Oriental
--
>replace spamblock with my family name to e-mail me

I dived Apo reef back in 1979. In those days it was quite impressive (the
one off Mindoro near Buswanga Island) It was just exquisite... from the lip
of the ocean, it was terraced down to 110 feet with the most beautiful hard
and soft corals. At about 100 feet (30 meters) on one side there was the
most beautiful spray of soft pink coral which Carl Roessler referred to as a
"pink cotton ball" and it was spectacular.

But this particular Apo Reef was not well protected and I'm told that
subsequently, it was bady damaged by dynamite (the natives either pounding
the reef or using explosive to kill fish). If true, what a tragedy. There's
a neckless of little island off Mindoro where very poor people live -- those
who get what they can to eat by pillaging the reef. I recall -- in the
distance to the west-- Buswanga Island and could see fires burning --day and
night-- slash & burn, I suppose -- locals busy destroying the environment.
This was during the Marco years and I'm sure it is not much better today.

I'm glad I saw Apo Reef in its prime!

Jerome Meekings wrote:

> R N <surfinusa@webtv.net> wrote:
>
> > I read something in a Philippine online newspaper claiming their Apo
> > Island is the #1 dive site in the world... (?)
> >
> > I know this has to be a gross exaggeration. While I've only been
> > snorkeling at Apo Island, from talking to one of the two resort owners
> > there, it doesn't seem to offer much.
> >
> > How is Apo Island rated or regarded internationally?
>
> there are two Apo's in the Philippines for diving, one is average the
> other is reputed to be really good.
>
> The Island is average the reef is good
> Apo Reef is off the coast of Mindoro Occidental
>
> Apo island is near Negros Oriental
> --
> >replace spamblock with my family name to e-mail me