Diving Cogon at Apo Island, Philippines

I dove Cogon in October 2026 with Critter Republic, by boat out of Dauin to Apo Island, Philippines.

It's on a different part of the island from Chapel, and I remember it being a little prettier.

The Dive

The main reef area where we went sat at around 45 to 50 ft (14 to 15 m).

That's deeper than Chapel, where the main reef is only around 30 ft (9 m).

There's a lot of coral across the reef.

In places, the coral opens up onto patches of white sand.

A huge school of jackfish came through on this dive.

We also saw several banded sea kraits.

Banded sea kraits are one of the most venomous snakes in the world, but they're docile around humans.

Most recorded bites happen when someone handles one or steps on it.

Regardless, in a couple of clips, the snake turns at me, making me question my life choices.

I logged 75 ft (22.9 m) at the deepest, with an average of 41 ft (12.5 m) across 56 minutes.

What Marine Life I Saw

The jacks and the sea kraits were the highlights here.

We also saw a sea turtle on the reef.

The Dive & Conditions

The water was 86°F (30°C).

I dove in just a rash guard because the water was warm, but many people on the boat wore wetsuits.

The dry season, roughly November to May, is generally the best time to dive Apo Island.

From June to October, rougher seas can cancel boat crossings, especially from July to September.