Diving Largahan at Apo Island, Philippines

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

This site has volcanic gas bubbles pouring out of the seafloor.

The Dive

The most interesting thing about Largahan is what's coming out of the ground.

Streams of volcanic gas bubbles pour up out of the earth here.

There are also sand patches that are a different color from the rest of the bottom.

When you press your hand into them underwater, they're very warm to the touch.

Apo Island is a volcanic island with ongoing geothermal activity under it, and this is where you can feel it.

Away from the bubbles, the reef is covered in hard coral.

There are big patches of branching coral too.

In places the reef drops off steeply.

I logged 78 ft (23.8 m) at the deepest, with an average of 39 ft (11.9 m) across 59 minutes.

What Marine Life I Saw

Most of the life I filmed was reef fish around the coral.

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.