Katipanan

Katipanan is known as one of the areas on Apo Island with the most turtles in the shallows. It is a nice sloping reef, perfect for newer divers, and gives a gentle, enjoyable dive. An abundance of corals creates a beautiful, colourful landscape, and friendly sea turtles and reef fish often swim alongside you. For many of our guests it is their first Apo Island dive, and their first turtle.

The dive

The slope runs from 5 metres to around 24 metres, so there is a comfortable range of depths to explore. There is no need to go deep: much of the colour and most of the turtles are in the shallower part of the reef. The wall at Chapel slopes down into these reefs, and we often finish that dive along the Katipanan reef, looking for turtles.

What you might see

• Sea turtles, often several on one dive, feeding or resting in the shallows
• Colourful corals, hard and soft, covering the slope
• Reef fish, from anthias and butterflyfish to parrotfish

When to dive Katipanan

We visit Apo Island all year, weather permitting, with water temperatures of about 25 to 29°C. Katipanan is usually one of the calmer sites, which is why it suits newer divers. See when to dive Dauin and Apo Island.

Who it suits

Newer divers, anyone finishing their Open Water course with Apo Island dives, and anyone who simply wants a relaxed reef dive with turtles.

Our tip

Slow down and let the turtles come to you. A diver who hovers quietly gets a far better encounter than one who swims after them.

Good to know

• Apo Island is a protected marine area. The sanctuary fee is included in our day-trip price.
• Never touch or chase turtles, and never block their way to the surface.
• For a similar easy reef on the Dauin coast, try our house reef, Dauin North.

Dive Katipanan with us

We visit Apo Island on full-day boat trips from Dauin, with three dives, lunch and sanctuary fees included. Which sites we dive depends on the day’s conditions. See our Apo Island day trips, or build your dive trip.