Chapel Point

Apo Island, Negros Oriental, Philippines

The Chapel lies on the western side of Apo Island, where a gentle sandy slope dotted with coral bommies steepens progressively into a wall that drops past 40 metres. The wall face is broken by small crevices and caverns and dressed in soft and hard corals, sponges, sea fans and anemones, creating dense habitat for small life. Look for electric clams tucked into the rock, a wide range of nudibranchs, eels and crustaceans, while hawksbill and green turtles graze the corals and larger predatory fish cruise by in the blue. As part of the Apo Island Marine Reserve, the site is dived under sanctuary rules: no reef hooks or gloves, and no night diving.