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Some 72 hectares of
volcanic rock situated in the Mindanao Sea, Apo
Island has a marine sanctuary that was started
in 1985 by Similan University. Experienced dive
masters can take you to magical trips in the
underwater world of Apo, a diving paradise, whereby you are
guaranteed to be amazed by the beauty of the
marine life and corals here.
The John G. Shedd
Aquarium in Lake Shore Drive, Chicago Illinois
has spent some USD 47 million for this
interactive state-of-the-art project that
covers a 27,000 square feet recreation of Apo Island.
Eight years of planning, five research trips,
three years of infrastructure building
(since 1999) have gone into this ambitious
project. The Philippine Wild Reef Exhibit was
opened on April 9, 2003.
The permanent
exhibit will give visitors a diver's eye view of
the Philippine coral reefs, the most populous
and diverse aquatic ecosystem in the world.
Shedd's experts found an idyllic community where
humans, animals and habitats co-exist in
harmony. Some 540 aquatic species nearly
doubling the aquarium's existing species will
inhabit the new exhibit.
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DIVE
SITES |
AVERAGE DEPTH (m) |
MAXIMUM DEPTH (m) |
|
Largahan |
14 |
20 |
|
Boluarte |
|
20 |
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The Chapel |
|
20 |
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Rock Point |
|
20 |
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The
Sanctuary |
15 |
30-40 |
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Kan-u-ran |
10 |
50 |
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Cogon |
20 |
34 |
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Olo Point |
25 |
30 |
|
Coconut |
|
20 |
HOW TO GET THERE
There are daily
flights from Manila to Dumaguete. The flight
from Manila takes about an hour and another ten
minutes by taxi, or tricycle to downtown. Dumaguete is readily accessible by sea. High
speed ferries from Cebu City run three times
daily for two and a half hours.
Fast ferries run
from Dumaguete to Siquijor three times daily for
45 minutes. You can also go between Tagbilaran,
Siquijor and Dumaguete direct by fast ferry
boat.
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