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Divers exploring underwater wreckage during a deep ocean scuba dive.
📷 Maël BALLAND · Pexels

Chapel

3.5 — based on 15 community signals
4.2 12 species 22 contributors

Chapel dive site on Apo Island offers year-round diving in a protected marine landscape with healthy coral and abundant marine life.

⭐ Best for beginners.

🐢 MPA · Apo Island Protected Landscape… updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Beginner
MPAShore entryFamily-friendlyBeginner
+1 more
PhotoFriendly

At a glance

Activity
dive
Difficulty
beginner
Best months
Year-round
Marine life
Green sea turtle

Top operators here

See all operators ↓

Map

This spot Operators Airport Nearby spots
Chapel location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
Open in Google Maps

Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
1.8 kn
Wave
0.5 m
Water
29.8°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: SW (41%)
Now: W (273°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 1.26m

Next: High at 02:00 (+1.28m)

+1.3 m0 m+0.0 m
▲ 02:00 · +1.28m ▼ 11:00 · +0.25m ▲ 02:00 · +1.21m ▼ 14:00 · +0.19m
Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 25
UV9.15 · very high Air PM2.521 · moderate 05:36 17:45
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-19 8.6 0.64 9 0mm
09-20 6.3 0.56 8 2mm
09-21 5.9 0.5 7 7mm
09-22 5.2 0.36 5 20mm
09-23 3.5 0.18 2 26mm
09-24 4.7 0.1 8 43mm
09-25 5.9 0.24 8 5mm

About this spot

Chapel is a dive site located on Apo Island in the Philippines, situated within the Apo Island Protected Landscape and Seascape. This designation means the site benefits from active marine conservation efforts and strict protection measures that help maintain the health and diversity of the reef ecosystem. The protected status has helped preserve the underwater environment, making it a reliable destination for divers seeking healthy coral formations and vibrant marine habitats. The site shows no signs of coral bleaching stress, indicating favorable conditions for the reef ecosystem. With 12 documented species observations recorded at the site, Chapel supports diverse marine life typical of Philippine reef environments. The availability of community videos provides potential divers with real footage of what to expect underwater, offering insights into site conditions and marine activity. Chapel is accessible year-round, meaning you can plan a dive trip at most times of the season. Being part of a protected marine area, the site operates under conservation guidelines designed to preserve its natural state. Before diving, confirm current access conditions and any permit requirements with local operators, as protected areas sometimes have specific rules about visitor numbers or seasonal restrictions. The combination of protection status and healthy coral conditions makes Chapel a responsible choice for divers interested in sustainable reef diving.

📖 Guide: Diving in the Philippines: 119 Sites, Wrecks & Walls Worth the Flight

Best months

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Marine life

Green sea turtle

Dive types

Reef

Trip essentials

Everything you need before you pack — checklist, sun, logistics.

Trip checklist

  • 🛂 Visa-free or visa-on-arrival
  • 📜 C-card + dive insurance (DAN)
  • 📔 Dive logbook
  • 🧴 Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+
  • 🔌 Plug type A/B/C · 220V adapter
  • 💊 Seasickness meds + ear drops
  • 📱 Offline maps + emergency contact

Quick facts

  • 🌓 Moon First quarter · 47%
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 11408km · ~2624kg · €47

From your departure country

United States
Origin score: 54/100
  • Visa: Visa on arrival · 30 days max
  • Flight: 12h · direct
  • Jet-lag: 11h east · 8 days recovery

FAQ

What's the best time to dive Chapel?

Chapel is accessible year-round, so you can plan visits across all seasons. Check with local operators for any seasonal variations in water conditions or weather that might affect dive comfort.

What depth and difficulty level is Chapel?

Specific depth and difficulty information is not currently documented for Chapel. Contact dive operators on Apo Island who can provide exact depth data and recommend whether the site suits your certification level.

What marine life will I see?

Chapel has 12 documented species observations on file. The site supports healthy coral with no bleaching stress, typical of diverse Philippine reef ecosystems. Community videos are available showing actual marine activity at the site.

Do I need permits to dive Chapel?

Chapel sits within the Apo Island Protected Landscape and Seascape, so access may require permits or follow specific conservation guidelines. Check with local dive operators about current requirements before your visit.

Operators near this spot

Dive centres, kite & surf schools within 10 km, sourced from OpenStreetMap.

Paul's Dive Shop

0.2 km
4.8 (16 reviews) closed
Dive centre
Verified
Hours: Friday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Beach Cafe & Dream Diving Resort

7.7 km
Dive centre

Wellbeach Dive Resort

8.1 km
4.4 (68 reviews) closed
Dive centre
Verified
Hours: Friday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Ex Bahura Dive Resort

9.7 km
Dive centre

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

Verified marine species observations

56 records · 49 species · sources: OBIS, GBIF

Facelinidae

Gastropoda · Facelinidae
OBIS
Last seen:
3 Nov 2018
×1records

Gastropteridae

Gastropoda · Gastropteridae
OBIS
Last seen:
6 Jan 2018
×1records
Depth:
20 m

Cephalaspidea

Gastropoda
OBIS
Last seen:
21 Oct 2016
×1records

Metalia

Echinoidea · Brissidae
OBIS
Last seen:
20 Oct 2016
×3records
Depth:
4 m

Metalia sternalis

Echinoidea · Brissidae
OBIS
Last seen:
10 Apr 2016
×1records
Depth:
2 m

Dermatobranchus

Gastropoda · Arminidae
OBIS
Last seen:
10 Apr 2016
×1records
Depth:
6–23 m

Syllidae

Polychaeta · Syllidae
OBIS
Last seen:
8 Apr 2016
×3records
Depth:
6–15 m

Nembrotha

Gastropoda · Polyceridae
OBIS
Last seen:
8 Apr 2016
×1records
Depth:
5–28 m

Phyllodocidae

Polychaeta · Phyllodocidae
OBIS
Last seen:
8 Apr 2016
×1records
Depth:
33 m

Polynoidae

Polychaeta · Polynoidae
OBIS
Last seen:
7 Apr 2016
×2records
Depth:
18 m

Chloeia

Polychaeta · Amphinomidae
OBIS
Last seen:
6 Apr 2016
×1records
Depth:
9 m

Metalia dicrana

Echinoidea · Brissidae
OBIS
Last seen:
5 Apr 2016
×1records
Depth:
6–21 m

Data: 187,991 observations from OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System) and GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility). CC-BY 4.0.

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

Diving with giant Turtle at Chapel Point, Apo Island, Philippines

Atmosphere Resorts & Spa Philippines

Apo Island Scuba Diving - Best Coral Reefs & Turtles in Asia?!

Divingscene
💬 3 top comments
  • Very nice video! I just returned from Philippines - Anda, Malapascua, Panglao and Dauin. I really enjoyed Dauin and Apo Island and will go back. I have been to Panglao twice in the past two years. Balicasag Island has the prettiest reefs I have seen so far in the Philippines. I just suscribed and will check out your other videos. Thanks again!

    @shotsbyscott6243 · 👍 0
  • Thank you so much for watching! <3 www.diving-scene.com/ - for more information and inspiration! IG/Facebook - Divingscene

    @divingscene · 👍 0
  • Hey this looks good! Would you recommend this area for first time diving in the Philippines? :)

    @scubalens · 👍 2

20250901 2nd Diving in Chapel Point in Dumagutte Ap_ Clive's 293th Dive

Couple Scuba Diving & Trip

Local knowledge

OpenStreetMap Notes
  • "Bahura Dive Resort seems to be not existing anymore 2023-11-23"

    Totor · 2023-11-23
  • ""Dive shop run trip on Dauin and Zambonguita coastal, Apo island(min.2divers) and Sumilon(min.6divers). Dive courses available. Dive rate start from 1,500php. Dive equipment provided without extra charge. Marine park fee, dive guide and towel are included. Offer secluded beach front accommodation for divers. Small swimming pool and a boutique café on site. Room rate start from 500php/bed in dorm room, breakfast are included. All types room with private hot shower/toilet and air-conditioning." P"

    Dives Visaya · 2020-01-12
wind peaks Feb-Jan-Mar, calmest Aug-Oct-Jun, dry Jan-Apr.

5-year monthly climate

60 samples
0 5 10 15 20 25 JFMAMJJASOND
p25–p75 range Median Wind (kn) Air (°C)
Visibility (month-by-month)
Best: Jun (100/100) Worst: Jan (0/100) Now: Sep (94/100) NOAA MODIS Aqua · 5y mean

Nearby spots

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Baluarte

Baluarte is a year-round dive site near Apo Island in the Philippines, located within a protected marine area with healthy coral and diverse marine life.

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Rock point West

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