My Apo Island Adventure

It was my first time in Apo Island. My wife and kids have been here before—five years ago, if I remember right—and they couldn’t stop talking about the turtles and the colors of the sea. This year, with our eldest now studying in Silliman University, we decided to visit him and finally tick off Apo Island from my own list. We stayed in Dauin, in this quiet and lovely resort called Salaya Beach Houses, and arranged a tour with a local guide we found online.

The van that brought us to the pier from our resort was clean, the drive to the port was short, and before we knew it, we were climbing onto a small boat with an equally cheerful crew. The guide—his name was Jerald—was waiting for us bright and early at the Malatapay Pier in Zamboanguita. He had that calm, local confidence that made you feel like everything was going to be alright. He has a young dog with him that he is bringing to the island where he lives.

The boatmen handled the waves like old friends. It wasn’t the smoothest ride—Apo waters can be rough—but not once did I feel unsafe. They knew this sea like the back of their hand.

Stepping onto the island felt like entering a different world. The water was clearer than I imagined, and the sun lit up everything in that soft, perfect way. We swam near the sanctuary, and there they were—sea turtles, gently gliding beneath us like underwater dancers. We also saw schools of colorful fish, coral gardens, and a sneaky little sea snake that my daughter spotted first. It was hard not to smile the whole time. Even as someone who can’t hold his breath for long, I didn’t want to leave the water.

Lunch was simple but satisfying—grilled pork, fish adobo, rice, some vegetables, and fresh pineapples that were very sweet. We ate in a shaded spot by the shore, our feet still covered in sand. The snorkelling guide, God bless me I forgot his name, told us stories about the island, how the community protects the turtles, and how tourism has helped people make a living. It didn’t feel like a lecture, more like a conversation with someone who genuinely loved the place he called home.