at the park, stay in the protected area on weekly shifts. Apo Island The largest is Apo Island at with mangroves and beach vegetation. The reef surrounding the island extends to in places. Outside the lagoonal mangroves in the eastern and southern sides of Apo Island, the soil is sandy-to-sandy loam that has less silt and clay particles, while the lagoonal mangroves have a sandy loam to clay loam soil, underlain by decomposed plant residues or coarse materials. Apo Island is separated from Apo Reef by a narrow, deep channel. The island is about from Mindoro and about from Nanga and Tara Islands, the nearest of the islands off Busuanga Island on the western side of the Mindoro Strait. The Apo Reef Light, situated on the northeast part of the island, warns ship about the location of this navigational hazard. The island is situated at a two and a half hour navigation 240° from Sablayan by pump boat (banka). The island houses a permanent ranger base which monitors the national park. An administrative desk collects the environmental fees. It is possible to stay overnight in tents subject to certain conditions. Very limited facilities are available onshore to protect the island's fragile ecosystem. Apo Menor Islet Apo Menor is located near the western end of Apo Reef, about east of Apo Island. It is a rocky limestone island with relatively little vegetation. Cayos del Bajo Cayos del Bajo are flat coralline rock formations with no vegetation on the northern lagoon near the eastern edge of the reef. At low tide, many small rocks are dry on the reef, particularly along its north side. Scuba diving The main activity of the reef relates to its underwater quality. Scuba diving and snorkeling in Apo Reef area are exceptional due to the quality of the flora, the fauna and the clarity of the water and white sand. Many species can be observed in deep or shallow waters in particular, sharks, giant napoleons, and manta rays. Conservation history The Apo Reef is a protected area of the Philippines classified as a Natural park encompassing . Of the total area, comprises the Apo Reef Natural Park while the remaining constitute a buffer zone surrounding the protected area. Prior to its declaration as a protected area, Apo Reef was first officially declared a "Marine Park" by then Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos in 1980. This was followed with