Apo 29

Apo 29, often called "Barracuda Hill", is an offshore underwater pinnacle rising steeply from about 50 m to a summit around 25-30 m. The site is renowned for concentrated large pelagics, with large schools of barracuda and jacks, frequent reef sharks, and occasional hammerheads, thresher sharks and manta rays. Coral cover on the pinnacle is healthy but the primary attraction is the open-water fish activity. The site is accessed by boat or liveaboard only. Divers descend along a line or reef feature to the pinnacle top at about 25-30 m and dives commonly extend deeper to 40-50 m or more. Currents are unpredictable and can be strong, so divers may hook into the reef or drift with the current. Visibility is usually very good, often exceeding 30 m, and water temperature is tropical, about 26-30 °C. The site is recommended only for advanced divers; many guides advise using enriched air nitrox to maximize bottom time and stress careful air and decompression management. The primary safety considerations are the combination of depth and variable strong currents.