North Pandan Island is an island in the South China Sea which lies off the coast of Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro in the Philippines. It features an unspoiled white sand beach and excellent dive sites, including the famous Apo Reef.

North Pandan Island in Occidental Mindoro offers a vast stretch of beach with pristine white sand, much like the more famous Boracay Island. It has shallow, temperate waters which are good for swimming and snorkeling. Inland, the landscape consists of lush forest where can be found some rock formations, such as the Spanish Nose, named because it suggests human features. There is also a secluded lagoon.

There are many excellent dive sites around the island as Apo Reef, home to a variety of marine creatures, is found in its waters. There are also fascinating undersea caves and shipwrecks that may be explored by divers.

Currently, there is no electricity on the island, so it maintains a rather rustic atmosphere.

The island was uninhabited until it was discovered by a French expatriate, who set up the island’s only resort, North Pandan Island Resort, in the 1980s. In 1994 Apo Reef was designated a marine park by government proclamation, preserving its beautiful corals and rich marine life.

 

How to get there

The island is accessible by boat from Sablayan, Mindoro. To get there from Manila, take a Batangas-bound bus. From the Batangas Pier, take a bus to Wawa Pier, then take a San Jose-bound bus which stops at Sablayan. The entire trip to the island from Manila takes about 11 hours.

Activities

The main attraction is diving as it is the island nearest to Apo Reef. With 40 km of corals, Apo Reef can take a couple of days to explore. Sharks may be sighted here. Another popular dive site is Coron. With hundreds of islets and Busuanga Reef, it can take 4-6 days to explore. There are some World War II wrecks in its waters. Visibility is best at the dive sites from March – June, when the waters are relatively calm. Other popular activities on the island are snorkeling, sunset cruises and bird-watching. There are also facilities for other sports at the resort, including sea kayaking, table tennis, and volleyball.

Accommodations

The island’s only resort, North Pandan Island Resort, provides rooms with their own bathrooms and some budget quarters with shared bathrooms. It has a bar which is lighted by solar power at night, but in the rest of the resort gas lamps are used. Filipino and French foods are served.