Apo Diver Beach Resort

English is spoken by the hotel team, alongside German, French, Spanish, Tagalog and Cebuano, so you can sort out the practical details without resorting to underwater hand signals. Apo Diver Resort is a small four-room beachfront resort built around a straightforward island routine: wake up near the sea, spend the day outdoors, then return to the same stretch of coast for the sunset.

The atmosphere is informal and close to the water rather than polished into something anonymous. Large windows look towards the garden, pool or sea, while the terrace and garden give you places to sit when the room feels too compact for another hour. For couples, the sea-facing rooms put the evening view in the right place; for families, the larger family suite gives everyone a more workable base.

You are in San Juan, on Siquijor in the Philippines, directly on Solangon Beach. The hotel has its own private beach area with white sand and loungers, so the sea is not a destination requiring transport: it is outside your door. Solangon Beach itself is only about 50 metres away in the surrounding-distance listings, which broadly agrees with the beachfront layout.

The setting is on the west-facing coast, useful when you want the sunset without climbing onto a scooter and chasing it around the island. Maite Beach is about 1.4 miles away, Pontod Beach about 1.6 miles and Paliton Beach about 1.7 miles. JJs Cafe is around 50 metres away, while Capilay Spring Park is about 1 mile away and Lugnason Falls about 4.5 miles by road.

Siquijor Airport is about 3.1 miles away by road. You can also reach the island by ferry from places including Cebu City, Dumaguete and Tagbilaran, with three maritime ports on Siquijor.

The choice is less about collecting room names and more about deciding how much breathing space you want. A Queen Room with Pool View suits a couple who plan to spend most of the day outside. If the sea view is part of why you are coming to San Juan, the Deluxe Double Room with Sea View gives you a balcony and an extra-large bed, with a futon for a third guest.

For a family or anyone who dislikes squeezing bags around the bed, the larger suites are the sensible step up. The Family Junior Suite accommodates up to five people, while the Deluxe Suite with Sea View offers a separate level of space and a private bathroom. The room cards show the exact dimensions, capacities and bedding below, so you can compare those without making the prose do a second lap.

Air conditioning matters when you return warm, salty and ready to stop moving. Rooms also have private bathrooms, balconies, a minibar or refrigerator, a flat-screen TV and free WiFi. A private entrance is available as part of the room set-up, and the views run from the pool and garden to the sea. In practical terms, you can put cold water away, cool down properly and sit outside instead of treating the bed as your only piece of furniture.

Breakfast is freshly prepared and covers continental, American and Asian styles, with vegetarian and vegan choices available. The detail worth remembering is the coffee: the resort makes a point of serving fresh breakfast with what it calls its best coffee on the beach. That is a useful start when the first boat, the first snorkel or simply the first hot morning is waiting outside.

The bar is joined by a pool bar, and refreshments can be taken outdoors around the pool or terrace. Room service and breakfast in your room are available for mornings when you would rather keep the balcony than join the rest of civilisation straight away. A minibar and tea-and-coffee-making facilities in the room cover the small, essential rituals.

There is also an outdoor dining area and barbecue facilities. Nearby, JJs Cafe is about 50 metres away, with Dalahikan Grill Masters around 0.4 miles and Monkey Business around 0.5 miles. The dining information centres on breakfast and drinks, so you can decide whether to keep evenings at the resort or wander out for a change of table.

The swimming pool gives you a second place to cool off when the sea has done its work, with loungers and a pool bar close by. The private beach area adds the simpler option: take a chair, face the water and allow the afternoon to become unproductive. There is a garden and terrace as well, so you can move between shade, pool and sand without turning relaxation into an organised activity.

For a more inventive form of doing nothing, the resort has a large hammock known as the Monkey’s Nest, raised above the ground. Beanbags can be taken to the beach, and tropical fruit milkshakes fit the brief rather well. Couples can also book a couples massage, with full-body, head, neck, back, hand and foot massage options available.

When staying still becomes impossible, the resort offers yoga, snorkelling, freediving and boat excursions. Land-based outings include waterfalls, cliff jumping, nature exploration and secret beaches, with motorbike hire available for exploring further. Cycling and hiking are also available off site, while live music and performances provide an occasional reason to remain on the property after sunset.

Apo Diver Siquijor, the hotel's own dive centre, affiliated with PADI, English-speaking team. The centre is part of the resort, so you can leave breakfast and move straight into the diving day rather than wait for a transfer. Fun-diving departures generally run from 09:00 to 15:00, using the YORIKO banca.

Groups are kept to a maximum of four divers, with up to eight people on the boat, guided by local divemasters and international instructors. The team speaks English, German, French, Spanish, Tagalog and Cebuano.

The operation covers 30 sites around Siquijor and 12 around Apo Island, with the next day’s sites chosen with guests. Non-divers can join selected boat outings for snorkelling, cliff jumping or island exploration.

Check-in runs from 14:00 to 19:00, and check-out from 07:00 to 11:30. That early departure window is useful for a morning transfer, although you will want to match it carefully with your travel plans. The resort offers a shuttle service, and airport transfers can be arranged in private or shared form through the hotel.

Siquijor Airport is the closest air connection, about 3.1 miles from the resort by road. Ferry travel is another practical route to the island, with services linking Siquijor to Cebu City, Dumaguete and Tagbilaran among other places. For the final leg, motorbike hire is available at the resort, which suits a day built around beaches, waterfalls and roads rather than a timetable.

WiFi is free throughout the property, private parking is available on site and laundry facilities are offered. Room service helps when you have finished diving but have no interest in going back out, and pets are accepted. Children of any age are welcome; the family junior suite accommodates up to five guests, while extra beds depend on the accommodation selected.