Which strait separates Mindoro from Palawan in the Philippines?

The strait separating Mindoro from Palawan Province in the Philippines is the Mindoro Strait.

The Mindoro Strait is a broad Philippine waterway connecting the South China Sea with the Sulu Sea. It lies between Mindoro Island and the Calamian Islands, including Busuanga, which belongs to Palawan Province. This geographic detail explains why descriptions sometimes say the strait separates Mindoro from “Palawan,” even though it does not directly divide Mindoro from Palawan Island itself.

A major feature within the strait is Apo Reef, the largest coral reef system in the Philippines. The reef divides part of the waterway into the Apo East Pass and Apo West Pass, and the surrounding area is known for marine biodiversity and diving.

The Mindoro Strait is also important to international navigation. It provides an alternative route between the Indian and Pacific oceans for ships too large to pass through the Strait of Malacca. Common wrong answers such as Balabac Strait and Surigao Strait refer to other Philippine waterways in different parts of the archipelago.