Tubbataha Reef: The Philippines' Crown Jewel
Open just three months a year and reachable only by liveaboard, Tubbataha is the cleanest, sharkiest and most strictly protected reef in Southeast Asia.
Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1993, sits 150 km from the nearest landmass in the middle of the Sulu Sea. There are no resorts, no anchoring, no fishing — and consequently, an apex-predator population that elsewhere is now a memory.
A three-month window
Diving Tubbataha is only possible from mid-March to mid-June, when the Sulu Sea is calm. Outside this window the seas are too rough for safe operations.
Sharks, walls and pelagics
Grey reef sharks in dozens, white-tips on every dive, hammerheads on the deeper drops, occasional tigers, manta cleaning stations on the South Atoll, and walls dropping past 100 m carpeted in untouched hard and soft coral.
Bird Islet — a tiny sand cay on the northern atoll — is also one of the most important seabird breeding sites in the region.
Logistics
All trips depart from Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Standard itineraries are 6 nights / 7 days. Park fees and conservation contributions are mandatory and worth every peso — they fund the rangers who keep this reef the way it is.
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Create my dive tripFrequently asked questions
What level is required?+
Advanced Open Water minimum, 50+ dives strongly recommended. Nitrox certification is essential for back-to-back wall dives.
Can I see whale sharks?+
Occasionally — Tubbataha is more about reef sharks and walls. For reliable whale shark encounters, head to Donsol or Oslob.
