Dive site
Tubbataha Reefs
Sulu Sea, Philippines
- Typical depth
- 30 m
- Type
- Wall
- Level
- Advanced
Notes
UNESCO marine park, liveaboard-only Mar–Jun.
Marine life
- Rays
- manta ray, eagle ray
- Corals
- pristine hard coral cover, sea fans, black coral
- Sharks
- whitetip reef shark, grey reef shark, occasional whale shark, occasional tiger shark, hammerhead (rare)
- Turtles
- green, hawksbill
- Pelagics
- giant trevally, dogtooth tuna, barracuda schools, spanish mackerel
- Whales & dolphins
- dolphin pods, occasional pilot whale
- Reef fish
- jackfish schools, snapper, napoleon wrasse, triggerfish
Site features
- Offshore Atoll
- Wall
- Drift
- Liveaboard Only
- UNESCO World Heritage
- Marine Park
- Seasonal
When to dive
- Best
- Mar–Jun
- Avoid
- Jul–Feb
Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is open to liveaboards only and only mid-March through mid-June, between the NE and SW monsoons. Outside that window the Sulu Sea is too rough to access and the park is closed. UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993; ranger station enforces no-anchor and no-fishing rules.
Conditions & access
- Visibility
- 25–45 m
- Water temp
- 27–30 °C
- Current
- Strong
- Access
- Liveaboard only
- Min cert
- Advanced Open Water + 50 logged dives recommended; some operators require 30+
Location
8.8500° N, 119.9167° E
Sources
Curated from 1 source
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