Tubbataha Reef

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is quite simply one of Asia's best diving spots and on the 'wish list' for most avid divers. It is home to no less than 573 species of fish, 373 species of corals, 11 species of sharks, 12 species of dolphins and whales, nesting hawksbill and green sea turtles.

Tubbataha Reef is located in the Sulu Sea, at the centre of the Coral Triangle between Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. Rarely visited by tourists due to its location and its status as a marine reserve, Tubbataha is made up of two reefs, simply referred to as the North and South Reefs. 

Proclaimed as a National Marine Park in 1988 and inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993, Tubbataha reefs offers dramatic vertical walls and pinnacles rising out of great depths. The shallow reef tops are teeming with colourful reef fish; in many places stingrays, spiny lobsters, immature manta rays, turtles, leopard sharks and guitar sharks can be found. The walls are covered in huge barrel sponges, gorgonian sea fans, soft corals, hydroids and black corals. In deeper water, shoals of angelfish, butterfly fish, pennant fish, rainbow runners, Moorish idols, fusiliers, jacks, snappers and sweetlips follow you around. Large trevally, tuna and barracuda as well as grey reef sharks and whitetip sharks patrol. If you remember to look away from the fascinating reef wall from time to time, Giant manta rays and eagle rays may be spotted overhead, along with turtles and groupers.

ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS

• Dive a remote UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Search for mantas, sharks, dolphins and whales
• Marvel at pristine coral walls and gardens
• Seek out over 500 species of fish

A typical diving schedule for a liveaboard to Tubbataha would be as follows:

SAMPLE ITINERARY

Dive Day 1 & 6: Northern tip of North Atoll

Fissures and crevices lead into it where nurse and whitetip reef sharks can be found resting during the day. Small manta rays, stingray’s and spotted eagle rays, together with numerous turtles can usually be found here. The wall has huge gorgonian fan corals, soft corals and barrel sponges. Blacktip, whitetip and grey reef sharks can normally be seen patrolling here in numbers.

Dive Day 2: Southern end of North Atoll

The whole stretch of this face is excellent for diving. A dusk dive here, when the fish are feeding, is an amazing sight. Almost every type of native reef fish can be found here. Invertebrates like sea cucumbers, nudibranchs, flatworms and crinoids are everywhere. Larger fish will be encountered, including giant & blue fin trevally, dogtooth tuna, great and pickhandle barracuda. Manta rays and turtles swim closer to the surface. During low tide a wreck can be seen.

Dive Day 3: Northern tip of South Atoll

The area is particularly renowned for green and hawksbill turtles. There are plenty of schools of reef fish and larger pelagic species including Spanish mackerel, blue fin and giant trevally, pickhandle and great barracuda can be seen. Whitetip reef sharks, together with black-blotched stingrays and eagle rays occasionally venture into these waters. When the manta rays show up here they can hang around for hours majestically playing with divers.

Dive Day 4: Southern end of South Atoll

Also known as “The Lighthouse” with impressive views over Tubbataha Reef. Here, there are small reef fish, corals, sponges and anemones with a variety of anemone fish species living in symbiosis.

Dive Day 5: South-eastern part of North Atoll

The dive starts on a gentle slope that is covered in superb untouched corals and ends with a wall covered with dramatic gorgonian fans where sharp eyed divers can often spot pygmy seahorses. If there’s current, you’ll come across a wide variety of large fish, including Spanish mackerel, giant trevally, red snapper, Napoleon wrasse and giant and Malabar groupers.

You’re certain to see whitetip and grey reef sharks. Look out for manta rays, spotted eagle rays and both green & hawksbill turtles closer to the surface. Other fish that can be seen include rainbow runners, african pompano, angel fish, leaf scorpion fish, fire dart fish and, down deeper, decorated dart fish.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: You must be an Advanced Open Water diver or equivalent and have logged a minimum of 30 dives to join this safari.