The Best of Tubbataha Natural Reef

The Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is a marine protected area located in the middle of Sulu Sea in the Philippines, at the heart of the Coral Triangle - the geographic center of the world marine biodiversity. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site since 1993, it is home to no less than a thousand of animal species, including 600 fish species, 360 corals species, 11 sharks species, 13 dolphins and whales species, 100 bird species, and also nesting hawksbill and green sea turtles. It was recognized as one of the Philippines’ oldest ecosystems, containing excellent examples of pristine reefs and a high diversity of marine life. 

A typical expedition starts from either the north atoll or south still on the first dive day, and ends in the other atoll on the last dive day. Some dive spots worth watching out for in the North Atoll are Shark Airport (for sharks), Malayan wreck (fish, parrotfishes, sharks), Sea fan Wall (gorgonians and turtles), Wall street (fish and sharks), Amos Rock and Washing Machine. In the South Atoll are Dalsan Wreck (sharks), Blackrock (hammerheads) and Staghorn point. Jessie Beazley is another spot that may be visited if currents are permitting. It has the most diverse marine life among the reefs. 

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is an important asset for global conservation, as 181 of the species found there are threatened to some degree, from Vulnerable to Critically Endangered. Tubbataha is a breeding and rookery ground for many species of migratory and resident seabirds. 

Because it’s so far from land, Tubbataha only started to feel the effects of human exploitation in the 1980’s. Recognizing its great biodiversity value, the government of the Philippines first protected the area through legislation in 1988. Protective regulations have only been strengthened since then, leading to international recognition including its Platinum Blue Park award.

Record of my personal sightings in Tubbataha

in my 4 x (four) times in Two years diving there

(Most recent was June 2024)

The experience would definitely be different for every diver’s trip. Call it luck or fate,

if the precious BIG 4 (Any of whaleshark, manta, tigershark, hammerheads)

happen to be passing on one of your one hour dives out of 18dives in those 5 diving

days, then you are indeed fortunate.

I have seen in all of my trips in Tubbataha an oceanic Manta Ray, so graceful

underwater! Both of our groups have seen the Mantas so we were pretty lucky.

Athough I wasn’t lucky enough to see the other BIG 3 (whaleshark, tiger and hammer)

in Tubbataha, I have seen whalesharks in other locations in the Philippines plenty of

times. There was a report in other boat that they have seen whaleshark on their

dives. The tiger was seen in shallow water (2 -10meters) many times in February at

Jessie Beazley, and even near the Ranger station top reef. While in some occasion,

hammerhead showed up in school in the blue water as well for other boats/ groups.

Keep in mind that these big sharks much prefer colder waters in the deep so the

season when the water is cooler are months of Mid-February until 1 st week of March

before the Philippines peak summer hot months and then again, the sea cools off in

the transition of 2nd week of June to 1st week of July, could be greater chance to see the deep creatures going a bit shallower, thus we could spot them!

Definitely the experienced Dive guides would try their best to spot the Big 4,

however they cannot guarantee a 100% absolute chance to see all of them, even a

promise to see one. It is a big ocean, not a zoo that they are being hand-fed, so they are wild animals that we can only hope for to spot on any of our dives. Every season of every year’s trip is different, with the climate change and many other factors affecting the ocean, the marine animals population or their migration change as well.

Nevertheless, Tubbataha offers a chance for us divers to encounter a vast variety of

pelagic animals. Large schools of barracuda are a spectacular sight, massive tunas, large school of jacks and trevallies as well and various shark species are common like: Black tip, white tip, silver tip and grey reef sharks!

Thanks to the park's remote location and strict conservation measures contribute to

the abundance and diversity of its marine life, making it a premier destination for

encountering pelagic animals.