Tubbataha Diving and Dive Sites

Tubbataha was declared a National Marine Park in 1988 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. The park is the home of numerous marine species. Tubbataha is a great site for diving. Most divers visit this area because of the chance to see large pelagics such as sharks, mantas, rays, turtles, mackerels, tunas and barracudas but we also saw interesting smaller animals such as nudibranchs, special crabs and shrimps and corals. You'll be amazed at the richness of Tubbataha. The reef you will come across offers the awesome beauty of the underworld. The reef is very rich in fish, large schools of different species practically covering the corals and visibility at some days is just unbelievably good.

Many of the diving operators in Tubbataha offer the live-aboard trips to the reef. You can stay for a few days aboard the vessels, as there is no shelter what so ever and dive into the reef for a wonderful adventure.

The word Tubbataha is from the local word of the Samal people that means "long reef exposed at low tide". Tubbataha is estimated to be 10,000 hectares of coral and other marine life. The reef has two atolls. Tubbataha has very little land. Each reef's atoll is an islet that is two meters above sea level. Shallow lagoons are present in the atolls. 200 to 500 meters of flat reef surround the atolls and it drops steeply into the deep water. At low tide, reef crests are exposed.

The remoteness of Tubbataha has been its greatest advantage, protecting it from exploitation. Tubbataha is open to the shifting winds of the Philippines. The summer months from the end of March to June are the safest time to dive into the reef in Tubbataha.


Following are dive sites in Tubbataha:

North Islet, North Face

North Islet, East Face

North Islet, Southwest Corner

North Islet, Southeast Corner

South Islet, North/Northeast End

South Islet, South/Southeast/Southwest End


Feel the life of the creatures under the sea while diving in Tubbataha. The richness of marine life that the reef offers will keep you in touch with nature.