Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park

8° 57.2′ N · 119° 52.1′ E

A UNESCO World Heritage marine park in the middle of the Sulu Sea, about 150 km southeast of Puerto Princesa: two uninhabited atolls and Jessie Beazley Reef, with 30-45 m visibility, hammerheads and reef sharks, manta rays, hawksbill and green turtles and more than 1,000 species. Regarded as one of the world's finest dive destinations.

Practical

Coordinates from Wikipedia (GeoHack) for the park; it covers 97,030 ha. No facilities: everyone lives aboard. Season mid-March to mid-June only, when the seas are calm. Every vessel needs a Vessel Entry Permit and every visitor a Visitor Entry Permit with conservation fees paid in pesos before entry (see the permit entry). Private and non-commercial trips are limited to 7 days. The IMO designated Tubbataha a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area with an Area To Be Avoided in 2017, after a string of groundings (Rainbow Warrior 2005, USS Guardian and the fishing vessel Min Long Yu 2013): approach only in daylight with good light, keep an exact plot, and do not trust charts near the reef edge. Marine park rangers based on the North Atoll patrol the park with boats and radar. Strictly no-take; single-use plastics are banned; drones need a separate permit. Nearest help and supplies: Puerto Princesa, 10-12 hours away by liveaboard.

Best for

World-class wall diving for a self-sufficient, well-found yacht with permits in hand

Season

Mid-March to mid-June only

Practical

Best for

Season

Nearby