Explore Tubataha Reef

Tubataha Reef is a diver's paradise located in the heart of the Coral Triangle, renowned for its incredible marine biodiversity. As a World Heritage site, it offers a truly unique diving experience, accessible only by liveaboard trips between March and June. This exclusivity ensures that the reef remains a pristine and unspoiled wonder for explorers who make the journey. Divers will find themselves surrounded by over 600 species of fish and 360 species of corals, showcasing the vibrant underwater life that makes this destination so special.

The dive environments at Tubataha are diverse and thrilling, featuring stunning reefs, dramatic walls, and the occasional wreck, each offering a different perspective of the underwater ecosystem. Adventurous divers can encounter more than ten species of sharks, including majestic hammerheads and the elusive whale shark. Dolphins, whales, and nesting sites for Green and Hawksbill sea turtles add to the enchanting experience, making each dive a journey into a mesmerizing underwater world. Whether you're a seasoned diver or new to the sport, Tubataha Reef promises an unforgettable adventure.

Top Dive Sites Map

Mares, Predrag Vuckovic

★★★★★ Staghorn Point

Starting at 7 meters, undulating fields of staghorn coral extending to about 500 meters creep to the edges of a wall that plunges deep at Tubbataha.

374
Logs
284
Divers
24.0 m
⌀ Depth
22.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares

★★★★☆ Southwest Wall

A steep wall that plunges deep where mild currents give you a gentle ride to watch schooling juvenile grey reef sharks numbering anywhere between 20 to 50 swim about.

164
Logs
122
Divers
21.0 m
⌀ Depth
18.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares, Janez Kranjc

★★★★★ Light House - Tubbataha South Atoll

South Atoll - Steep walls, incredible and untouched coral formations, large schools of fish, sharks and large pelagics. An incredible dive for experienced divers

146
Logs
61
Divers
26.0 m
⌀ Depth
19.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Scubapro, Stephen Frink

★★★★★ Triggerfish City

The reef top starts at 5 meters going west inwards where red tooth triggerfish converge, hence the name. Though titan triggerfish are also around to pick up a fight with the unsuspecting diver during nesting season.

215
Logs
176
Divers
24.0 m
⌀ Depth
24.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares, Janez Kranjc

★★★★★ Delsan Wreck

Delsan is considered a top 50 dive destination on the planet. The reef top starts at 5 meters and gently slopes toward the edges of a wall to 23 meters where a crevasse plunging to 40 meters becomes a refuge from the raging current.

598
Logs
283
Divers
29.0 m
⌀ Depth
23.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Aqualung

★★★★★ Black Rock

One of the few known reef manta cleaning stations in Southeast Asia where cleaner wrasse serve to remove dead skin off the mantas’ body. This site is called Black Rock because of a rock at 8 meters where one of the buoys are set up.

600
Logs
305
Divers
25.0 m
⌀ Depth
22.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares

★★★★☆ Ko-Ok

An underrated dive site where tiger shark encounters have been recorded. Undulating sun rays filtering through the asymmetrical arrangement on the steep wall where the reef top starts at 3 meters plunging to incongruent depths lend beauty to Ko-Ok a kin to an abstract Picasso piece of art.

342
Logs
214
Divers
25.0 m
⌀ Depth
22.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares, Janez Kranjc

★★★★★ T-Wreck

The shallow reef top at 5 meters is a feeding ground for the resident schooling bumphead parrot fish, so keep watch when you begin your dive or when doing your safety stop towards the end of your dive. Located on the northern tip of the south atoll, T Wreck is a slanting wall that plunges deep.

65
Logs
60
Divers
25.0 m
⌀ Depth
21.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Scubapro, Stephen Frink

★★★★★ Amos Rock

This site is called Amos Rock due to a distinct rock formation on the reef top at 5 meters where schooling midnight snapper converge. Amos Rock is an alternate dive spot when Amihan winds are blowing at full force, forbidding access to eastern dive spots.

330
Logs
208
Divers
24.0 m
⌀ Depth
23.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares

★★★★★ South Park - Tubbataha

Noth Atoll - Steep walls, incredible and untouched coral formations, large schools of fish, sharks and large pelagics.

330
Logs
175
Divers
25.0 m
⌀ Depth
23.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares

★★★★☆ Wall Street

Further down south along the wall that starts off at Malayan Wreck, ‘Wall Street’ gives credence to its name, a steep wall that plunges deep down 50 – 60 meters & a wonderful colorful coral garden on the reef top at 3 – 5 meters great both for beginning & ending dives.

216
Logs
156
Divers
25.0 m
⌀ Depth
24.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares, Janez Kranjc

★★★★★ Ranger Station - Tubbataha Reef

Noth Atoll - Steep walls, incredible and untouched coral formations, large schools of fish, sharks and large pelagics. An incredible dive for experienced divers.

468
Logs
221
Divers
23.0 m
⌀ Depth
21.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares

★★★★★ Shark Airport

The sloping, terrace-like area of the reef, found at 20 meters, is the highlight of this dive site. This is where several whitetip reef sharks can be spotted all at once. This dive site is very remote and only accessible by a liveaboard boat.

654
Logs
352
Divers
27.0 m
⌀ Depth
22.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Aqualung

★★★★☆ Malayan (Wreck)

A story goes around that in the 70s ‘Malayan,’ a fishing vessel got the heavy brunt of a strong typhoon & smashed onto the shallow reef top at the southwest side of Tubbatahas’s north atoll. It is now called the Malayan Wreck and has settled on the shallow reef top.

461
Logs
264
Divers
25.0 m
⌀ Depth
23.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Aqualung

★★★★☆ Washing Machine

A very special site found in Mindoro, this dive spot will surprise you with a number of small interlocking canyons and swim-throughs, along with beautiful coral.

257
Logs
208
Divers
22.0 m
⌀ Depth
22.0 m
⌀ Visibility

Diving in Tubataha Reef

Tubataha Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a diver's paradise located in the Sulu Sea, Philippines. Known for its vibrant coral walls, the reef offers an array of dive sites appealing to both novices and seasoned divers. Notable sites include the Delsan Wreck, a fascinating exploration for wreck enthusiasts, with its sunken vessel hosting a variety of marine life. This site is renowned for sightings of large pelagics like sharks and manta rays that glide gracefully above the wreckage.

Night dives at Tubataha reveal a different world, as nocturnal creatures emerge, providing unique underwater experiences. While shore dives are limited due to Tubataha's remote location, liveaboard options abound, offering the best access to its diverse marine ecosystem. This balance allows dive travelers to immerse fully in the reef's wonders, ensuring an unforgettable underwater adventure.

The best Months to dive in Tubataha Reef

Tubbataha Reef offers exceptional diving conditions, primarily from mid-March to mid-June when the weather is most favorable. During this period, water temperatures range from 26°C–30°C/79°F–86°F, providing comfortable conditions for divers. Visibility is typically excellent, often exceeding 30 meters/98 feet, allowing for breathtaking views of the underwater scenery.

Outside this optimal window, diving is generally not recommended due to the southwest monsoon, which brings strong winds and turbulent seas. These conditions can significantly reduce visibility and increase the strength of currents, posing challenges for divers. Therefore, planning a dive trip within the peak months ensures a safer and more enjoyable experience on the reef.

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