May 1, 2026|Author: Anne Rucquoi|Reading time: 15 mins
Diving Tubbataha Reef is sought after for its incredible marine biodiversity, dynamic underwater terrain, and a wide variety of large marine animals including sea turtles, manta rays, various sharks, including the occasional whale sharks.
Diving Tubbataha Reef is famous for its incredible marinebiodiversity, dynamic underwater terrain, and a wide variety of large marine animals, including sea turtles, manta rays, and various shark species.Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is an isolated and protected marine park that can only be reached by Tubbataha liveaboard. It is arguably themost biodiverse scuba diving destination in the Philippines.
Tubbataha can only be dived via liveaboard during a shortdiving season from March to June each year. Tubbataha liveaboardsfill up early, so plan your trip well in advance!
Intro To Tubbataha Reefs
Tubbataha Reefs is a UNESCO World Heritage sitelocated in the Sulu Sea to the east of Palawan. The region's remote location, combined with challenging access and limited diving season, make it one of the healthiest and least exploited areas of reef in the world. Throughout the 100,000 hectares of the spectacular reef system, divers lucky enough to visit will discover a wide array of pristine coral gardens mixed with steep walls dropping down into the deep blue. Tubbataha Park area isan important fish spawning and breeding site and is significant in terms of global marine life species diversity and richness.
Tubbataha Reefs is divided into three main areas: North Atoll, South Atoll, and Jessy Beazley Reef. Tubbataha liveaboards visit each of the atolls to enable divers to experience a wide variety of Tubbataha dive sites.
Marine Life In Tubbataha Reef
On a liveaboard to Tubbataha, divers are blown away by the never-ending display of multi-colored reef fish, lobsters, stingrays,and turtles on every reef. At deeper spots on the northern side of North Atoll, numerous shark species can be seen, including frequent encounters with white tips, black tips, and grey reef sharks, as well as possible sightings of silky and guitar sharks. The southern side of North Atoll is a hotspot for large pelagics such as giant trevally, tuna, and barracuda, alongside manta rays and turtles. South Atoll is a great hammerhead site, while wrecks on both atolls are fantastic for macro species such as pygmy seahorses, nudibranchs, and tiny crustaceans. The northwestern Jessie Beazley Reef is another area to see hammerhead sharks and other shark species. The fast currents also support huge branching hard corals and all the associated marine life.
1. Amos Rock - Also known as Southwest Rock, this is a popular dive site at the North Atoll of Tubbataha, featuring various types of beautiful corals, massive gorgonian fans, and large fish such as snappers, mackerels, groupers, and the fascinating Napoleon wrasses. Various reef sharks are also commonly seen at Amos Rock and the night dives offer great macro diversity.
2. Washing Machine - Looking for manta rays and sharks? Head to Washing Machine, a dive site in the North Atoll, to ride the currents and encounter all the big stuff.
3. Malayan Wreck - If you are a macro photography enthusiast, you can get some great shots at Malayan Wreck, including nudibranchs, crabs, and shrimps. Wreck divers will also get their dose of adventure and exploration at this Tubbataha dive site.
Check out our list of the best shipwrecks to scuba dive here.
4. Seafan Alley - For exceptionally colorful coral reefs, look no further than Seafan Alley in the North Atoll. Featuring plentiful gorgonian sea fans, make sure to keep a lookout for pygmy seahorses!
5. Shark Airport - Another dive site featuring great shark diving is the aptly named Shark Airport, where you'll find these elegant animals either swimming around or resting along the reef. Due to its strong currents, this dive site is better suited for advanced divers.
Best Time To Dive Tubbataha Reefs
The best time to dive Tubbataha Reefs is limited to its short diving season from March through June, so make sure you plan your trip well in advance. The sea conditions are quite calm during the diving season for Tubbataha liveaboards, which is important for the roughly 10-hour crossing to reach the area from the departure point.
Fly into Manila (MNL) and take a one-hour flight to Puerto Princesa (PPS), the departure point for Tubbataha liveaboards. It takes around 10 hours to get to Tubbataha Reef from Puerto Princesa, giving you time to rest before you begin diving.
How To Dive Tubbataha Reefs
It is only possible to dive Tubbataha Reefs via liveaboard from March to June. There are numerous good liveaboard options in Tubbataha from mid-range boats to luxury yachts.
Topside activities in Tubbataha Reefs are limited to whatever entertainment your liveaboard has to offer. Relax and read a book, sunbathe, and enjoy the scenery during your surface intervals. Tubbataha is also a good destination for snorkeling. Experience more of the Philippines by adding a trip to one of the country's other incredible diving destinations before or after your liveaboard. Discuss the options with your travel advisor to make the most of your trip to the Philippines!
Liveaboards In Tubbataha
Bluewater Travel can book you a liveaboard to Tubbataha, and almost every scuba diving destination you can think of at the same price or even less than booking any other way! Our team of travel advisors knows the boats, diving, and logistics better than anyone else in the industry.
The rates shown below are per person in USD. Some operators may quote in a different currency and the final pricing may vary depending on the latest exchange rates.
Electricity: The standard voltage is 220 V and the frequency is 60 Hz.
Vaccines: Please check the CDC website for updated information on vaccines, health concerns, etc. It is recommended that you are up to date with Typhoid, Tetanus/Diphtheria, Hepatitis, and Polio for any trip to the tropics.
Visa: US citizens may enter the Philippines for purposes of tourism without a visa if they present a valid U.S. passport and a return ticket to the United States, or an onward ticket to another country. Upon your arrival, immigration authorities will stamp an entry visa valid for 30 days on your passport.
Language: Filipino and English are the official languages in the Philippines.
Originally from Belgium, Anne’s love affair with the ocean started early — she took her very first dives at just 12 years old in France. What began as curiosity quickly turned into a lifelong passion that would shape her career, her travels, and her way of life.
Anne became a PADI Instructor in 2015 and went on to work across Southeast Asia, including Koh Phi Phi, the Gili Islands, and Bali, where she also managed a dive resort in Amed. In 2021, she became a PADI Staff Instructor, regularly assisting on instructor-level courses and continuing to deepen her knowledge — because learning, for Anne, never really stops.
Since joining Bluewater Travel in 2022, Anne has combined her hands-on dive experience with her love for travel planning. She has personally explored and dived some of the world’s most iconic destinations, including Ambon, the Banda Sea, Komodo, Raja Ampat, Halmahera, Lembeh, the Maldives, Coron, El Nido, Malapascua, Moalboal, Anilao, Romblon, Tubbataha, and the Red Sea — and she’s far from done. Her goal? To visit every continent and help her clients find trips that truly match their diving style and dreams.
Anne is also a passionate underwater photographer, shooting with a Canon R7 and a carefully curated setup of macro, super-macro, and wide-angle lenses (all proudly sourced from Bluewater Photo). If there’s a tiny critter to be found — or a dramatic reef scene to capture — she’s in her element.
When she’s not underwater or planning dive adventures, Anne is happiest keeping plants alive (a real skill), walking her dogs, rescuing the occasional street animal, and — most of all — meeting her clients whenever possible. For her, travel isn’t just about destinations; it’s about people, connections, and shared stories.
Favorite dive experience? Raja Ampat — especially the biggest oceanic mantas she’s ever seen.
Ultimate bucket-list destination? The Galápagos.
Diving in Tubbataha is an experience that feels like stepping into an aquarium – vibrant, teeming with marine life, and simply stunning. I had the pleasure of visiting in June 2024, and the conditions were absolutely perfect: calm, clear blue waters with no rain, and a water temperature of 29-30°C, which made for very comfortable diving.
The only way to experience Tubbataha’s world-class dive sites is by liveaboard, which allows you to access this remote UNESCO World Heritage site. The reefs here are pristine and well-preserved, with spectacular walls that drop off into the deep blue. It’s a paradise for wall divers, with each dive revealing a breathtaking underwater world. The coral gardens are beautiful, with vibrant soft and hard corals providing shelter for a variety of marine species.
The marine life in Tubbataha is absolutely incredible. Expect to be surrounded by swarms of anthias, schools of jacks, graceful rays, and an abundance of other fish species. The diversity of life here is extraordinary, making every dive unique and thrilling. It truly felt like diving in an aquarium, where every turn introduced new, mesmerizing creatures.
One thing to note is that Tubbataha requires a certain level of experience, as the dives are quite advanced. A minimum of 50 logged dives is required to dive in this area, as currents can be strong and the conditions are best suited for seasoned divers.
Overall, my time in Tubbataha was nothing short of amazing. The combination of beautiful weather, crystal-clear waters, healthy reefs, and abundant marine life made it one of my most memorable diving experiences. If you’re looking for a pristine, world-class diving destination, Tubbataha should be at the top of your list!
Diving in Tubbataha is an experience that feels like stepping into an aquarium – vibrant, teeming with marine life, and simply stunning. I had the pleasure of visiting in June 2024, and the conditions were absolutely perfect: calm, clear blue waters with no rain, and a water temperature of 29-30°C, which made for very comfortable diving.
The only way to experience Tubbataha’s world-class dive sites is by liveaboard, which allows you to access this remote UNESCO World Heritage site. The reefs here are pristine and well-preserved, with spectacular walls that drop off into the deep blue. It’s a paradise for wall divers, with each dive revealing a breathtaking underwater world. The coral gardens are beautiful, with vibrant soft and hard corals providing shelter for a variety of marine species.
The marine life in Tubbataha is absolutely incredible. Expect to be surrounded by swarms of anthias, schools of jacks, graceful rays, and an abundance of other fish species. The diversity of life here is extraordinary, making every dive unique and thrilling. It truly felt like diving in an aquarium, where every turn introduced new, mesmerizing creatures.
One thing to note is that Tubbataha requires a certain level of experience, as the dives are quite advanced. A minimum of 50 logged dives is required to dive in this area, as currents can be strong and the conditions are best suited for seasoned divers.
Overall, my time in Tubbataha was nothing short of amazing. The combination of beautiful weather, crystal-clear waters, healthy reefs, and abundant marine life made it one of my most memorable diving experiences. If you’re looking for a pristine, world-class diving destination, Tubbataha should be at the top of your list!
Tubbataha might be one of the best diving destinations in the Philippines for lovers of clean clear water and healthy reefs filled with marine life. It is a destination that is only accessible via liveaboard so the number of divers in the water is somewhat limited.
During my trip in April 2026, our group experienced 80 foot viz and 86 Fahrenheit water all week. Thermoclines dropped the water to a refreshing 82 degrees.
Most of the dives were drift dives with the current and were very relaxing. We usually started the drift along the wall that has lots of soft corals and large sea fans. Schools of jacks, grey reef sharks and tuns were patrolling the deeper parts of the wall. As we made our way up the wall, there were more hard corals and lots of anthias, big schools of longfin bannerfish, redtooth triggerfish and harlequin sweetlips. The end of the dive and safety stop were spent on the top of the reef that has big coral bommies, massive ball of jacks and schools of barracua, titan and yellowmargin triggerfish, white tip reef sharks and turtles!
Tubbataha might be one of the best diving destinations in the Philippines for lovers of clean clear water and healthy reefs filled with marine life. It is a destination that is only accessible via liveaboard so the number of divers in the water is somewhat limited.
During my trip in April 2026, our group experienced 80 foot viz and 86 Fahrenheit water all week. Thermoclines dropped the water to a refreshing 82 degrees.
Most of the dives were drift dives with the current and were very relaxing. We usually started the drift along the wall that has lots of soft corals and large sea fans. Schools of jacks, grey reef sharks and tuns were patrolling the deeper parts of the wall. As we made our way up the wall, there were more hard corals and lots of anthias, big schools of longfin bannerfish, redtooth triggerfish and harlequin sweetlips. The end of the dive and safety stop were spent on the top of the reef that has big coral bommies, massive ball of jacks and schools of barracua, titan and yellowmargin triggerfish, white tip reef sharks and turtles!
Spent 6 nights on the Philippine Siren at Tubbataha Reef. Boat is comfortable but not 5 star. The liveaboard has a huge dive deck though. Great food and friendly staff. No night dives at Tubbtaha Reef due to all wall dives & current so generally made 4 dives a day with both a early AM dive as well as a sunset dive. Up at 0530 to 0600 most every day. If you don't like wall dives, you will be disappointed.Not very much macro stuff. Lots of small sharks - whitetip, blacktip & grey reef sharks. They were generally sleeping and approachable and sometimes even saw them schooling up to a dozen at a time. A few folks saw a hammerhead shark in early morning, though tough to catch them here-generally shy & mostly deep and early morning.Marbled rays were my favorite and new for me here. I missed the macro here, though a little was available.Saw lots of large dog toothed Tunas, some jacks, anthias and moorish idols. Many huge spiny lobsters that would let you get as close as you wanted to photograph them. Moray eels and several spots with garden eels. Occasional bumphead parrotfish.The diving conditions: Visibility was generally good, though some days was only average. Currents variable and some dive sites (Washing Machine) were a big challenge even for an experienced diver. There are 2 small Islands that you dive here so after getting here not much travelling is needed, so there is not a lot of cruising after the first night.While this is a good spot for scuba diving especially for bigger stuff, I have to say that Indonesia - especially Raja Ampat & Komodo were much better than the Tubbataha Reefs national park, especially when you favor in how remote a spot this is and how long the connecting flights are. This is known as a site for big stuff, so for macro you wouldn't come here anyways.
Spent 6 nights on the Philippine Siren at Tubbataha Reef. Boat is comfortable but not 5 star. The liveaboard has a huge dive deck though. Great food and friendly staff. No night dives at Tubbtaha Reef due to all wall dives & current so generally made 4 dives a day with both a early AM dive as well as a sunset dive. Up at 0530 to 0600 most every day. If you don't like wall dives, you will be disappointed.Not very much macro stuff. Lots of small sharks - whitetip, blacktip & grey reef sharks. They were generally sleeping and approachable and sometimes even saw them schooling up to a dozen at a time. A few folks saw a hammerhead shark in early morning, though tough to catch them here-generally shy & mostly deep and early morning.Marbled rays were my favorite and new for me here. I missed the macro here, though a little was available.Saw lots of large dog toothed Tunas, some jacks, anthias and moorish idols. Many huge spiny lobsters that would let you get as close as you wanted to photograph them. Moray eels and several spots with garden eels. Occasional bumphead parrotfish.The diving conditions: Visibility was generally good, though some days was only average. Currents variable and some dive sites (Washing Machine) were a big challenge even for an experienced diver. There are 2 small Islands that you dive here so after getting here not much travelling is needed, so there is not a lot of cruising after the first night.While this is a good spot for scuba diving especially for bigger stuff, I have to say that Indonesia - especially Raja Ampat & Komodo were much better than the Tubbataha Reefs national park, especially when you favor in how remote a spot this is and how long the connecting flights are. This is known as a site for big stuff, so for macro you wouldn't come here anyways.
