Looking at my dive computer I've not been in the water for ages and I need a good diving fix. So reliving a trip to Tubbataha is the perfect place to start. A series of large shallow reefs in the middle of the Sulu Sea the almost 400 square mile marine park includes the two large Tubbataha atolls and smaller Jessie Beazley Reef. The surrounding waters are around 750m deep and the upwelling currents bring up plankton and other nutrients.
The site is a UNESCO world heritage site and home to over 350 species of coral and 700 species of fish including reef sharks which you see on every dive, Tiger and whale shark in season and if your lucky manta. Because of the large amounts of fish and sharks it’s a prime spot for illegal fishing and there is a small ranger station built on stilts on one of the reefs staffed by Philippines Navy and army and a couple of marine rangers they are out there for 3 months at a time. So not exactly a plumb posting. It’s a big area so they have their work cut out.
Because of the location the only way to dive Tubbataha is by liveaboard and it also has a short season March to June so diving tends to be exclusive and expensive. I have been lucky enough to go twice. It really is in the middle of nowhere. All of the boats leave from Puerto Princesa on Palawan and it’s and overnight trip out to the reefs 150 miles away.
Once you’re there the area is large enough that even with quite a few boats you will rarely see divers from other boats in the water.
But you will see sharks on every dive.
If you’re not in to sharks there are plenty of other fish to keep you happy.
Lots of different rays such as marble stingrays
And eagle rays.
And loads of small stuff like nudibranchs.
So there you have it Hivers a pleasant morning going over my old dive photos from Tubbataha to provide a quick diving fix due to lack of vitamin sea.