Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park

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Hawksbill sea turtle - Shutterstock / AlexRoseShoots
Philippines|Asia
90
Wildlife
22
Access
28
Stay
52
Safety
98
Photo
94
Crowds
24
Cost
78
Birding

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is the Philippines's clearest world-class marine wildlife destination, centered on a remote coral atoll system in the Sulu Sea with extraordinary reef health, large pelagic life, turtles, sharks, cetaceans, and breeding seabirds. It is strongest for divers and marine naturalists who want one of the Coral Triangle's great dream trips, while accepting that the trip is expensive, seasonal, and inherently remote.

29°
Overcast

Gallery

Wildlife Species

Whitetip Reef Shark

Common

Fish · Best time: Clear-water reef dives

Green and Hawksbill Turtles

Uncommon

Reptile · Best time: Throughout reef excursions

Manta Ray and large pelagics

Uncommon

Fish · Best time: Current-swept sites in good season

Breeding seabirds

Uncommon

Bird · Best time: Island and atoll sectors during nesting periods

Geography

Terrain
Remote coral atolls, reef walls, lagoons, open sea, coral islets
Elevation
Sea level
Climate
Hot tropical marine
Area
About 968 km2 protected marine park

Weather

Best Months
MarchAprilMayJune
Avg. Temperature
25-32°C
Rainfall
Marine conditions and liveaboard seasonality strongly shape access, with the main open season concentrated in late spring
Humidity
65-95%

Getting There

Nearest Airport

Puerto Princesa with onward liveaboard departure to the reef system

This is a specialist multi-day liveaboard trip into a remote marine protected area, not an easy day-excursion destination

Transport
  • Dedicated liveaboard diving itinerary
  • Marine megafauna and reef photography expedition
  • High-end coral-triangle natural-history voyage

Where to Stay

Liveaboard dive vessels departing from Puerto Princesa

Premium

Liveaboard · The main practical way to experience the park

Puerto Princesa hotels before and after departure

Budget to Premium

Hotel · Used as staging accommodation

Location

8.9520, 119.8720View larger map

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