Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park✓ data verified

Philippines · Asia · Sulu Sea

4.0
/ 5
★★★★☆
Wall-and-reef diving with visibility up to 30 m, 4 standout species, liveaboard access, challenging currents — a strong choice for experienced divers.
🏆 Best marine life
Level Advanced
Marine life
4.5
Visibility
5.0
Accessibility
2.5
Facilities
2.0

Pros

  • Excellent visibility up to 30 m
  • 4 standout marine species
  • Best conditions in Mar–Jun

Cons

  • Strong currents — skilled divers only
  • Very deep dives to 100 m
  • Liveaboard-only access

Best for

Big-marine-life fansLiveaboard tripsClean-water photography

Not for

Absolute beginnersDay-trippers without a boatDivers without deep-dive training

Plan your trip

$$$$
🛏️
Suggested stay
5–7 days
💸
Cost level
Relative cost $$$$ · ≈ $71/day
Liveaboard safari diving is premium (accommodation + charter).
🏨
Where to stay
Liveaboard cruises are the signature here — many divers sleep on board. A quiet, remote site — book lodging well in advance.
🧭
Real daily cost in Philippines
Around $71/day per person · food $24 · hotel $46
Country costs →Best dive sites in Philippines
Good to know
  • Expect strong current — run drift dives with an experienced local guide.
  • Conditions can be demanding; dive with an operator who knows the site.
  • Built for experienced divers — an Advanced Open Water cert is a good idea.
  • Prime season is Mar–Jun.
Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park
📷 Ron Van Oers · CC BY-SA 3.0 igo
Depth
5–100 m (16–328 ft)
Visibility
30 m (98 ft)
Water temp
26–30°C (79–86°F)
Current
Strong
Best season
Mar–Jun
Certification
Advanced
Dive shops
0
Live sea temperature · … (Open-Meteo)

Why go

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park sits in the Sulu Sea off Philippines, a wall and reef system where dives drop from shallow tops into deeper water. Dives run to 100 m with around 30 m visibility, strong currents and sea temperatures of 26–30°C. Marine highlights include hammerhead sharks, manta rays, turtles and schooling jacks. Best season is Mar–Jun, typically reached by liveaboard. Built for experienced divers. An Advanced Open Water certification is recommended. Strong currents and dives to 100 m call for solid buoyancy and comfort at depth.

Site type
ReefWall
Access
Liveaboard

Marine life

hammerhead sharksmanta raysturtlesschooling jacks
Coordinates
8.85, 119.90
Country
Philippines

Notes from divers

Traveler

Came hoping for hammerhead sharks, and it delivered. The 30 m visibility kept everything sharp.

Instructor

Solid choice for experienced divers. With a range down to 100 m there's room to work without pushing boundaries.

Anonymous

Really enjoyed it. Just watch your buoyancy when you drop in.