Scuba Diving Destinations:

Tubbataha Reefs - Diving in the Philippines

Destination: Pacific Ocean, Philippines, Tubbataha Reefs

The Tubbataha Reefs can not be visited all year around and can not be reached easily, but waiting for the right moment and the right way to arrive is worthwhile. This area can only be reached by live board boats and divers can not go between July and February, which reduces the visits season to the months of March, April, May and June.

The reefs which divers would find in this area are mostly deep vertical reefs and it is not recommended for non experienced divers to visit them. Due to the area's characteristics, it is highly recommendable to make sure you have the proper level of diving expertise before choosing this destination.

Divers who visit the Tubbataha Reefs should also be sure to know how to dive in currents, since currents are a common factor in the area and could become a risk for those who would not know how to manage them. Experienced divers who enjoy challenges and drift diving would probably be able to have a great time at Tubbataha Reefs.

Bird Island is one of the most visited Tubbataha Reef spots. This diving spot consists on a vertical wall with important crevices and overhangs as well as strong currents at some particular areas. Among the marine creatures and formations which divers could find while visiting this spot there are sharks, garden eels and hard corals.

Another Tubbataha Reefs diving spot is the one known as Amos Rock or Southwest Rock. Amos Rock allows divers to practice wall diving while observing a very beautiful underwater environment full of exotic corals, gorgonian fans, gray reef sharks, and white tip reef sharks. Those divers who enjoy practicing this sport during night can also fulfill their wishes in this area since night diving is often practiced by visitors.

The Black Rock is a diving spot located at the south area of the Tubbataha Reefs. This spot offers divers a steep wall mixed with sandy channels. Although corals are not abundant in this area, it does contain a wide amount of marine creatures which are worthwhile to observe, among which we can name manta rays and sharks of different types.





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