Tubbataha is a UNESCO World Heritage atoll system in the middle of the Sulu Sea, 150km offshore from Palawan. The park is accessible only by liveaboard and only between mid-March and mid-June — the rest of the year it is closed to all traffic. That protection shows: Tubbataha is genuinely pristine, with sheer walls that drop thousands of metres, dense reef fish populations, regular shark and pelagic encounters, and visibility that often exceeds thirty metres. Trips are typically six-night liveaboards from Puerto Princesa.
The year at a glance
- Water
- 27–29 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- rough
- Rain
- moderate
- Water
- 27–29 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- rough
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 28–30 °C
- Viz
- 25–40 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 28–30 °C
- Viz
- 25–40 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 28–30 °C
- Viz
- 25–40 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 28–30 °C
- Viz
- 25–40 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- moderate
- Water
- 28–30 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- rough
- Rain
- high
- Water
- 28–30 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- rough
- Rain
- high
- Water
- 28–30 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- rough
- Rain
- high
- Water
- 28–30 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- rough
- Rain
- high
- Water
- 27–29 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- rough
- Rain
- moderate
- Water
- 27–29 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- rough
- Rain
- moderate
Signature dive sites
The sites you'll hear about in every briefing.
- 01
Shark Airport
Submerged plateau where whitetip reef sharks rest by the dozen.
- 02
Washing Machine
High-current drift over the southern plateau, often with pelagics.
- 03
Delsan Wreck
Old reef wreck that aggregates jacks, barracuda, and occasional sharks.
What you'll see
Top species with their April status.
Whale Shark
Scalloped Hammerhead
Galápagos Shark
Tiger Shark
Getting there
Gateway
Fly into Puerto Princesa (PPS). Visa: Visa-free for many nationalities, up to 30 days.
Best months
Mar, Apr, May, Jun
Avoid
Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec