Tubbataha Reefs: A Liveaboard Diving Guide
Contents
In the middle of the Sulu Sea, Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park covers 96,828 hectares and includes the North and South Atolls and Jessie Beazley Reef.[1] Walls drop more than 100 metres, lagoons shelter turtles and white tip sharks, and the nearest hotel is a sea crossing away. The park has no facilities, so every visit is a liveaboard trip and you sleep on the boat.[2]
Understand the reef layout
The UNESCO World Heritage listing describes pristine reefs with extensive reef flats, perpendicular walls reaching over 100 metres depth and large areas of deep sea. Tiger sharks, cetaceans and turtles live here, along with big schools of barracuda and trevallies, and the park holds the highest densities of white tip reef sharks known in the world. The reefs support about 360 coral species and an estimated 700 fish species, and the islets are breeding grounds for seabirds.[1]
The sites vary with each itinerary. One operator's sample week includes Shark Airport, Black Rock, the Delsan and Malayan wrecks, Seafan Alley, the Terraces and both sides of Jessie Beazley Reef, with the route chosen by the captain according to weather and regulations.[3]
Things to Do
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GetYourGuide partner offers. GoAsia may earn a commission if you book through these offers. Check whether tickets or transfers are included, and follow the attraction's official booking and admission rules.
Plan around a liveaboard
Most scuba divers book a liveaboard and fly to Puerto Princesa, the jump-off point, for a sea crossing of 10 to 12 hours.[2] Operators usually arrange the transfers for their guests, so ask whether airport, hotel and port transfers are included. Commercial dive tours can stay 5 to 7 days or longer, as stated in the entry permit.[2]
Dive operators with permits to run tourism in the park arrange and sell the trips, while the Tubbataha Management Office (TMO) issues the entry permits.[2] Costs depend on the boat and the number of diving days and range from US$1,000 to over US$4,000, and people book as early as a year in advance.[2] Non-divers can snorkel, and some operators offer diving courses.[2]
The TMO list of accredited liveaboards includes Atlantis Azores, Almaroon Explorer and Intrepid, Philippine Siren 2, Seadoors, Zamerdius, Infiniti, Resolute, Oceana Maria and Narayana.[4] Almaroon Divers sells its Tubbataha trips from March to June, with an 8 to 10 hour crossing from port on its sample itinerary.[3] Ask the operator for dated departures.
Check permits and fees
The TMO permits and fees page lists visitor entry at PHP 5,000 per person and divemaster entry at PHP 500 per person. Conservation fees are paid in Philippine currency before the entry permit is issued, and minors aged 12 and under are exempt.[5] Ask your operator whether the fee is included in the boat quote. Drone use needs a separate permit.[5]
Questions to settle before booking
| Topic | Ask the operator |
|---|---|
| Dates and route | Which departures are available, where the boat leaves from and what the itinerary includes |
| Transfers | Where you meet in Puerto Princesa and whether airport, hotel or port transfers are included |
| Permits and costs | Who arranges your visitor permit, which park fees are in the price and what you pay separately in Philippine currency |
| Diving fit | Required certification or recent experience, planned dive profiles, rental gear and onboard safety |
Get these details in writing before you pay a deposit.
Visit with care
Tubbataha is a protected marine park with a no-take policy, which is why the reef life is so dense.[1] Follow your operator and the park rangers, keep your equipment under control around the reef and never touch coral or wildlife. Tell the operator about your experience, health and equipment needs in advance so they can tell you whether the trip suits you.
Sources and background
Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.
- [1] UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
- [2] Tubbataha Management Office: About Tubbataha. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
- [3] Almaroon Divers: Tubbataha. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
- [4] Tubbataha Management Office: Dive Operators. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
- [5] Tubbataha Management Office: Permits and Fees. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
The park includes the North and South Atolls and Jessie Beazley Reef in the middle of the Sulu Sea, covering 96,828 hectares of reef walls, lagoons and deep sea. Whale sharks, white tip reef sharks and turtles are among its residents, though no sighting is guaranteed.
Most divers book a liveaboard and fly to Puerto Princesa, the jump-off point, for a sea crossing of 10 to 12 hours. Operators usually arrange the transfers, so ask what your booking includes.
The Tubbataha Management Office gives 10 to 12 hours by sea from Puerto Princesa. One operator's sample itinerary lists an 8 to 10 hour crossing, so confirm the exact timing with your boat.
No. The park has no facilities, so everyone stays aboard the liveaboard for the whole trip. Meals and accommodation are part of the boat arrangement.
The Tubbataha Management Office lists PHP 5,000 per visitor and PHP 500 per divemaster, payable in Philippine currency before the entry permit is issued. Minors aged 12 and under are exempt.
It depends on the operator, so ask for an itemised quote that shows the permit arrangements and anything you pay separately in Philippine currency. Liveaboard trips cost from US$1,000 to over US$4,000.
Requirements depend on the boat and itinerary. Send the operator your certification and recent dive experience, and ask about planned dive profiles, conditions and equipment before you pay.
