Image: Destination image
DESTINATION / PHILIPPINES
The crown jewel of the Philippines - only accessible by liveaboard, and worth every mile
Image: Destination image
Visibility
35m
Water Temp
28C
Max Depth
40m
Current
Moderate to Strong
Difficulty
Intermediate
Best Season
Mar-Apr-May-Jun
Certification
advanced open water
Budget
$$$ Premium
Sharks
Manta Rays
Whale Sharks
Turtles
Coral
Macro
Pelagics
Dolphins
Depth: 10-35m | Intermediate
A submerged seamount with incredible fish density, frequent marble ray sightings, and drop-offs patrolled by grey reef sharks.
Marble rays, grey reef sharks, schooling fish
Depth: 10-40m | Intermediate
A dramatic wall dive with sheer drop-offs, passing sharks, turtles, and eagle rays against a backdrop of pristine soft corals.
Dramatic walls, sharks, turtle encounters
Tubbataha is open just three months a year and accessible only by liveaboard. Late-season dives deliver whale sharks on the north atoll, tiger sharks cruising the walls, and mantas at cleaning stations on nearly every dive. The reefs are UNESCO-protected, with some of the healthiest coral in the Philippines. No villages, no resorts, no day boats — just ten liveaboards, forty divers each, and a hundred thousand hectares of pristine ocean. Tubbataha is what the Coral Triangle looked like fifty years ago.
Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Jun. Peak: Apr-May. Water: 26-30C.
advanced open water certification recommended. Minimum 20+ dives.
$220/day average. premium tier. Liveaboard: available.
Tubbataha Reefs dives best from Mar, Apr, May, Jun, with the peak season running Apr to May. During these months you can expect the calmest seas, the clearest water, and the highest chance of encountering the marine life this destination is known for. Water temperature sits at 26-30C, so a 3mm wetsuit or skinsuit is all you need in the tropics.
For divers who are flexible, the shoulder months just outside peak season offer nearly identical conditions at 20-30% lower prices and with far fewer boats on the water. The only periods to avoid are the wet or cyclone windows - check the seasonal calendar below and on the dive operator websites before locking in flights.
Visibility at Tubbataha Reefs averages 35 meters, which ranks among the clearest dive destinations in its ocean. Early morning dives consistently deliver the best visibility and the most active marine life, which is why local operators schedule most boat departures before 9am.
Getting there: Fly into Puerto Princesa (PPS). From the airport, dive operators and hotels usually arrange transfers - budget 30 minutes to several hours depending on whether your resort or liveaboard is based on the mainland, an offshore island, or a distant atoll.
Time and money: The local timezone is UTC+8. A day of guided diving averages $220 at this $$$ Premium tier destination. Liveaboard safaris are available for multi-day trips to remote reefs.
Who this suits: With a Intermediate difficulty profile, a beginner-friendliness score of 2/5, and a minimum of 20 logged dives recommended, Tubbataha Reefs is best suited to divers with some experience who are comfortable with its conditions. Consider it a dedicated diver destination rather than a family resort pick.