Dive Tubbataha
Tourism plays an important role in Tubbataha - it provides the income needed to run the park and increases awareness and support for the reefs' conservation. Visitors come from around the world to experience Tubbataha's natural beauty and incredible dive opportunities.
- The dive season usually runs from March until June. This time of year typically gives outstanding diving conditions - clear skies, flat seas and excellent visibility (30 to 45 meters).
- Each visitor to Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park pays a Conservation Fee of PhP3,000 (roughly $60). This revenue is used to manage, maintain and improve the park - from law enforcement and education campaigns to training Park Rangers.
- When diving in Tubbataha, everyone must follow the Park Rules and Regulations . In doing this they help to protect the reef from destruction and exploitation.
- A range of dive companies offers liveaboard trips to Tubbataha. Link to dive operators.
- To reach the Park, tourists generally take an hour's flight from Manila to Puerto Princesa City. Dive operators transport the guests from the airport to the wharf, some 5 minutes' drive away, to the dive boat. Most of the vessels leave after dinner and arrive in Tubbataha at around 6 a.m. Some slower vessels, however, leave the wharf earlier in order to arrive in the Park at first light.
Dive Season
Fees
Rules
Dive operators.
Getting there
World Heritage Expeditions
World Heritage Expeditions are still being developed by WWF-Philippines in collaboration with Adventure and Expedition Phil., Inc. (AEPI), a private tour operator. Designed specially for non-divers, these 5-day trips run every summer and feature Three World Heritage Sites:
- Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National
- Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, Palawan
- Miagao Church, Iloilo.
The tour also includes meeting the people and experiencing the beauty of the island of Cagayancillo.
For more information, please contact
WWF - Palawan
Telfax: 48 434 2100
Email: mdygico@wwf.org.ph
Caring for the Reef
- DON'T GET TOO CLOSE! To prevent accidental contact you should stay a safe distance from marine life - brushing against coral could give you a painful scratch or a scrape and may kill the fragile coral polyps.
- Don't touch any marine animal and avoid wearing gloves - gloved divers tend to touch marine life recklessly.
- Don't chase, grab or block the path of any free-swimming marine animal - imagine how you'd feel if a shark were to do this to you!
- Don't collect anything from within the park - even dead corals and shells are home to other marine organisms.
- Always enter and exit the water in a deep or sandy area, where there is no coral growth.
- Always check that you are properly weighted and practice your buoyancy control in an area where you cannot damage anything.
- Take care not to disturb the sand - sediment and sand that land on living coral can smother and kill it.
- Do not leave any trash and please pick up any litter that you find in or out of the water.
- Please do not sacrifice any marine creatures whilst you are looking for that 'perfect shot'.
Encounters with Marine Life…
Navigating the Waters…
Leave No Trace…
For Photographers…
Story from the Reefs
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