Tubbataha Reef is nominated as one of the 7 Wonders of Nature in the World, making it the one and only entry of the Philippines to the prestigious search for new world wonders.

If you are looking for a great places to dive Tubbataha Reef, Palawan is the place to be. This marine sanctuary is located in the Middle Central Sulu Sea, 98 nautical miles southeast of Puerto Princesa City Palawan, the Philippines. It was declared the World Natural Heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on December 1993, it is under protective management by the Department of National Defense (DND). It is under technical supervision by the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) & the Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR).

The diving here is considered some of the best in the world. The reef lies 182 km southeast of Puerto Princesa. You will find over one thousand species in the reef; many are already endangered species some of these species are manta rays, lionfish, pawikan or tortoise, clownfish, and sharks. This marine sanctuary is only reachable by live-aboard boats which can be found in Puerto Princesa itself. Despite its inaccessability, the reef is extremely popular with adventurous divers, marine biologist and professional marine photographers. So early booking of a live-aboard vessel is advised to avoid disappointment.

The fish also often move in shoals, meaning hundreds and even thousands, making them appear like one large animal to protect them from bigger predators like sharks.

The coral garden in the north reef, at just 25 feet, is colorful and teeming with fish. The coral formation is like a sculpture; some coral tower as high as three feet, which is unusual since corals only grow between one and 10 centimeters every year.

Marine tourism lovers as well as the seasoned local and foreign travelers continue to swarm the jewel of Palawan, that is, the Tubbataha Reef.

Derived from two Samal words meaning “long reef” exposed at a low tide, Tubbataha is the largest coral reef and first natural World Heritage Site of the country.

Tubbataha Reef has been included in the search of the “7 Wonders of Nature in the World.” In fact, Tubbataha garnered one of the slots.

Trips to Tubbataha from mid-March to mid-June are all vessel-based and require planning for a minimum of six weeks prior to departure. To reach the place, take a 70-minute flight from Manila to Puerto Princesa City. From the airport, a shuttle bus takes you to the dive boat. Boat ride from Puerto Princesa City takes approximately 12 hours.

It covers some 33,200-hectare community of diverse corals, fishes and other forms of aquatic life. It is a dream destination for divers and marine scientists. It is home to more than 300 coral species, at least eight species of marine mammals, 380 species of fish, seven species of sea grass and 71 species of marine algae.

North Tubbataha is an easy, worry-free dive – no strong currents, good visibility, and no technical problems. Its twin atolls form the epicenter of marine life that also serves as a fish nursery for the greater Sulu Sea and the surrounding islands. Tubbataha thus contributes significantly to the country’s food security.

The preservation of this biodiversity, which compares favorably with the richest and most abundant marine areas in the tropical world, contributes immensely to the long-term maintenance of the marine species and their genetic diversity in this part of the world.

For the past years, the Philippine Navy and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-Philippines have been working hand in hand to patrol the area against illegal activities. Rangers are assigned to protect the area as well as to help tourists and divers who visit the reef.