^{A Diver with Green Sea turtle}

The word tubbataha is a combination of two Samal words: tubba and taha, which together means

 "a long reef exposed at low tide". Historically, Samal people who have a nomadic lifestlye,

visit the reef from time to time. Although people from the islands of Cagayancillo are frequent visitors of the reef.

 They used the native vessel pangko to sail and fish on "Gusong", their local name for the Tubbataha.^[8]

Tubbataha is located in the Sulu Sea, 98 nautical miles (181 km) southeast of Puerto Princesa City in the Palawan

 Province according to its official website^[2] but it is 150 km southeast of Puerto Princesa City according to

 UNESCO.^[4] The reef is made up of two coral atolls divided by an eight-kilometer (5 miles) wide

 channel and the smaller Jessie Beazley Reef located about 20 kilometres north of the atolls.

 The South Atoll is five kilometers in length and three kilometers in width; while the North Atoll,

the larger of the two is 16 kilometers (9.9 mi) long and five kilometers (3 miles) wide. Each reef has a single

small islet that protrudes from the water. The atolls are separated by a deep channel 8 km (5.0 mi) wide.

The Tubbataha Reef is considered as one of the most untouched coral reef formation that remains in the world

today. It is composed of two huge coral atolls, or ring-like coral islands that enclose a lagoon –

the north and south atoll. There is a smaller reef, only half a kilometer in diameter called Jessie Beazley Reef

located 20 kilometers north of the atolls.
The 97,030-hectare park is also a global priority for conservation. It is home to about 600 species

 of fish (13 of which is in danger of extinction), 360 species of corals (comprising about half of all coral species

 in the world), 11 species of shark (7 are endangered), 13 species of dolphin and whales and 100 species of birds.

 It is also home to the critically endangered Hawsbkill and Green sea turtles and the last surviving colonies of

 breeding seabirds in Southeast Asia.

As a world heritage site, the Tubbataha Reef has an outstanding universal value.

This means that it does not belong to the Philippines alone. It is considered as a world treasure.

 Hopefully, a solution to the ship’s extraction must be made soon for no amount of monetary compensation

can make up for the thousand years’ formation of the Tubbataha Reef.

The Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park has been expanded from 33,200 hectares to 96,828 hectares through

Presidential Proclamation 1126 signed on August 23, 2006. This puts a larger chunk of our ocean under protection.

Although it increases the challenge for management, we all feel up to it because we believe conserving the marine

 environment is worth the sacrifice.

  Green Buckner

There are no settlements on the islets or reefs. Fishermen visit the area seasonally, establishing shelters on

the islets. The park is visited by tourists, particularly divers. Trips to Tubbattaha from mid-March to mid-June are

 all vessel-based; the park is about ten hours by boat from Puerto Princesa City.^[23] Tubbataha is considered as

 one of the best dive sites in the world according to CNN Travel^[24] and during the "Tubbataha Season",

 ships dedicated for diving are usually booked years in advance^[10] especially during the Asian holidays of Easter

and "Golden Week".

The Tubbataha National Marine Park is open to liveaboard diving excursions between the months of April to June.

 It is in this period where the waves are most calm. As of March 2011, the park entrance fee for individuals is pegged at USD $75.00 or PHP 3,000.00.^[25] In September 2010, Palawan governor Abraham Kahlil Mitra announced that local

 residents of Palawan province can enter the Tubbataha Reef without paying the conservation fee.^[26] It is advised

that divers book their trips towards the middle or end of April as calm seas from April to June has a short window.^[27] Strong waves may cause problems for dive excursions and underwater visibility.

Although the sand bars around Tubbataha are considered off limits to human beings, tourists are allowed to set foot at the Ranger Station where they can purchase souvenirs and tour the facility.