Dive-site story
Situated along the South Atoll of Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, this site gets its name from expansive thickets of branching Acropora corals stretching across the shallow reef flat. The plateau transitions rapidly into an oceanic drop-off where currents attract pelagic species out of the deep Sulu Sea. Because Tubbataha is strictly offshore, access is limited to liveaboard vessels during the calm weather window each spring.
Vast fields of intact branching staghorn coral covering the upper plateau
Frequent flybys of oceanic whitetip, grey reef, and whitetip reef sharks along the drop-off
Large schools of bigeye trevally and chevron barracuda milling off the reef edge
Location
Use the map to plan with your operator and confirm the exact entry point on the day.
Seasonality
Park access is strictly regulated and open only during the official liveaboard season when sea conditions in the Sulu Sea are calmest.
Marine life
| Species | Likelihood | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Staghorn CoralAcropora cervicornis | Common | ||||||||||||
| Whitetip Reef SharkTriaenodon obesus | Common | ||||||||||||
| Grey Reef SharkCarcharhinus amblyrhynchos | Common | ||||||||||||
| Hawksbill TurtleEretmochelys imbricata | Common | ||||||||||||
| Bigeye TrevallyCaranx sexfasciatus | Common |
Marine forecast
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