Tubbataha Reefs
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Why dive in Tubbataha Reefs?
BEST SEASON
Featured Animals 16
- Unlikely
- Likely
- Very likely
Variable Frequent sightingsBlacktip Reef Shark
Carcharhinus melanopterus
A small, agile requiem shark recognized by the distinctive black tips on its dorsal, caudal, and pectoral fins. Commonly found patrolling shallow coral reefs and lagoons, it is one of the most frequently encountered reef sharks in the Indo-Pacific.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsBumphead Parrotfish
Bolbometopon muricatum
The bumphead parrotfish is the largest species of parrotfish, known for the characteristic hump on its head. They are predominantly herbivores, grazing on coral reefs by scraping off algae and live coral, and are often seen in large schools.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsDogtooth Tuna
Gymnosarda unicolor
The Dogtooth Tuna is a large predatory fish commonly found in the Indo-Pacific region. It is recognizable by its elongated body and sharp teeth, allowing it to hunt a variety of marine species.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsGiant Trevally
Caranx ignobilis
The giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis) is a large, powerful predatory fish found throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific region. Known for its steep head profile and robust body, it can reach up to 170 cm in length and 80 kg in weight. This apex predator feeds primarily on fish, but also consumes crustaceans and cephalopods, often hunting in solitary or small groups, though juveniles form schools.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsGreen Sea Turtle
Chelonia mydas
The green sea turtle is a large marine reptile distinguished by its heart-shaped carapace and a single pair of prefrontal scales.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsGrey Reef Shark
Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos
The Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) is a medium to large-sized requiem shark, common in Indo-Pacific coral reefs and adjacent waters. Characterized by its grey body and a distinctive broad black band on the trailing edge of its caudal fin, it is a fast and agile predator. These sharks are known for their social daytime aggregations, which disperse at night for individual hunting.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsHawksbill Sea Turtle
Eretmochelys imbricata
The Hawksbill Sea Turtle is a medium-sized marine turtle recognizable by its distinctive hawk-like beak and overlapping scutes, which create a serrated edge on its carapace. Primarily found in tropical coral reefs, it plays a crucial role in these ecosystems by feeding mainly on sponges, which are toxic to most other animals. This species is critically endangered due to historical exploitation for its beautiful shell and ongoing threats like habitat loss and bycatch.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsHumphead Wrasse
Cheilinus undulatus
The Humphead Wrasse is one of the largest reef fish, identifiable by a prominent hump on its forehead and thick fleshy lips. It is a protogynous hermaphrodite, meaning individuals are born female and some transition to males later in life. This carnivorous species plays a crucial role in coral reef ecosystems by preying on hard-shelled invertebrates and toxic animals like the crown-of-thorns starfish.
BEST SEASON
Cathemeral Frequent sightingsOceanic Whitetip Shark
Carcharhinus longimanus
The oceanic whitetip shark is a large pelagic shark recognized by its broad, rounded fins tipped in white. It inhabits tropical and subtropical open oceans and is an opportunistic predator, feeding mainly on fish, squid, and carrion.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsOcellated Eagle Ray
Aetobatus ocellatus
The Ocellated Eagle Ray, also known as the Whitespotted Eagle Ray, is a large ray characterized by a dark greenish-grey to black dorsal surface covered with numerous white spots, and a white underside. It possesses a flattened, diamond-shaped body, a prominent snout, and a long, whip-like tail armed with venomous spines. This species primarily feeds on hard-shelled invertebrates, such as mollusks and crustaceans, which it crushes with its specialized dental plates.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsReef Manta Ray
Mobula alfredi
The Reef Manta Ray (Mobula alfredi) is a large filter-feeding ray found in tropical and subtropical waters, primarily around coral reefs and coastal areas. Known for its pelagic lifestyle, it feeds on zooplankton and exhibits complex social behaviors, often forming aggregations at feeding or cleaning stations. This species is listed as Vulnerable due to threats from overfishing and its slow reproductive rate.
BEST SEASON
Cathemeral Frequent sightingsScalloped Hammerhead Shark
Sphyrna lewini
The Scalloped Hammerhead Shark is a large, migratory shark easily recognized by the central indentation on its hammer-shaped head. These sharks are found globally in warm temperate and tropical coastal and oceanic waters, often forming large schools around seamounts and islands. They are primarily nocturnal foragers, feeding on a diverse diet of bony fishes, cephalopods, crustaceans, and smaller sharks and rays.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsSilvertip Shark
Carcharhinus albimarginatus
The Silvertip Shark is a large, streamlined requiem shark identifiable by the prominent white tips and trailing margins on all its fins. It is an aggressive apex predator, often dominating other sharks during feeding, and can be found in various tropical Indo-Pacific marine habitats from the surface to considerable depths. While often solitary or in pairs, it can also form small groups or mixed-species aggregations and exhibits variable activity patterns throughout the day and night.
BEST SEASON
Variable Tiger Shark
Galeocerdo cuvier
The tiger shark is a large apex predator recognized by the dark vertical stripes along its body, especially visible in juveniles. It inhabits tropical and subtropical waters and has a highly varied diet, feeding on fish, rays, turtles, seabirds, and other marine animals.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsWhale Shark
Rhincodon typus
The whale shark is the largest fish in the world and a gentle filter feeder.
BEST SEASON
Nocturnal Frequent sightingsWhitetip Reef Shark
Triaenodon obesus
The Whitetip Reef Shark is a slender, medium-sized shark easily identified by the distinctive white tips on its dorsal and upper caudal fins. Primarily nocturnal, it spends its days resting in caves and under ledges on coral reefs and hunts at night for bony fishes, crustaceans, and cephalopods. These sharks are generally social, often found in groups during the day, but can hunt individually or cooperatively.
BEST SEASON
More marine life 66
Barred Thicklip WrasseHemigymnus fasciatus
Bigeye TrevallyCaranx sexfasciatus
Blue-Ringed OctopusHapalochlaena spp.
Blue-barred ParrotfishScarus ghobban
Bluering AngelfishPomacanthus annularis
Bluespotted CornetfishFistularia commersonii
Blunt-head ParrotfishChlorurus microrhinos
Broadclub CuttlefishSepia latimanus
Brownbanded Bamboo SharkChiloscyllium punctatum
Bullethead ParrotfishChlorurus sordidus
Chambered NautilusNautilus pompilius
Clark's AnemonefishAmphiprion clarkii
Clown TriggerfishBalistoides conspicillum
Coconut OctopusAmphioctopus marginatus
Commerson's FrogfishAntennarius commerson
Coral HindCephalopholis miniata
Disco ClamCtenoides ales
Dusky BatfishPlatax pinnatus
Ember ParrotfishScarus rubroviolaceus
Emperor AngelfishPomacanthus imperator
Eschmeyer's ScorpionfishRhinopias eschmeyeri
Fimbriated MorayGymnothorax fimbriatus
Flamboyant CuttlefishMetasepia pfefferi
Garden EelHeterocongrinae
Giant MorayGymnothorax javanicus
Giant Oceanic Manta RayMobula birostris
Giant clamTridacna gigas
Glider FlyingfishCheilopogon atrisignis
Golden SpadefishPlatax boersii
Great BarracudaSphyraena barracuda
Harlequin ShrimpHymenocera picta
Jenkins' WhiprayPateobatis jenkinsii
Kellogg's ScorpionfishScorpaenodes kelloggi
Latticed ButterflyfishChaetodon rafflesii
Leaf ScorpionfishTaenianotus triacanthus
LionfishPterois spp.
Lyretail AnthiasPseudanthias squamipinnis
Moorish IdolZanclus cornutus
Ocellaris ClownfishAmphiprion ocellaris
Orange-lined TriggerfishBalistapus undulatus
Oriental SweetlipsPlectorhinchus vittatus
Ornate Eagle RayAetomylaeus vespertilio
Ornate Ghost PipefishSolenostomus paradoxus
Painted FrogfishAntennarius pictus
Palette SurgeonfishParacanthurus hepatus
Peacock Mantis ShrimpOdontodactylus scyllarus
Pennant CoralfishHeniochus acuminatus
Purple Queen AnthiasPseudanthias tuka
Pygmy SeahorseHippocampus bargibanti
Redtooth TriggerfishOdonus niger
Regal AngelfishPygoplites diacanthus
Ribbon EelRhinomuraena quaesita
Round Ribbontail RayTaeniurops meyeni
Scrawled FilefishAluterus scriptus
Silky SharkCarcharhinus falciformis
Spot-fin PorcupinefishDiodon hystrix
Stellate PufferArothron stellatus
Tawny Nurse SharkNebrius ferrugineus
Teira BatfishPlatax teira
Thorny SeahorseHippocampus histrix
Threadfin ButterflyfishChaetodon auriga
Tomato ClownfishAmphiprion frenatus
Yellow Longnose ButterflyfishForcipiger flavissimus
Yellow-lipped Sea KraitLaticauda colubrina
Yellowfin TunaThunnus albacares
Zebra SharkStegostoma tigrinum
Where is Tubbataha Reefs
Sulu Sea · Philippines
Frequently asked questions about Tubbataha Reefs
When is the best time to dive in Tubbataha Reefs?
The best time to dive in Tubbataha Reefs is from March to June. In those months the water is between 26°C and 30°C.
What marine life can you see diving in Tubbataha Reefs?
Divers can encounter 82 species in Tubbataha Reefs. Highlights include Blacktip Reef Shark, Bumphead Parrotfish, Dogtooth Tuna, Giant Trevally, Green Sea Turtle, and Grey Reef Shark.
When can you see the Blacktip Reef Shark in Tubbataha Reefs?
The Blacktip Reef Shark is most often seen in Tubbataha Reefs from March to June.
When can you see the Bumphead Parrotfish in Tubbataha Reefs?
The Bumphead Parrotfish is most often seen in Tubbataha Reefs from March to June.
When can you see the Dogtooth Tuna in Tubbataha Reefs?
The Dogtooth Tuna is most often seen in Tubbataha Reefs from March to June.
What is the water temperature in Tubbataha Reefs?
Water temperature in Tubbataha Reefs ranges from 26°C in March to 30°C in April.
What wetsuit do I need to dive in Tubbataha Reefs?
Most divers wear a 3 mm wetsuit in March, when the water drops to 26°C, and a rash guard or a 1–3 mm shorty in April, when it reaches 30°C.
What is the visibility like when diving in Tubbataha Reefs?
Visibility in Tubbataha Reefs ranges from 0 m to 45 m. The water is clearest from April to May.
What are the currents like in Tubbataha Reefs?
Divers in Tubbataha Reefs can expect strong, very strong, or moderate currents, depending on the month and the dive site.
What can you see on a night dive in Tubbataha Reefs?
After dark, Tubbataha Reefs reveals nocturnal species such as Whitetip Reef Shark, Brownbanded Bamboo Shark, Chambered Nautilus, Fimbriated Moray, Giant Moray, and Kellogg's Scorpionfish.
Where is Tubbataha Reefs located?
Tubbataha Reefs is a dive destination in Philippines, in the Sulu Sea.
Every answer is built from the conditions and sightings data we keep for Tubbataha Reefs. Spotted something that looks off?
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