Tubbataha South Atoll & Jessie Beazley

Tubbataha South Atoll & Jessie Beazley: A Pelagic Paradise

Prepare for an unparalleled diving adventure at Tubbataha South Atoll and the remote Jessie Beazley Reef, part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park in the heart of the Sulu Sea. This dive site is reserved for advanced divers, and we require an Advanced Open Water certification to ensure you are ready for the exhilarating conditions and incredible encounters that await. Divers will find themselves immersed in a vibrant, protected marine ecosystem, accessible only by liveaboard during the exclusive dive season from mid-March to mid-June.

Diving Conditions & Site Types

Diving in Tubbataha is characterized by its dynamic environment. We regularly encounter strong currents, which are responsible for the phenomenal concentration of marine life, but also necessitate careful dive planning and often the use of reef hooks and SMBs. Water temperatures are consistently warm, typically ranging from 26°C to 30°C, offering a comfortable environment for extended exploration. Visibility is often exceptional, ranging from 20 to 45 meters, providing breathtaking views of the healthy hard and soft corals and massive schools of fish.

The dive sites here predominantly feature dramatic walls and drop-offs that plunge into great depths, often beyond recreational limits. You will also experience thrilling drift dives, explore pristine atoll formations, and discover unique pinnacles and even a wreck. Potential hazardsstrong currents and the possibility of decompression obligation

Iconic Dive Sites of South Atoll

• Black Rock: Located at the northeast corner of South Atoll, Black Rock is a plateau sloping gently from 15 m to 25 m. It's renowned as a cleaning station where divers can observe manta rays, groupers, and turtles being groomed by cleaner fish. Whitetip Reef Sharks are frequently seen here, often resting on the seabed, earning it the nickname "Turtle Highway" and "Trigger Fish City."

• Delsan Wreck: This dive site is named for the remains of a small freighter or barge that ran aground on the southeastern rim of South Atoll; its superstructure still breaks the surface. While the wreck itself serves more as a navigational marker, it's a hotspot for big fish action. Divers will find large schools of Bigeye Trevally, barracuda, and dogtooth tuna. The site is particularly famous for "The Cut," a 30m deep crevasse where Grey Reef Sharks are often found hunting. The anchor crevasse at 40 m is known to host shark and tuna cleaning activity.

• Staghorn Point: Situated at the southern tip of South Atoll, Staghorn Point lives up to its name with dense, undulating fields of staghorn coral starting as shallow as 7 m. This relatively calm-paced dive is perfect for observing numerous Green Sea Turtles, schools of sweetlips, and majestic gigantic sea fans and soft corals along the drop-off. Keep an eye out for Eagle Rays and Devil Rays in the shallows.

Jessie Beazley Reef: The Pelagic Hotspot

Approximately 20 km northwest of the two main atolls, Jessie Beazley Reef is a single, mushroom-shaped pinnacle that offers some of Tubbataha's most thrilling encounters. The reef slopes from as shallow as 7 m to about 12 m before dropping off to depths exceeding 50 m (up to 61 m). This site is widely considered the most reliable spot in Tubbataha for sightings of the magnificent Scalloped Hammerhead Shark and the gentle giant Whale Shark. Divers can also expect to encounter Reef Manta Rays, Blacktip Reef Sharks, Whitetip Reef Sharks, barracuda, Spanish mackerel, Napoleon wrasses, and impressive schools of unicornfish and surgeonfish. The pristine coral gardens here boast some of the highest live coral cover in the Philippines.

Marine Life Extravaganza

Tubbataha South Atoll and Jessie Beazley Reef are teeming with an extraordinary diversity of marine life. Beyond the specific highlights of each site, divers can consistently expect to encounter a vibrant array of species. We frequently spot Whitetip Reef Sharks, Blacktip Reef Sharks, and Grey Reef Sharks patrolling the reefs. The graceful Reef Manta Rays are regular visitors, along with Green Sea Turtles and Hawksbill Turtles. Schools of Bigeye Trevally, barracuda, and tuna are common sights, adding to the exhilarating experience of diving in this world-class marine sanctuary.