Sulu Sea is located in the Southeast Asian region known as the Coral Triangle, makes it one of the world's 49 largest marine ecosystems. It actually covers the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. Studies and research shows that it contains more than 30% of the world’s coral reefs. Sulu Sea covers about 260,000 square kilometers with the deepest portion measured at approximately 5,580 meters. Together with the Sulawesi (Celebes) Sea, it comprises one of the world’s 49 largest marine ecosystems.

Data that was gathered from different research shows that the Sulu-Sulawesi Seas have over 450 species of corals. According to the marine biologists who visited and studied the area, it is the center for genetic richness and the diversity of sea grass with 16 known species. Also, found are the some 400 species of marine algae, 6 species of marine turtles and 222 species of marine mammals, most of which are already endangered.

Sulu Sea is a large expanse of water with extensive reef system. It primarily consists of a number of secluded reefs and islets which are considered as good as anywhere in the world. However, some of these are situated in far off locations and so visits are dependent upon weather and sea conditions. The area can have bad weather and the seas can get rough, so it is wise to board the best vessel.

Dive Site in Tubbataha Reefs

TUBBTAHA REEFS (North & South)
The best amongst the reefs in Sulu Sea are those in the eastern part. In the very heart of it lies the TUBBATAHA REEF. These reefs are declared as one of the Philippines National Marine Park and many have considered it as the best that we have in the country. It was also named by UNESCO as one of the World Heritage sites in 1993. In order to protect the reefs the Tubbataha Marine Park Foundation was established in the mid 1980's. The Department of Environment deputized it and Natural resources by patrolling the marine reserve and undertaking preliminary measures such setting up of permanent buoys and moorings. The foundation has been very successful because it prevented the increase of commercial fishing from the illegal fishermen.

Tubbataha Reef is about 182 km (98 nautical miles) south of Puerto Princesa. Puerto Princesa, the capital province of Palawan is the main gateway to Sulu Sea. It is a two-small tropical extensive atoll-like reefs (with inner lagoons) separated by a channel. Topography includes crevices, overhangs, cavelets, gradual slopes and stony corals. In the 1982 countdown they have discovered that Tubbataha has 300 species of corals and 379 species of fish.

On the northeast end of the North Reef is “Bird Islet”, a rookery by sea bird, Brown Boobies and nestling grounds for sea turtles. The north face of the reef has sandy slope with coral heads to 15 meters (50 feet) while the east face is between 14 meters (45 feet) to 20 meters (65 feet), then drops as a wall with caves and crevices to deeper than sports diver can dive. The coral cover is good with lots of stony, leathery and whip corals. Guitar sharks, leopard sharks, whitetip sharks, blacktip sharks, gray reef sharks, nurse sharks, manta rays, blue-spotted lagoon rays, eagle rays, flounders and turtles are just some of the marine life forms you can find. The walls abound with cleaning stations, some of which have magnificent gorgonians. Large fish are plentiful that patrol the walls; dog tooth tuna, jacks, surgeons, unicorns, and snappers still prowl the area. Just about every Pacific reef fish are present like: trumpetfish, corentfish, anthias, damsels, anemones with clownfish, angelfish, scorpionfish, boxfish, peacock groupers, titan, clown, orange-striped triggerfish, redtooth triggerfish, Moorish idols, Star pufferfish, sleeping parrotfish, hawkfish, big wrasse and female Napoleon wrasse.

Night dives are quite interesting because it is when the fish are feeding though current can be a problem to photographers. There is also quite a number of pleurobranchs, crustaceans, morays, garden eels, Feather Duster worms, segmented worms, nudibranchs, crinoids, sea stars, Bohadschia sea cucumbers, basket stars and flashlight fish. Water is generally calm with some swell. Currents can become strong and might change without warning. Visibility can reach to 40 meters (130 feet).

The South Islet, called “Lighthouse”, is a solar-powered lighthouse where gulls and terns rest. On the east side of the lighthouse, is a wreck of the Delsan, an old log-carrier.

The north/northeast of the islet is a rich slope between 10 meters (33 feet) and 20 meters (66 feet) ends in an equally rich wall going deeper. There is some evidence of blast fishing on the reef-top but no signs of damage on the walls, which contains gorgonian sea fans, barrel sponges and soft corals. Pelagic species varies more in this area than the North islet of Tubbataha reef, including mackerel, barracudas and rainbow runners. The caves and crevices contain Spiny Lobsters, squirrelfish, soldierfish, whitetip sharks, nurse sharks, jacks, Emperor and Six-banded angelfish, barracudas, groupers, sweetlips, goatfish, butterflyfish, triggerfish, Green and Hawksbill Turtles, eagle rays and mantas. One portion of the wall is in fact covered with white hyroids. Site is ideal for night dives.

The south/southeast/southwest end almost the same as north/northwest end but with far larger area of shallow reef-top, which have been more, affected by dynamite fishing. But despite of this, the area is still rich with smaller fish, leathery corals, whip corals, sponges, anemones with clownfish, damsel, chromis and anthias. Blue-spotted lagoon rays, sea cucumbers and sea stars are predominant in the sandy patches. The shallow part of the lighthouse has sea grass that attracts turtles. Recently, the area has shown improvement and is now displaying a spectacular growth of corals.

JESSIE BEAZLEY
This reef is 23km (12 nautical miles) northwest of North Islet of Tubbataha. It is a mound of broken coral surrounded by white sand and reef. This tiny islet is almost invisible during high tides. A rich coral slope at 5 meters (16 feet) to 10 meters (33 feet) is a wall often undercut to 40 meters (130 feet) sloping out into infinity. It is known for an amazing overhang that has Tubastrea corals and Blue sponges, crevices, large fans corals, huge grogonian sea fans, black corals and giant barrel sponges. In fact, the reef-top is covered with lettuce and leathery corals teeming with different variety of reef fish.

Schools of snappers, jacks, surgeonfish, groupers, Sabre squirrelfish and bigeyes, Midnight snappers, black and white snappers, jacks, Vlaming’s Unicornfish, rainbow runners, emperors, pennantfish, batfish, spotted sweetlips and lined sweetlips, hawkfish, gobies, blennies, morays, lobsters are always present. Pelagics in the form of whitetip sharks, grey reef sharks, large groupers, Napoleon wrasse, tuna, trevallies, barracudas and mackerels are present. Spiny lobsters can be found in many small holes. Large shoals of fish roam around the area or at times follow scuba divers.

TRAVEL BRIEF
Inbound guests who will be going to Tubbataha has to take domestic flight out of Manila to Puerto Princesa and back. Philippine Airlines and Air Philippines are flying to this route.