Tubbataha Reefs National Park

Tubbataha Reefs Overview

Tubbataha Reefs National Park, locally referred to as Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, is a world-renowned marine protected area situated in the Sulu Sea, about 93 miles (150 kilometers) southeast of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines.

Covering approximately 374 square miles (970 square kilometers), the park includes two atolls—North and South—as well as the smaller Jessie Beazley Reef. Established as a national marine park in 1988 and later designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tubbataha is one of the most important marine biodiversity hotspots in the Coral Triangle, celebrated for its pristine reefs and extraordinary underwater life.

The landscape beneath the sea is nothing short of spectacular. The park consists of extensive coral reef systems, vertical walls, lagoons, and sandy flats, all surrounded by deep sea waters. These formations provide a rich habitat for countless marine species.

Coral coverage in Tubbataha is among the highest in the world, with over 360 species recorded. Hard and soft corals paint the reefscape in vivid colors, creating a dynamic and thriving underwater world. The area is also home to sea grass beds and nesting grounds for marine turtles, making it ecologically diverse and functionally critical.

Tubbataha’s wildlife is exceptionally abundant, with more than 600 species of fish recorded, including large pelagics such as tuna, jacks, barracuda, and groupers. It is also a haven for endangered species such as the green sea turtle, hawksbill turtle, and Napoleon wrasse.

Manta rays, eagle rays, and various species of reef sharks and hammerhead sharks patrol the deeper waters, while whale sharks occasionally visit during migration seasons. Over 100 bird species inhabit the park’s small islets, including colonies of boobies, terns, and frigatebirds. The park also supports large populations of cetaceans such as dolphins and whales in the surrounding deeper seas.

Popular features of Tubbataha include its vertical reef walls, crystal-clear waters, and high visibility, making it a premier destination for scuba divers. Dive sites such as Amos Rock, Shark Airport, and Delsan Wreck are world-famous for their sheer walls and encounters with large marine animals.

Though access to the park is limited to a few months each year—from March to June—due to weather and sea conditions, the short diving season adds to the exclusivity and conservation of the area.

Visitors can only experience the park through liveaboard diving tours, which serve as both accommodation and transportation. These multi-day trips offer guided dives, marine education sessions, and opportunities to photograph some of the most vibrant reef scenes in the world. Because of its protected status, no permanent structures exist within the park, and visitation is tightly regulated.

Tubbataha Reefs National Park is a success story in marine conservation. Challenges such as illegal fishing and climate change remain, but the park benefits from strong governance by the Tubbataha Management Office, effective law enforcement, and high public awareness.

Continuous scientific monitoring, international partnerships, and active community involvement have contributed to the park’s resilience. Its conservation model is considered one of the most effective in the Philippines and serves as an example for other marine protected areas across the globe.

Park Map

Tubbataha Reefs National Park Highlights

Wildlife

Birds

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is world-renowned for its extraordinary birdlife, especially seabirds that depend on the islets for nesting. With minimal human disturbance and protection from predators, it serves as a critical sanctuary for some of the most important colonial seabird species in the region.

Red-footed Booby
Nesting in large colonies in trees or shrubs, this seabird forages far out to sea and returns with fish and squid for its chicks. It is one of the park’s most iconic avian residents.

Brown Booby
Easily recognized by its dark brown body and white underparts, the brown booby nests on open ground and is a frequent diver in the nearby waters for fish.

Great Crested Tern
One of the most common nesting seabirds in the park, it forms noisy colonies on sandy beaches and feeds on small fish by plunge-diving into the sea.

Sooty Tern
A highly aerial bird, the sooty tern spends months at sea and nests in dense colonies on open sand. Its shrill calls are constant during breeding season.

Black Noddy
This sleek, dark seabird nests in trees and low shrubs and is often seen hovering low over the water. It feeds on small fish near the surface.

Brown Noddy
Nesting in crevices or dense vegetation, the brown noddy is a quiet and graceful flier that forages close to shore and in shallow lagoons.

White Tern
Also called the “fairy tern,” this ethereal bird nests directly on tree branches without building a nest. It lays a single egg and returns to the same spot year after year.

Frigatebird (Great and Lesser)
These soaring seabirds are known for their aerial prowess and inflated red throat pouches during mating season. They often harass other birds to steal fish mid-air.

Common Tern
A migratory visitor to the park, the common tern nests seasonally and forages by hovering and diving. It is sleek, fast, and highly vocal during breeding.

Philippine Megapode (unconfirmed presence)
If present, this mound-building bird may use warm sand or sun-heated soil to incubate eggs. It is known from other island reserves and could inhabit vegetated parts of the islets.

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is a remote jewel of biodiversity, where reef, sky, and sand converge to support a delicate balance of marine, reptilian, and avian life—offering a rare glimpse into an untouched world where nature reigns undisturbed.

Tubbataha Reefs National Park, located in the heart of the Sulu Sea, is one of the Philippines’ most important marine protected areas and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While it is celebrated globally for its rich coral reef ecosystem, the two uninhabited islets and reef flats also support a small but critical population of terrestrial and coastal wildlife, including a few resilient mammals and reptiles that have adapted to this remote and isolated marine environment.

Pacific Sheath-tailed Bat (possible presence)
This small insectivorous bat may roost in crevices or old trees on the islets. Active at dusk, it feeds on flying insects and plays an important role in insect population control.

Polynesian Rat (introduced)
A small rodent likely introduced via boats, this species has adapted to island life and feeds on seeds, fruits, insects, and seabird eggs. Management is crucial to prevent its impact on nesting birds.

Green Sea Turtle
While not a land-dwelling mammal, this large marine reptile regularly hauls onto the sandy islets to nest. Females lay eggs on quiet beaches, and hatchlings emerge to return to the sea.

Hawksbill Turtle
Critically endangered, hawksbill turtles are seen foraging in the reef and may also nest on the islands’ shores. They feed primarily on sponges and are vital to coral health.

Monitor Lizard (Varanus species)
A few individuals may inhabit the larger islet, feeding on seabird eggs, insects, and carrion. These lizards are excellent swimmers and are sometimes seen basking in the sun.

Sea Snake (Banded Sea Krait)
Frequently encountered in shallow reefs and reef flats, this venomous but shy reptile comes ashore to rest and lay eggs. It preys on fish and eels in coral crevices.

Geckos (Various species)
Small, nocturnal lizards are commonly found around driftwood, rocks, and vegetation on the islets. They feed on insects and are important for natural pest control.

Hermit Crab (Land-dwelling)
While not a reptile, large land hermit crabs are among the most visible land-dwelling animals, scavenging for plant matter and nesting material, often seen moving between shells and debris.

Coconut Crab (possible but unconfirmed)
This giant terrestrial arthropod may have historically inhabited the islets. It climbs trees, cracks coconuts, and scavenges along the shoreline, though sightings are rare due to its vulnerability.

Sea Turtles (Juveniles)
Aside from nesting adults, juvenile turtles often rest and forage in seagrass beds and sandy reef flats, playing an ongoing role in the park’s marine and shoreline ecosystems.