We took a flight from Manila to Puerto Princesa and then a short van ride to the port and the Atlantis Azores liveaboard, setting out then for an overnight cruise to Tubbataha.
It was a true privilege to dive at the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tubbataha includes two large atolls and the smaller Jessie Beazley Reef, 93 miles southeast of Puerto Princesa. For diving it is accessible only by liveaboard boats, March through June. There were a number of boats present but crews work to coordinate their activities so that dive sites do not get crowded. Diving can be a challenge, as currents are hard to predict and often change mid-dive. The challenges are worthwhile given the beauty of the pristine reefs and walls. We enjoyed very healthy hard and soft corals, huge sea fans, enormous barrel sponges and abundant sea life. There are a few areas of coral rubble, resulting from past typhoon damage, but even those show new life creeping in.
Huge schools included trevally, Bumphead Parrotfish, barracuda, sweetlips, anthias, Gray Reef Sharks and Sailfin Snappers. We noted morays, Green Sea and Hawksbill Turtles, scorpionfish, triggerfish, Pigmy Seahorses, Napoleon Wrasse, angelfish, batfish, lobsters, Marble and White Tail Rays and Garden Eels.
We made four dives a day for five days, one night dive in the calm area near the Ranger Station, and two dives at Jessie Beazley Reef on our last dive day. Dives were done from two rigid inflatables, boarded by ladder from the Azores, with short rides to and from the Azores.
Our visit included a stop at the ranger station, elevated above the reef on stilts, where rangers serve two months at a time. They also sell a variety of attractive tee shirts, hats and other small items.
The Atlantis Azores crew was wonderful, highly attentive to preserving the beauty of Tubbataha and clearly enjoying their jobs. Food was great with an excellent variety for each meal. Our cabin was small but comfortable and the boat includes a large dining area with adjacent lounge, dive deck with plenty of room for cameras and a partly covered open top deck.
Our cruise back to Puerta Princesa was a bit rough but we had plenty of time for drying and packing of gear. The Atlantis staff was ready at the dock with boarding passes for the short flight back to Manila. We enjoyed an overnight stay there and then a pleasant overnight flight back to Honolulu.
Link to photos is below:
