Discover
Discover
Tubbataha lies in the middle of the Sulu Sea, with the North and South Atolls and Jessie Beazley Reef. UNESCO calls it an outstanding example of an atoll reef with a very high density of marine species, a 100-metre vertical wall, extensive lagoons and coral islands where seabirds and turtles nest.
History
History
Tubbataha was inscribed in 1993 and extended in 2009. The area was once fished, and at times destructively. Protection and a ban on taking marine life have let the reef recover markedly.
People & Culture
People & Culture
Fishers from the island municipality of Cagayancillo, who once used these waters, accepted the no-take rules so the reef could recover. For us, Tubbataha is not only about natural beauty but about people choosing short-term loss for the sake of the future.
Living Heritage
Living Heritage
Rangers are stationed at a ranger station in the open sea year-round, and divers may visit only in certain seasons under strict rules. Ship groundings on the reef in the past are a reminder that a healthy ecosystem needs constant care.
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