TUBBATAHA - PHILIPPINES [OFFER]

Northern tip of North Atoll
Venture into the fissures and crevices, where you may find nurse and whitetip reef sharks resting during the day. Small mantas, rays and spotted eagle rays have been spotted, along with numerous turtles. The wall has huge fan gorgonians, soft corals and barrel sponges. Blacktip, whitetip and grey sharks often patrol here in large numbers.

South end of North Atoll
Malayan, Wallstreet and Amos Rock are the best dive sites. Fish and macro watchers will enjoy Denise’s pygmy seahorses clinging to the sea fans at these sites. You will see scorpion fish, moray eels and even ghost pipefish. Don’t worry, pelagic fans can still see huge dogtooth tuna, sharks and Spanish mackerel in the blue.

North Point of South Atoll
Highlights include Black Rock, T Wreck and Eiger Wall. You will lose count of the number of green and hawksbill turtles in the area. Marble rays in the sand and eagle rays often come close, it is possible to see large groupers and giant trevally.

South end of South Atoll
This area is known for its lighthouse and is home to the famous Delsan Wreck and Black Rock dive sites. Hammerhead sharks are the most prized sighting here, as well as the occasional passing whale shark. Also guitar sharks in the shallow waters.

South end of North Atoll
The dive starts on a gentle slope covered with magnificent intact corals and ends on a wall covered with spectacular gorgonian fans where the more astute divers can often spot pygmy seahorses. If there is current, you will encounter a variety of large fish such as narrow-bellied mackerel, giant jacks, red snappers, humphead wrasse and giant groupers.

Whitetip and grey sharks are almost certain to be seen. Closer to the surface, there are manta rays, spotted eagle rays and green and hawksbill turtles. Other fish that can be seen are rainbow runners, African pompano, angelfish, scorpionfish, fire dartfish and, at deeper depths, the decorated dartfish.

Jessie Beazley Reef
The trip ends with a couple of dives at Jessie Beazley Reef. You will see schools of parrotfish feeding on the corals. Watch out for the curious napoleon wrasses. The shallow reefs are full of colourful tropical fish such as royal angelfish and titan triggerfish.