Tips Paradise

The Tubbataha Reef of Philippines

Tubbataha Reef is #9 Today

Philippines (April 22, 2008) - The Philippines, rich in bio diversity and attractions, popular all over the world is now on it’s quest for the nth time to be contained in the world’s best list of the new 7 wonders of the world search. The quest is entailed by entries that can be found in some of the best places where biodiversity is unequaled and almost as fresh and untouched by hands of nature abuse because they are protected. This list that I am talking about is the Tubbataha Reef, the Chocolate Hills, Mayon Volcano and the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Philippines’ contribution to the world heritage in the historical formation of the 7 greatest wonders of the world.

Tubbataha Reef is 1st at Tips Paradise

April 22, 2008, the Tubbataha Reef is #9 in the list of leading voted wonders of the world. This is not just because the Filipinos love the marine sanctuary but because the world loves marine life and and the natural aspects of the Tubbataha Reef being a protected marine sanctuary is a uniquely different and seemingly out of this world wonder that one can be proud of. This post is a starter of Tips Paradise as part of the travel tips page because I want to start this category with a bang in the current search for the New 7 Wonders of the World.

Tubbataha Reef is Home to Diverse Marine Species

Breath taking coral reef of the Tubbataha is located in the Sulu Sea and this questor on the new 7 wonders of the world search belongs to the Philippines in Asia. It is currently #9 overall as of today as I write this post, April 22, 2008. This beautiful marine sanctuary is a protected marine area and for this reason, the bio diversity of marine species that can be found here are really one of its kind in the world and probably one of those among the most beautiful if not the most beautiful in the whole of Asia. The Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park is actually composed of 2 atolls, the North and South reefs where each of the dimension shows a unique islet that is protruded in the heart of its waters just as if god made it that way to be different from all other marine parks in the world. These 2 dimensions are unbelievably divided into 2 parts by a very deep channel that’s according to some reports 8 kilometers wide. Just imagine the awesome symmetry and uniqueness combined together to form one of the greatest creation of nature, the Tubbataha Reef in on its toll in getting the #1 spot in the list of the New 7 Wonders of the World which ends on 2010.

Glorifying Tubbataha

Now would you please reserve your glorified facial expression yet for the most interesting part which is the population of diverse marine species that can be seen inside the reef’s territorial ecosystem wonders. Would you believe that there are actually about a thousand and more differently structured and unique marine species there? Each of them competing with one another to take their own share of shade under one mystery of the symmetrical Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park. Wow! What wonder could that be only for the eyes to feast and the 7 senses to magnify as an experience. Not just that, what’s best in the Tubbataha Reef is that those literally thousands of marine species are not just measured by diversity but also by their kind. It is for a fact that many of the marine species residing in its blue waters are already endangered and imagine how finding them there and experiencing them could offer such joy in the heart and in the mind. Some of those endangered species are the lion fish, various genus of manta rays, eagle rays, Napoleon wrasse, white, gray and black tip reef sharks, shovelnose and leopard sharks, the clown fish, diverse shark legends, giant jacks, hawksbill sea turtles, barracudas, parrot fishes, mooral eels, hammerhead sharks and tortoises. Must really be something out of this world to get there and see them all in person. I can’t wait.

Also a Bird Sanctuary - Tubbataha

The Tubbataha Reef, is also a bird sanctuary aside from being a marine sanctuary and is also popular for a number of bird species. These different birds and other migratory birds are there because of the existence of a lighthouse islet that is located in the southernmost tip of the South Atoll. You can also find a lot of sea birds around around the Tubbataha as there are tens of thousands of birds like masked red-foot boobies, terns, and frigate birds that are used to rest in the islets and the lighthouse in the middle of their annual migration.

How to Get to Tubbataha Reef

The Tubbataha Reef resides in the popular Cagayan Ridge. This beautiful ridge is previously a line of underwater volcanoes that are already extinct and it lines up from the north at the Sultana Shoal and ends in the south at the San Miguel Islands. The best time to visit the Tubbataha Reef is from March to June and you can view the map here.

Tubbataha Reef via navigation lies on the Cagayan Ridge in the middle of the very enticing Sulu Sea. It is also situated 92 nautical miles southeast of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan and 80 nautical miles southwest of Cagayancillo which is the popular call for visitors.

The best trips to Tubbattaha Reef starts from March to June as this is the most favorable weather in the Philippine reefs and seas for a visit and a dive. The marine park is about twelve hours travel by boat or vessel from Puerto Princesa City. Because the Tubbataha is considered as the best place for a dive in the Philippines, the different diving dedicated ships that dwell and operate to take tourists and trips for divers during the “Tubbataha Season” get booked even years in advance. The most clogged season for the popular reef is during of Easter and “Golden Week” holidays.