Tubbataha Reef
Tubbataha Reef
5
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- David WaddellGeoje, South Korea10 contributionsStella Maris #1 for Tubbataha dive trip.Tubbataha is nothing short of AMAZING, the abundance of Marine life is outstanding. I have been lucky enough to do many liveaboards across the globe but Stella Maris for me has been #1, this year will be my 4th trip with these guys and thoroughly recommend. I have never repeated any liveaboard with the exception of this boat, everyone aboard is so supportive and knowledgeable/proud of this wonderful spot. Do yourself a favour and just get it booked… :)Visited April 2023Traveled soloWritten March 25, 2024
- Silke P3 contributionsTubbataha Reef on Stella Maris ExplorerI had a great dive trip with Stella Maris Explorer. The reef looks superb and we also saw whale shark several Mantas and many reef sharks. Crew is very helpful and the boat is modern and nice. Food was good. We were diving 4x daily on most days.Visited April 2024Traveled soloWritten April 3, 2024
- Anna W3 contributionsWonderful Marine ParkBeautiful reef brimming with life! Lots of healthy corals and a huge number of fish. I saw reef sharks on every dive, we also encountered a hammerhead and a marble ray. Sadly didn’t see a whale shark but thoroughly enjoyed all the dives. I went on the Stella Maris liveaboard. Fantastic staff looking after us from all 4 dive guides: Rambo, Jas, King & Ryan and Archie and Ian on my chase boat! The entire crew worked together to keep us safe, happy and comfortable for the week. Wonderful food provided regularly from the chefs and very comfortable beds. Thanks all for a great week diving and lots of laughs!Visited April 2024Traveled soloWritten April 18, 2024
- JuliaGermany2 contributionsAmazing divingDiving at Tubbataha reef aboard the Stella Maris explorer was simply spectacular! From delicious meals to exhilarating dives, it was an unforgettable adventure. The crew was incredibly supportive and had a great sense of humor, making the experience even more enjoyable.Visited April 2024Traveled soloWritten April 18, 2024
- Greg F5 contributionsStella Maris is the way to see Tubbataha ReefWOW! What a magical experience I had with Stella Maris and our wonderful adventure to Tubbataha Reef. The boat crew were fantastic, the food was delicious and the accommodations were 1st class for sure. My guides Rambo and Jaz were top-notch professionals and made the trip well worth the cost. I wish I would have booked two weeks for sure.Visited April 2024Traveled soloWritten May 16, 2024
- Patrick G5 contributionsTubbataha dreamOne of the best trips I took. Quite on the expensive sife for me, but it was worth it. The accommodation was comfortable, amenities were great, dive guides and crew were friendly and helpful. Best of all, the dive was a dream.Visited April 2024Traveled soloWritten May 17, 2024
- zafar kPalm Beach Shores, Florida151 contributionsmarvellous underwater garden created by naatureMark kosarin is an accomplished dive master, instructor in under water photography. Myself a newly certified open water diver. We decided to visit Tub Taha reef in SuluSea, a Unesco reserve within the world Coral Reef Triangle. We booked our live aboard on Stella Maris Explorer a liveaboard dive boat. Four dives are scheduled daily. Mark did all four dives daily with his huge full frame camera rigs It would suffice to say that when you break that surface water barrier and open your eyes under water: Behold the vista of colours, shapes of corals as far as eye can see! Then hover over this wonder of nature as long as your air supply lasts. Mark was like a child in wonderland, taking macro, micro,wide angle photographs with his giant camera rig. If I begin to name the corals and other marine life, I will need volumes. The experience is awe inspiring, stretched out for miles on end! you can see Mark Kosarin's photo on his face book page. There are many other photo sites to dazzle you with what nature has created over many millions of years! Go there and experience yourself.Donot forget to take the young ones with you to show them what they will be inheriting and it is their duty to preserve it.Visited May 2024Traveled with friendsWritten May 18, 2024
- Chris B1 contributionTubbataha reef diving on Stella Maris ExplorerTubbataha reef is an amazing diving experience. Beautiful corals, whale shark , mantas - all of it happened during our 5 day live aboard on amazing Stella Maris Explorer boat. It was a lifetime experience!Visited March 2024Traveled with friendsWritten May 31, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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경호 민
2 contributions
May 2022
Awesome trip with Stella Maris Liveaboard, which is great boat ever!!
Calm and Peaceful Sea, Big stuff, wonderful Coral garden, great visibility.
My tip is 6N7D with Stella Maris Liveaboard. this boat is perfact customize for scuba diving. kind crew, professional guide, great meal and clean room.
hardly recomand to go that reef, and ride that boat.
want go again, ASAP
Calm and Peaceful Sea, Big stuff, wonderful Coral garden, great visibility.
My tip is 6N7D with Stella Maris Liveaboard. this boat is perfact customize for scuba diving. kind crew, professional guide, great meal and clean room.
hardly recomand to go that reef, and ride that boat.
want go again, ASAP
Written June 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Neil Guanzon
11 contributions
May 2022 • Solo
MY Stella Maris Explorer
Have been in tubbataha trice. With the experience of the dive crew of this boat i felt really safe throughout the whole trip plus the comfort that i get during my stay was superb.The cleanliness of this boat is excellent and everything is well maintained. The crew of the boat was very hospitable that i felt like i'm staying in a 5 star hotel. Food was outstanding and the owner is so friendly to everyone. Value for money is really worthit!!These are the reasons why i keep comming back in tubbataha with stella maris explorer 👍👍🤙 The best liveaboard out there 🦈🦈🦈
Have been in tubbataha trice. With the experience of the dive crew of this boat i felt really safe throughout the whole trip plus the comfort that i get during my stay was superb.The cleanliness of this boat is excellent and everything is well maintained. The crew of the boat was very hospitable that i felt like i'm staying in a 5 star hotel. Food was outstanding and the owner is so friendly to everyone. Value for money is really worthit!!These are the reasons why i keep comming back in tubbataha with stella maris explorer 👍👍🤙 The best liveaboard out there 🦈🦈🦈
Written May 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Guillaume G
4 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
The Seadoors is a very well designed boat, attentive crew, excellent food, perfectly guided dives and very friendly and professional DPs. On the other hand, when I read the comments from a few years ago, I think that we did not do the same cruise....We had bad seas on the way out, but that's the game , and in terms of the richness of the flora and fauna, we were very disappointed. few sharks or other pelagics, no rays, no wonderful schools. On the other hand, on the two dives in one morning, the encounter with a few curious hammerhead sharks saved the rest of the stay. Sorry, but I can't find any comments after 2019 and I think we should start putting a damper on the quality of this site.
For me, we can no longer compare with Indonesia, for example.
Happy diving everyone
For me, we can no longer compare with Indonesia, for example.
Happy diving everyone
Written April 11, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter Z
1 contribution
Mar 2022
The Stella Maris Tubbataha Reef expedition that I went on was the everything I could have dreamed of in a Liveaboard trip and more. I would grade every major category of the experience exceptional. The food was great, I was excited to eat after every dive, the crew was very friendly and accommodating, the dives were unreal and the rental equipment was great, and the rooms were really nice as well as the entire vessel itself and lounge areas. King was my dive instructor who helped me out during my advanced diving certification and was the best dive instructor that I have had. Was very helpful in delivering the course work and was very attentive to myself and the rest of the group to ensure our safety, while at the same time having the uncanny ability to find amazing schools of fish out of the blue as well as spotting individual fish/creatures
Written May 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Julia
Germany2 contributions
Apr 2024 • Solo
Diving at Tubbataha reef aboard the Stella Maris explorer was simply spectacular! From delicious meals to exhilarating dives, it was an unforgettable adventure. The crew was incredibly supportive and had a great sense of humor, making the experience even more enjoyable.
Written April 18, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
zafar k
Palm Beach Shores, FL151 contributions
May 2024 • Friends
Mark kosarin is an accomplished dive master, instructor in under water photography. Myself a newly certified open water diver. We decided to visit Tub Taha reef in SuluSea, a Unesco reserve within the world Coral Reef Triangle. We booked our live aboard on Stella Maris Explorer a liveaboard dive boat. Four dives are scheduled daily. Mark did all four dives daily with his huge full frame camera rigs
It would suffice to say that when you break that surface water barrier and open your eyes under water: Behold the vista of colours, shapes of corals as far as eye can see! Then hover over this wonder of nature as long as your air supply lasts. Mark was like a child in wonderland, taking macro, micro,wide angle photographs with his giant camera rig. If I begin to name the corals and other marine life, I will need volumes. The experience is awe inspiring, stretched out for miles on end! you can see Mark Kosarin's photo on his face book page. There are many other photo sites to dazzle you with what nature has created over many millions of years! Go there and experience yourself.Donot forget to take the young ones with you to show them what they will be inheriting and it is their duty to preserve it.
It would suffice to say that when you break that surface water barrier and open your eyes under water: Behold the vista of colours, shapes of corals as far as eye can see! Then hover over this wonder of nature as long as your air supply lasts. Mark was like a child in wonderland, taking macro, micro,wide angle photographs with his giant camera rig. If I begin to name the corals and other marine life, I will need volumes. The experience is awe inspiring, stretched out for miles on end! you can see Mark Kosarin's photo on his face book page. There are many other photo sites to dazzle you with what nature has created over many millions of years! Go there and experience yourself.Donot forget to take the young ones with you to show them what they will be inheriting and it is their duty to preserve it.
Written May 18, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yian Chen
Taiwan1 contribution
May 2023 • Friends
Thanks to all the crew members from Stella Maris, my friends and I have wonderful memories in Tubbataha. The stunning view underwater is breathtaking. Every time when we get back to the ship, the only things we need to do are eat, chat, and sleep, which give us enough energy for the next dive. Couldn't believe we could have such delicious food far from land at sea until we saw it.
Written May 31, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David Waddell
Geoje, South Korea10 contributions
Apr 2023 • Solo
Tubbataha is nothing short of AMAZING, the abundance of Marine life is outstanding. I have been lucky enough to do many liveaboards across the globe but Stella Maris for me has been #1, this year will be my 4th trip with these guys and thoroughly recommend. I have never repeated any liveaboard with the exception of this boat, everyone aboard is so supportive and knowledgeable/proud of this wonderful spot. Do yourself a favour and just get it booked… :)
Written March 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greg F
5 contributions
Apr 2024 • Solo
WOW! What a magical experience I had with Stella Maris and our wonderful adventure to Tubbataha Reef. The boat crew were fantastic, the food was delicious and the accommodations were 1st class for sure. My guides Rambo and Jaz were top-notch professionals and made the trip well worth the cost. I wish I would have booked two weeks for sure.
Written May 16, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Silke P
3 contributions
Apr 2024 • Solo
I had a great dive trip with Stella Maris Explorer. The reef looks superb and we also saw whale shark several Mantas and many reef sharks. Crew is very helpful and the boat is modern and nice. Food was good. We were diving 4x daily on most days.
Written April 3, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi divers (About tabbatah reef )I’m experienced diver l see reef looks amazing my question how can l arrange to dive in tabath reef l will go puerto princesa is there dive shop in Princesa? Or any organization online thank you for your suggestions
Written February 17, 2024
TABBATHA. Hi divers I’m experienced diver l see reef looks amazing my question how can l arrange to dive in tabath reef l will go puerto princesa is there dive shop in Princesa? Or any organization online thank you for your suggestions
Written February 17, 2024
My husband is a diver but I only do snorkeling (I am quite experienced). Is it possible to do snorkeling in Tubbataha reef or currents are too strong like in Maldivian passes? Thanks
Written February 12, 2024
When is the best month at Tubbahata to see pelagics? Earlier (like in March) or later (like in June)?
Written September 25, 2019
I am not sure but May (beginning) is the best season for Tubbataha. And we saw plenty of sharks including whale sharks at the end of May.
Written September 29, 2019
Is the airport in the Philippines allowed to enter a sea gun or spear?
Written August 1, 2019
The better question is if the tour operators will allow you to use it when you get to the Philippines. In Tubbataha, any type of spear fishing is strictly prohibited. In fact, in any of the parks in the Philippines, spear fishing is illegal. From what I saw, the dive guides and the dive companies are very protective of the reefs and the fish. So, even if you can get a spear gun or a Hawaiian sling into the country, I seriously doubt that you will be allowed to use it. I hope this helps. Enjoy your vacation.
Written August 3, 2019
Hello,
So I am planning to get a Padi Open water diving certificate from Phillipines. After checking a lot of places I feel Tubbataha is the best place to do it. But I cant find any company that gives lessons in Tubbataha. Most of them are like day trips. So is it true that there is no Padi course in Tubbataha?? Also which other coral reef site is beautiful where I can get a Padi certificate.
Thank you.
Written April 12, 2019
Correct. The reason why is that Tubbataha is really a bit more advanced diving and the only diving in Tubbataha is from liveaboards, or week long trips where you spend an entire week at sea. Tubbataha is about 13 hours away from the nearest port. Also, PADI standards require more shallow dives than you find in Tubbataha. Tubbataha also can have some very strong and unpredictable currents. For someone just starting out, this may not be the most enjoyable experience for you.
The Philippines do have some great places to get your open water certification, though. If you want a place that also has a lot of night life and bustle (although I've heard it can get "adult" oriented in areas) look into Puerto Galera, which is south of Manila. If you want to just relax and enjoy some gorgeous beaches between dives, check out Malapascua, which is gotten to by Cebu. I've spoken to people who've done both and really loved both areas. I have around 600 dives and I am planning my next dive trip to Malapascua.
PADI also has a travel network. If you Google "PADI travel network " the site should be able to help you find a PADI affiliated shop in either area where you can get your certificate.
I hope this helps you out and is not too long winded of an answer. Enjoy your diving.
Written April 24, 2019
Hi all,
I have never dived before but would like to dive at Tubbataha reef, is this possible?
Thanks in advance,
Adam
Written April 7, 2019
I have researched more and it seems it’s not possible.. also seems it’s not possible to delete the comment 🤣
Written April 7, 2019
Andry678
Jakarta, Indonesia
Hello, I have plan to a liveaboard in Tubbataha.
I want to ask if there is a signal for the cellphone?
Written March 29, 2019
I got no phone signal, and no one else (including the local boat staff) were able to either. I think that most boats do carry a satellite phone in case of emergency, though.
Written April 24, 2019
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