The Philippines sits at the heart of the Coral Triangle, making it a global epicenter for marine biodiversity. For serious divers, the only way to tap into the country’s most spectacular and remote sites is by booking one of the many Philippines liveaboards available.

Tubbataha: A UNESCO World Heritage Dive

The remote Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the middle of the Sulu Sea, is considered the pinnacle of Philippine diving. Tubbataha is a rite of passage for experienced divers, known for its pristine coral walls, massive schools of fish, and intense pelagic action, including frequent sightings of mantas, various shark species (including hammerheads and tiger sharks), and occasional whale sharks. Because the crossing to this national marine park is dependent on calm seas, Tubbataha is only accessible via liveaboard during a limited season from March to June.

Diversity in the Visayas

Beyond Tubbataha, liveaboard itineraries often explore the Visayas, offering a breathtaking mix of diving experiences:

• Malapascua: World-famous for reliable early-morning encounters with the rare and elegant thresher shark at Monad Shoal—the only place on earth where this is guaranteed.

• Coron: A historical pilgrimage for wreck enthusiasts, featuring a haunting collection of World War II Japanese shipwrecks, now transformed into vibrant, coral-encrusted artificial reefs.

• Moalboal: Home to the astonishing sardine run, where millions of fish swirl in shimmering walls just off the coast of Cebu.

Whether you're after the intense rush of pelagic encounters or the intimacy of macro critters and haunting wrecks, a journey aboard one of the Philippines liveaboards provides the efficiency and access needed to experience the best of the Coral Triangle.