Slack Water
Liveaboards · Philippines

Tubbataha Reefs liveaboards

5–7 nights from Puerto Princesa. The only way to dive Tubbataha Reefs.

Compare boats and dates ↗Tubbataha Reefs dive guide
A whale shark swimming in deep blue water at Tubbataha Reef, surrounded at a distance by scuba divers
Photo: Philip Maise / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

At a glance

Best months
Mid-March to mid-June only
Trip length
5–7 nights
Departs from
Puerto Princesa
Price per night
US$320–US$460Per person, typical published rates
Certification
Advanced certification needed
Current
ModerateModerate on the walls, stronger at some points

When boats run

Mid-March to mid-June only; April and May are usually the calmest.

Overview

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is reached only by liveaboard. Boats leave from Puerto Princesa on Palawan and cross the Sulu Sea overnight. Trips usually last 5 to 7 nights, and most standard departures are 6 nights.

The season runs from about mid-March to mid-June, so a small number of boats share a short window and dates fill early. Day rates on listing sites in 2026 typically run from about USD 320 to 460 per person, before park fees and fuel surcharges. Operators expect Advanced Open Water and solid experience in current.

Routes

  • Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (North and South Atolls, Jessie Beazley Reef)5–7 nights · Mid-March to mid-June. The only itinerary type: an overnight crossing from Puerto Princesa, then several days on the walls of the two atolls and nearby Jessie Beazley Reef. Suits experienced divers comfortable in open-ocean wall diving and current.

Getting to the boat

  • Puerto Princesa, PalawanFly to Puerto Princesa (PPS) from Manila or Cebu; travellers arriving internationally in Manila need to change terminals by taxi, and one operator advises allowing at least 2 hours for that.

Who can go

Open Water divers should not plan on Tubbataha. Master Liveaboards (Philippine Siren) requires Advanced Open Water or equivalent and a minimum of 50 logged dives, and says divers who do not meet requirements may be kept out of some or all dives. An older itinerary PDF from the same operator lists 30 logged dives, so check the current rule with each boat.

Advanced Open Water recommended. Dives are on deep walls in open ocean, far from help.

What it costs

Published rates typically run US$320 to US$460 a night. Per person per day, shared cabin, from Dive The World 'from' prices seen in 2026 (Dolphin USD 320, Infiniti USD 330, Seadoors USD 327, Solitude One USD 460). Excludes park fees, fuel surcharges, gear rental and insurance. Older LiveAboard.com figures of about USD 247 to 396 per day were flagged as stale and not used.

  • Park/conservation fee: reported as USD 145 per diver by Bluewater Dive Travel and a Goasia guide (no official 2026 schedule found; operator listings show other amounts, see below)
  • Operator-listed park fee: USD 100 per trip (Dolphin, LiveAboard.com), USD 120 for 7 nights (Infiniti, Dive The World), PHP 5,000 (Narayana, LiveAboard.com); listings seen 2026
  • Fuel surcharge: USD 120 per trip (Infiniti) to USD 250 (Narayana); Dolphin lists USD 200 to 500 per trip; listings seen 2026
  • Insurance covering diving, evacuation and recompression is mandatory on Philippine Siren (Master Liveaboards)

Know the risks

  • Season lasts about three months and fills fast
  • Long open-sea crossing
  • No medical help nearby

Questions

When is the Tubbataha liveaboard season?

Diving is only possible from about mid-March to mid-June. Outside that window monsoon winds and rough seas stop the crossing. April and May are usually the calmest months.

How much does a Tubbataha liveaboard cost?

Dive The World listings seen in 2026 typically start at about USD 320 to 460 per person per day in a shared cabin. Park fees, fuel surcharges, gear rental and insurance are extra on most boats.

How long is a Tubbataha liveaboard trip?

Most trips last 5 to 7 nights, and 6 nights is the most common length. All of them leave from Puerto Princesa on Palawan.

Can Open Water divers go to Tubbataha?

Generally no. Operators such as Philippine Siren require Advanced Open Water and at least 50 logged dives, because dives are on deep walls in open ocean with current.

Book

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Also by boat in the same months

Sources

Last reviewed 15 October 2026. Prices and fees change every season; confirm with the operator before you book.