South Atoll staghorn plateau with sharks and rays
South Atoll staghorn plateau with sharks and rays
Park entry and the ranger-station stop are managed through permitted liveaboard operations.
A broad South Atoll staghorn plateau that runs toward a deep wall, with a calm, scenic feel and regular passes from eagle rays, sharks, and schooling reef fish. It is an advanced but approachable drift for divers who want coral density and a clean reef-top finish.
Conservative baseline from public research. No community dives logged yet.
Depth range, seasonality, and planning context.
Reported Depth
7m - 25m
Depth Note
Public guides place the staghorn fields around 7m and the drift section along the wall edge in the 15-25m band.
Best Season
March-June dry season
Typical Conditions
Shallow staghorn fields, a deep wall edge, mild downward flow when current pushes south, and a generally sheltered South Atoll feel.
Hazards, restrictions, and access requirements.
Key Hazards
Safety Notes
Watch the wall edge when the current turns down the reef and keep depth awareness on the drop-off.
Access Restrictions
Liveaboard access only for dives; the ranger-station land stop is the usual permitted shore visit, and shore access elsewhere in the park is prohibited.
Legal Notes
Tubbataha entry is permit-controlled, daylight-only for diving, and managed through park-permitted operators.
Community notes to help plan your visit.
Scuba Diving
A reef-and-wall scuba dive starting in shallow coral and continuing toward the drop-off; stable buoyancy and a tidy drift line matter most.
Freediving
Freediving is best on the shallow staghorn plateau in very calm conditions; the wall-edge section is better treated as a scuba drift.
Snorkeling
Snorkeling is limited to very calm, permitted shallows near the plateau; the wall section is scuba territory.
Species commonly reported at this site, with direct links into their wildlife guides.
Community dive logs and visit reports for this site.
Average conditions based on logged dives & visits.
Last Updated
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