Tubbataha Reef

Tubbataha Reef

Tubbataha Reef
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  • David Waddell
    Geoje, South Korea10 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Stella 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 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written March 25, 2024
  • Silke P
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Tubbataha Reef on Stella Maris Explorer
    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.
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written April 3, 2024
  • Anna W
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful Marine Park
    Beautiful 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 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written April 18, 2024
  • Julia
    Germany2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing diving
    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.
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written April 18, 2024
  • Greg F
    5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Stella Maris is the way to see Tubbataha Reef
    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.
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written May 16, 2024
  • Patrick G
    5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Tubbataha dream
    One 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 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written May 17, 2024
  • zafar k
    Palm Beach Shores, Florida151 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    marvellous underwater garden created by naature
    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.
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written May 18, 2024
  • Chris B
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Tubbataha reef diving on Stella Maris Explorer
    Tubbataha 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 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written May 31, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles229 reviews
Excellent
199
Very good
23
Average
4
Poor
2
Terrible
1

These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.

Pelta R
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023 • Friends
I spent one week in Tubbataha aboard the Stella Maris. The area was amazing for diving, with incredible biodiversity. The various boats and local rangers team seemed very much involved in safeguarding it. Visibility was also great, which allowed us to spot rays, whale sharks, sharks, many turtles, as well as smaller stuff and enjoy the vivid corrals.
Written June 14, 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.

Dianne A
Brisbane, Australia150 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
My husband and I had booked a live aboard dive trip to Tubbataha to go to sea aboard Expedition Fleet's M/V Oceanic lll Explorer on 26th March 2020. I'd been dealing directly with Janet and Lars Chua who run the fleet. I'd read many reviews for this wonderful location, travelling with Expedition Fleet and in nearly every one Janet's name appeared as a great person to deal with. For the months leading up to our sailing date there was so much helpful friendly advice and super prompt replies from Janet. Very sadly on 16th March we were told everything in the Philippines was shutting down due to Corona. Airports, and all other transport, hotels, restaurants and all dive stores were to close. All tourists including us were given 48 hours to leave or we could be stranded there for months. I reached out to Janet by e-mail asking her advice and she located a private charter to take us from Coron where we were to Clark airport. It was only because of Janet's help we managed to flee. The airport near Coron Town had already closed, with the exception of the few charter flights ferrying tourists north. Tubbataha was the star of our 5 week holiday which was cut down to 2 weeks with the panic to evacuate. I am so grateful to Janet for all her help and Pete and I are determined to get to Tubbataha as soon as the world's restrictions are lifted. Dianne.
Written April 3, 2020
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.

Elisabeth
39 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022 • Friends
Great liveaboard to dive in Tubbataha, boat very well maintained, high standard, Crew more than friendly, food exceptional, you feel very welcome and pampered by the staff.
Although the diving level of the guests varied a lot they tried to make every dive a great one for all of the divers!
The reefs in Tubbataha are magnificent, we saw white trips, grey sharks, hammerheads , loads of turtles, Jacks and barrakudas and even once a whaleshark. If you are interested there is also beautiful macrolife to find.
Hope they will do some other destinations too, will definitely join them again
Written June 15, 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
2.0 of 5 bubbles
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
Google
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.

경호 민
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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
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
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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 🦈🦈🦈
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.

Peter Z
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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.

Yian Chen
Taiwan1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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.

boyeon
Seoul, South Korea2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022 • Friends
Tubbataha Reef, Needless to say, has everything - big pelagics, coral diversity, good visibility, nice current.

I took Liveaboard at Stella Maris 5N6D, overall it was amazing!

The staff were all very pleasent and helpful. Our Guide were super professional, careful, and responsive to our demands.

The food was excellent and enough to recharging from hasty diving plan. The chef prided himself on spectacular desserts. MANGO CAKE!!!!!!!!

Cleaning everyday, well managed room though my cabin was lower deck.

If you are looking for tubbahaha excursion, dont hesitate to choose stella maris! - Exceeded expectations.

스텔라 마리스 좋아요
디저트 정말 맛있어요
가이드들이 매우 적극적이예요
스텝들 친절하고 일잘해요
투바타하 바다 좋아요
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.

WooLim K
Sokcho, South Korea1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022
*Room condition was good. 1day 1 cleaning service.
*every meal was perfect. (+ Super delicious desserts)
*Every Boat crew was very kind. Thanks again.
*Diving instructors had there own professional skills. Therefore, Every diving was great. We saw many things during our diving trip. (Special thanks to KING)
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.

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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
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Tubbataha Reef - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

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