Our Tubbataha dive trip itinerary
28 June 2013 | Sulu sea
Dawn
Itinerary: 25 - 31st May 2013
Day 1 - 25th May -
Amos Rock :
Ranger station
Pm. Sundowner on sandcay
Day 2 &3 - 26/27
South Park
Day 4 - 28th May
Malayan Wreck
Day 5 - 29th May
Amos rock - second mooring
Day 6 - 30th May
Bird Islet
Day 7 - 31st May
Shark Airport
Cost for this trip:
9000 Passos which includes, entry fees of 3000 php for each of us + boat fees.
Distance:
Approx. 90 nm southeast of Puerto Princesa and only accessible 5 months of the year - February to June.
# 20 hours @ 5 knots
NOTE: All charts are out by approx. 1.2nm to the east (these charts include, navionics, seamap and raster)
Amos rock, malayan wreck and Bird Islet.
Day 5 Malayan wreck
Jamie went for a dive and a snorkel off the wreck, very ordinary a lot of current, again a lot of fish life large cod, rass and schools of fingermark. Dawn spent the day laying around trying to get over the flu.
Day 6 - Amos rock
Today is our second last day in Tubbataha and trying to make the most of it. Yesterday we moved back around to Amos rock onto the middle mooring after a very rock n roll anchorage the night before at Malayan Wreck, which is on the west side. Jamie went for a dive and a snorkel off the wreck, very ordinary. Once we were settled we Had a nice snorkel off the back of the boat and Jamie had a dive on the ledge in about 23 meters. It's just like being in an aquarium...the boys would just love it! We gave the side of the boat a wipe down as it had a lot of black scum on and just above the water line, which we did treading water minus our fins. Last night we had a big storm come through, winds gusting to 30 knots with lots of rain...tanks are full ++
We have moved around to Bird Islet which is on the eastern side of the north island and have picked up on the most southern one in about 18ft. Rain came down just as we arrived... Jamie has gone for a short dive around the boat, oh and has just returned as I speak. He had a lovely dive, saw large schools of traveally and caught up with some of the other divers off Philippine Siren. He always likes to check out the mooring buoys to ensure they are properly maintained. The rest of the day was spent relaxing and the odd job. I have been experiencing very sore muscles in my knees and shoulder/arm areas....are these muscles that haven't been worked for a while??
Weather has cooled off and we have the northern part of the island to our selves. It is now 8pm, the birds eg. Gulls, boobies, terns and others (6 species that bread here) have gone to bed and the fish are splashing around us...very tranquil. Earlier on it was the birds out feeding and catching their dinner, yet another wonderful and relaxing moment watching nature at its best. Comfortable night, light cool air with some small swell. No storms or rain
Day 7
Shark airport
Coffee and breakfast. A nice swim off the back of the boat, just hanging onto the mooring and watching all below...countless schools of traveally, small sharks, stingerays, coral trout, snapper, large trigger fish in mating season and loads of various aquarium type fish. Moored near Flying Dolphin (50ft Cat from Manilla). Jamie went over and asked them if he could join them for a dive, very friendly lot. He met them at 10.30am at the ledge (4 divers) and I waited in the dinghy for his "Diver below" sausage to pop up... 45 minute dive @ max. 28meters deep. They pretty much all ascended near flying dolphin, so was quite easy to retrieve him. Then we went for an hour long drift snorkel in the shallows towing the dinghy, amazing 4 - 5 knot current...effortless! Coral trout everywhere. Found 2 dive belt weights.
Made terriekki chicken and vegy stir fry for lunch and now giving Jamie a hand to climb the mask to check why the Nav lights are not working before we head off in the next day or so.