The Sulu Sea is located in the Southeast Asian region known as the Coral Triangle, makes it one of the world's 49 largest marine ecosystems. It actually covers the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. Studies and research shows that it contains more than 30% of the world’s coral reefs. Data that was gathered from different research shows that the Sulu-Sulawesi Seas have over 450 species of corals. According to the marine biologists who visited and studied the area, it is the center for genetic richness and the diversity of sea grass with 16 known species. Also, found are the some 400 species of marine algae, 6 species of marine turtles and 222 species of marine mammals, most of which are already endangered.

Jesse Beazely

Jesse Beazely looks as if a truck dumped a load of sand on the reef. At high tide, the exposed coral rubble top practically disappears; this is a spectacular wall dive with lots of cracks, overhangs and crevices. The wall is lined with large fan corals, sponges and a colorful array of various soft corals in every hue imaginable. Snappers and surgeonfish abound. You will also find a lot of groupers, soldier fish, unicorn fish and Moorish idols in this wonderful reef. White tip reef sharks may be found at rest under the large table corals, which festoon the reef top. Manta rays occasionally glide past the wall scalloped hammerheads patrol deeper water.

Tubbataha North and South

It is the largest coral reef atoll in the Philippines. Its name, derived from two Samal words, means a long reef exposed at low tide. In 1987, the provincial board of Palawan passed resolution 244 requesting the declaration of Tubbataha Reef as a marine sanctuary. In response, then President Corazon C. Aquino proclaimed it a national marine park on August 11, 1988. The national park covers some 33,200 hectares and lies in the middle of the Sulu Sea, it is located about 150 kilometers by boat from Puerto Princessa. The reefs themselves cover an area of around 10,000 hectares.

Tubbataha was declared a World Heritage Site by the World Conservation Union in 1994. The Tubbataha National Marine Park is actually composed of two (2) coral atolls, separated by a channel eight kilometers wide. The larger north reef, about 16km long and 4.5 km wide, is popularly known as Bird Island due to the numerous "Boobies" that nest on the Islet and South reef, about 5km long and 3km wide is known as the Lighthouse. Tubbataha may actually be the largest and one of the top best dive destinations in the Philippine Islands. Everything about this park is large, from leopard sharks, shovel-nosed sharks, manta, eagle rays, tuna groupers and large school of fish. The terrain has much to offer, from gentle slopes to steep walls. Coral cover is vast and large, giant sea fans, sponges and an impressively wide variety and number of hard and soft coral carpets this large reef.