PALAWAN PRINCESS - Tubbataha Reef
The Palawan Princess isn't your average deep wreck full of gloom and mystery. This old roll-on, roll-off ferry, sunk in 1990, sits surprisingly shallow, just kissing the 10-meter mark. It’s perfect for extended bottom times, letting us really soak in the scene. We love drifting along her 85-meter length, watching schools of trevally swirl around the superstructure, their silver scales flashing in the sunlight filtering down. What makes her special? The sheer volume of fish. Glassfish shimmer like liquid silver in every shadow, and you’ll spot crocodilefish lounging on various ledges. We always find ourselves peering into the exposed cargo holds, now home to giant groupers and snapper. It’s a great site for photographers, the light penetration is incredible, and the colours are vibrant. Our favourite moment is always finding the propeller, now a dense coral garden, with anemonefish darting amongst the tentacles. It’s a gentle wreck, suitable for all experience levels, and honestly, a fantastic way to spend an hour underwater.
- Location
- Tubbataha Reef, Philippines, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- 9.909166, 119.491670
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 10m
Nearby Dive Sites in Tubbataha Reef
- Amos Rock - 24m
- C4 (wreck)
- Cagayancillo Islands
- Constancia Reef (reef)
- Crossing
- Cuttlefish Shawl
- DALL Reef (reef)
- Delsan Wreck - 0m (wreck)
- Delsan Wreck - 29m (wreck)
- Finger reef (reef)
- FLY ROBIN - 3m (wreck)
- Helmuth Reef (reef)
- Jessie Beazley North End
- Jessie Beazley Reef (reef)
- Ko-Ok - 24m
Nearest Dive Centres to PALAWAN PRINCESS
Marine Life in Tubbataha Reef
Home to 480 recorded species including 412 reef fish, 20 sharks & rays, 18 hard corals, 12 whales & dolphins, 5 other, 4 clams & mussels.
Notable Species
- Long-nosed Parrotfish (Hipposcarus longiceps) - Reef Fish
- Orange-lined Triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus) - Reef Fish
- Manini (Acanthurus triostegus) - Reef Fish
- Orange-axil wrasse (Stethojulis bandanensis) - Reef Fish
- Bristle-toothed Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus striatus) - Reef Fish
- Hound Needlefish (Tylosurus crocodilus) - Reef Fish
- Banded Blue Sprat (Spratelloides gracilis) - Reef Fish
- Three-spot wrasse (Halichoeres trimaculatus) - Reef Fish
- Blunt Snout Gregory (Stegastes lividus) - Reef Fish
- Honeycomb Grouper (Epinephelus merra) - Reef Fish
- Clouded rainbow fish (Halichoeres nebulosus) - Reef Fish
- Banded Goatfish (Parupeneus multifasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Australian Squirrel-fish (Myripristis violacea) - Reef Fish
- Blackspot Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigrofuscus) - Reef Fish
- Argus Grouper (Cephalopholis argus) - Reef Fish
- Batavian Parrotfish (Scarus psittacus) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Thalassoma hardwicke) - Reef Fish
- Blackfish (Melichthys niger) - Reef Fish
- Peppered Squirrelfish (Sargocentron punctatissimum) - Reef Fish
- Blue-lined Surgeonfish (Acanthurus lineatus) - Reef Fish