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Four uninhabited volcanic islands make up the Revillagigedos: Socorro, Clarion, San Benedicto, and Roca Partida. They raise up from sea level from 100 to 3,800 feet out of the water from the seafloor, creating exceptional walls, pinnacles and sheer drop-offs that act as cleaning and feeding stations for oceanic mantas and half a dozen shark species, including mass aggregations of scalloped hammerheads.

Revillagigedos is an oasis in the middle of the eastern Pacific. The four islands sit at the convergence of the cool California Current flowing from the north and the warmer North Equatorial Current, creating an ideal spot for nutrients to rise from the deep and attract passing pelagics. This makes Revilla a hotspot for manta rays, humpback whales, whale sharks, dolphins, hammerheads, Galapagos sharks—nearly every variety of hungry traveler.

The Revillagigedos are part of a unique chain with amazing undersea volcanic mounds. Because of the remote nature, there’s just not a lot of pressure on the sites.

Cabo Pierce, the Aquarium, and El Canyon dive sites offer the chance to see just about any big animals you can imagine—humpback whales, pacific bottlenose dolphins, whale sharks, the list goes on.

Because these are important waterways for endangered megafauna, the islands were deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016, and a year later were established as the Revillagigedo National Park. Even though they’re remote, they’re patrolled by the local government to prevent illegal fishing.

Because the archipelago is a national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site, certain protective measures are in place. Night diving, solo diving, and diving in the blue are not offered for safety reasons. Also, reef hooks, knives, dive lights not connected to cameras, and gloves are not permitted. In order to manage the number of divers on each site, liveaboards coordinate the timing of their dives. Because of this, if there are several boats at a site, they may limit the number of dives per day to three. The park has a set limit on the number of liveaboards that can visit, but flexibility is key in these parts.

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is a marine protected area and world-renowned scuba diving site. It is home to more than 1,200 marine species, including sea grasses and algae, corals, sharks, rays, fishes, sea turtles, seabirds and marine mammals. The Park is an exceptionally healthy reef ecosystem and its strong no-take level protections ensure this biodiversity stays safe.

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is an important asset for global conservation, as 181 of the species found there are threatened to some degree, from Vulnerable to Critically Endangered. Tubbataha is made up of two atolls dense with biodiversity that serve as nesting grounds for endangered turtles and more than 100 species of birds. It is a breeding and rookery ground for many species of migratory and resident seabirds, including the Critically Endangered Christmas Island frigatebird, as well as the Endangered green sea turtles and Critically Endangered hawksbill sea turtle.

Because it’s so far from land, Tubbataha only started to feel the effects of human exploitation in the 1980’s. Recognizing its great biodiversity value, the government of the Philippines first protected the area through legislation in 1988. Protective regulations have only been strengthened since then, leading to international recognition including its Platinum Blue Park award. This UNESCO World Heritage Site might be your best bet to see whale sharks, manta rays, hawksbill turtles, hammerheads, spinner dolphins and schooling gray reef sharks all in one day.

Diver’s Notes

Average Water Temperature: 25° C to 29° C / 78°-85° F

Visibility: 12-36 meters / 40-120 feet

·      Amos Rock, also known as Southwest Rock, is one of the popular scuba dive sites found on the North Atoll of. It features a breathtaking wall that is covered in a variety of corals, including whip corals, and you will also find massive gorgonian fans along it as well. A variety of large fish, including groupers, snappers, mackerels, and even Napoleon wrasses are also found drifting in the currents of this dive site. During a dive, you may encounter sharks, such as grey reef sharks and white-tip reef sharks, often seen in this area.

·      Shark Airport, found on the North Atoll, is one of the best places for spotting a variety of marine life. Endangered sea turtles can be seen here, along with white-tip reef sharks and plenty of different corals. This relatively shallow site is also popular for night dives, during which you may get the chance to see eels, different types of pufferfish, and other nocturnal creatures. 

·      Black Rock is a dive site found on the South Atoll. You can follow the steep wall and see what marine life you encounter, but this site is not really known for its corals. Instead, you can wait for the sharks, particularly the white-tip reef sharks, to come out, as well as manta rays and the huge Napoleon wrasses. 

·      Washing Machine is named for the unpredictable currents which sometimes change direction in the middle of a dive, the Washing Machine is located at the exposed northeastern edge of Tubbataha. Known for having some of the best visibility of any dive site within the Marine Park, this dive site is home to grey reef sharks and an amazing diversity of tropical coral reef fish.

·      Bird Island is a very popular site that is also located on the North Atoll. There is something for everyone here, from crevices and swim-throughs to explore, as well as a steep wall with overhangs that may be home to a variety of marine animals.  Strong currents occur in certain spots, so beginner scuba divers may want to only stay in certain areas of the site or avoid it altogether. An advanced open water certificate is usually required for this site. The reef is home to a variety of different types of colorful corals, and you will more than likely find a tranquil shark resting on the sandy bottom of this breathtaking site. Eels and rays are also common here. If you get lucky, you may even see a giant ray swimming by.

Departure Dates:  

• November 7, 2020
• December 19-26, 2020
• January 2, 2021
• January 30, 2021

The liveaboard diving yachts Scubaspa Ying and Scubaspa Yang have been designed to accommodate up to 40 guests. The ships feature 10 cabins and nine suites on each yacht, and are tastefully decorated, all with panoramic sea view or port lights. The cabins are configured with queen, king or twin bed combinations. One suite and one cabin sleep up to three people. All cabins have air conditioning, en suite bathrooms with shower, personal safe, and mini-fridge.

Diving takes place from a tender. Approximately 20 meters in length, the dive boat carries all the equipment, including air compressors and state-of-the-art nitrox; purpose-built for comfort, each has adequate seating, multiple entry points, stern platform, and on-board toilet facilities. Both yachts are the only vessels in the Maldives awarded PADI 5 Star Dive Resort status. Nitrox is available but Scubaspa does not support technical diving or rebreathers. 

Contact us today to book an amazing dive and spa retreat holiday to the Maldives and get our 10% DISCOUNT.