Tubbataha Page 1, Philippines. April 2002

White tip reef shark sitting near a drop-off.

24th April, "The Valley", South Tubbataha.

White tip reef shark swimming.

25th April, "Shark Airport", North Tubbataha.

White tip reef sharks lying on sand, midday.

26th April near Bird Island, North Tubbataha.

White tip reef shark. Photo taken by Kazu Sonoda with a digital Olympus camera.

White tip reef shark. Photo taken by Kazu Sonoda with a digital Olympus camera.

White tip reef shark watching Kristen.

26th April near Bird Island, North Tubbataha.

A rare encounter with a grey reef shark.

25th April, near Amos Rock, North Tubbataha.

26th April, South Tubbataha.

Nudibranch, Chromodoris willani, 2cm long.

26th April, South Tubbataha.

Nudibranch, Chromodoris lochi, 2.5cm long.

26th April, South Tubbataha.

Nudibranch, Chromodoris annae, 0.5cm long. Very small!

26th April, South Tubbataha.

Nudibranch, Phyllidia varicosa, 1cm long.

26th April, South Tubbataha.

Nudibranch, Pleurobranchus grandis. 20cm long. Spotted 3 of these very dark creatures, but only on night dives.

25th April, night dive near Amos Rock, North Tubbataha.

Moray eel.

April 25th, Amos Rock, North Tubbataha.

Excellent dive. 60 minutes with maximum depth 23.5 metres. The Moray Eel is watching something I had not yet spotted - a somersaulting manta ray (feeding on plankton).

A very well disguised octopus.

25th April, night dive near Amos Rock, North Tubbataha.

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<--- Her eye is on this level ---<

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<--- and one of her tentacles is visible in the shadow. ---<

Soft coral. Throughout Tubbataha the corals were in good condition except for a couple of patches that had been "dynamite fished." Recently, 4 chinese boats had been intercepted in the area and the crews put in jail.

25th April, Amos Rock, North Tubbataha.

Soft coral.

26th April, South Tubbataha.

Oyster. Beautifully coloured mantle, which is normally hidden from view as they close their shell whenever they detect movement.

26th April, South Tubbataha.

Necklace Sea Star. 6cm wide.

26th April, South Tubbataha.

A feeding manta ray (mouth open and somersaulting to filter through the water). Plenty of Plankton means a good feed for this beautiful animal.

Around 3 metre wingspan.

25th April, Amos Rock, North Tubbataha. Photo taken by Kazu Sonoda with a digital Olympus camera.

Photo taken by Kazu Sonoda with a digital Olympus camera.

Eagle Ray moving quite swiftly (2 flaps of it's wings and it was out of sight).

26th April, Bird Island, North Tubbataha.

Blotched stingray moving along the edge of a drop-off.

26th April, Bird Island. North Tubbataha.