Exclusive interview: A look at Tubbataha Reef, from a diver’s view
This week I featured a couple of posts on Tubbataha Reef Marine Park in Sulu. Tubbataha is nominated for the New Seven Wonders of Nature, and I wanted to nudge its nominations a little.
Cris Hinlo is one of those who has seen the Tubbataha wonder up close, being an avid scuba diving enthusiast. She has been to dive sites in Anilao, Dumaguete, and Danjugan also. Cris dives with her camera all the time and loves capturing the beauty of the underwater world and sharing them with friends. She gave Filipina Soul permission to use her photos of Tubbataha Reef so I asked about her experience.
Filipina Soul: hi Cris! So what was it like down there? it must have been quite an experience!
Cris Hinlo: Its always an experience diving Tubbataha as you’ll never know what you’ll see. The group who dove a week before us saw hammerhead sharks (a rare treat!). During our dives, we saw several eagle rays (I’ve never 
seen this before) and where usually there are several mantas, we saw
only 1. Of course there are lots of sharks (but not as many as before) and turtles to your heart’s content. Schools of jacks and barracudas were not as plentiful as when i went there previously. Dolphin pods were sighted with young ones but they were very shy and didn’t play long with the boat (usually they hang around and stay at the front of the boat for sometime). Whether or not you see big creatures, the landscape itself is so beautiful and colorful that it already makes going underwater worthwhile…. there is also a feeling of being blessed by being one of the privileged few who can dive Tubbataha… since only liveaboards can go there during the summer months, slots are limited.
FS: I read that there are rangers who are stationed there full-time, but knowing how rampant illegal fishing and explorations are, how protected is the reef?
CH: The 6 rangers on the station are doing their job of catching errant fishermen but they have very limited equipment and little back up. their boats are old but they try their best. When we were at the ranger station, there were several impounded boats which the fishermen didn’t claim anymore due to the stiff fines.
FS: The reef is running for one of the new seven wonders of nature. Clearly seeing those pictures it is a true wonder of nature! Personally, sometimes I feel the best things have to be kept secret for their own protection. You might have a different opinion as you’ve experienced it yourself. How do you feel about this?
CH: Being on the 7 wonders list is great! More and more the Philippines is being recognized for the beauty that it has kept hidden. Personally, i think tourism is the way to go for us. But because Tubbataha is so isolated, and the
live-aboards are few, that area will remain protected as long as the divers respect the rules. (there are fines for everything).
FS: Tubbataha is also one of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. But what can Filipinos do to preserve this heritage ourselves?
CH: We need to preserve ALL our heritage sites…. and responsible tourism among Filipinos is the way to go. I don’t know who said it…. but i heard this once and i just love it, “we take nothing but pictures, and leave nothing
but footprints.” I think the mentality of the Filipinos is changing (or am I just being too positive) such that we are seeing more of our country and are getting to appreciate it and taking pride in it. However, still more people need
to be educated about not leaving their trash behind, or not taking souvenirs from the environment. we need to respect and implement our regulations.
FS: Cris, thanks for the time and encouraging us to help take care of our world better. Take care with your diving and bring us back more pictures!
Vote here for Tubbataha as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature.
images used with permission from Cris Hinlo
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