Diving in Tubbataha? Stay 500m away from USS Guardian and don't take photos of wreck

Tourists and divers visiting Tubbataha Reef may be allowed to view ongoing salvage operations for the grounded minesweeper USS Guardian from a distance, but may not take photos of the operations, the head of Task Force Tubbataha said Monday.

 

Coast Guard Palawan head and Task Force Tubbataha head Commodore Enrico Evangelista said they will maintain a 500-meter radius around the salvage site.

 

"Sa distansya makikita nila kung gagamitin ang binoculars pero hindi sila pwede pumasok within 500-meter radius," Evangelista said in an interview on dzBB radio.

 

But when asked if tourists can take photos, he said, "kung ganoon, bawal."

 

At least two out of 15 dive sites at Tubbataha Reef were declared off-limits to divers while salvage operations for the grounded minesweeper are ongoing, the Philippine Coast Guard said Saturday.

 

It said it issued an advisory Friday for tourists and recreational divers visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

 

Crews continued to conduct salvage work on the USS Guardian, which ran aground at Tubbataha Reef last Jan. 17.

 

The Tubbataha Management Office estimated the minesweeper may have damaged at least 4,000 square meters of the reef.

 

Evangelista said their salvage work is continuing, with the USS Guardian appearing to be "stable."

 

He said their next step is to remove the hull by cutting it into three pieces.

 

"According sa plano, puputulin ang tatlong bahagi at isa-isa aalisin," he said.

 

Salvage crews on Sunday removed the bridge deck of the USS Guardian.   

Evangelista added they remain hopeful they can finish the job before the March 23 deadline. Popular diving site