Two of 15 Tubbataha dive sites off-limits to divers — Coast Guard

At least two out of 15 dive sites at Tubbataha Reef will be off-limits to divers while salvage operations for the grounded minesweeper USS Guardian 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. But Coast Guard Palawan commander and Task Force Tubbataha head Commodore Enrico Efren Evangelista assured the public there is no reason for worry as there are 13 other active dive spots were tourists can enjoy the rich biodiversity and marine life. “Malawak naman ang buong Tubbataha. Fifteen dive sites at ang affected dive spots ay dalawa lamang. So open naman ang remaining dive sites," Evangelista said in an article posted on the Coast Guard website Saturday. Evangelista said the the Tubbataha Management ordered the two dive sites off-limits as they are near the grounding site affected by the ongoing salvaging operations. Meanwhile, with good weather still over the country, the task force is optimistic it can finish its work before the March 23 deadline. The USS Guardian ran aground on Tubbataha Reef last Jan. 17. The Tubbataha Management Office estimates it may have damaged 4,000 square meters of the reef. — LBG, GMA News