Grey reef shark

Photo: David R · CC BY-NC

Grey reef sharks are resident patrollers on Tubbataha's northern wall, holding steady in the current with minimal effort and monitoring the reef edge for opportunity. Groups of 5 to 15 individuals are regularly seen at the top of the drop-off at the start of the dive. Their presence in high numbers is a direct indicator of Tubbataha's no-take, fully protected status — one of the last places in the Sulu Sea where apex reef predators remain at near-pristine density. Near threatened globally.