Saving Philippine Reefs

Philippines

Date: Yearly

Progress: Ongoing

Every year divers from around the world join scientists on an expedition to the Philippines to monitor and collect valuable data on coral reefs that will assist in the management of marine protected areas.

The Project

The Philippines lies within the Coral Triangle, which has the highest concentration of marine life on the planet. Its coastal ecosystems consist of an interaction of three primary components–mangroves, seagrasses and coral reefs. The productivity of these ecosystems supports and contributes to sustainable fishing, recreation and tourism, natural protection, and reduction of pollution, among others.

A primary strategy used to protect coral reefs and associated systems is to design, plan and implement effective marine protected areas (MPAs). To ensure long-term effective and adaptive management of MPAs, information systems are essential. Enter 

Saving Philippine Reefs (SPR) is one of the Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation’s (CCEF) oldest projects which the Unico Conservation Foundation have been participating in directly and through in-kind support for over a decade. The yearly initiative boasts the largest and oldest, continuous dataset of coral reef observations in the Philippines.  

These expeditions track the status and condition of the marine ecosystems being protected, the governance of MPAs, and the trends of these indicators for better management at all levels. Such information is crucial to improve planning and management, and to educate stakeholders, government officials, and practitioners of marine resource management.

The aim of this project is to improve the status of coral reefs and associated habitats through complimentary monitoring in key marine biodiversity areas, tracking and analysing the status of these areas through an information system that is used in education programs for coastal communities and stakeholders and for providing feedback on coastal management efforts.

After every trip, a summary field report is published by CCEF and given to managers for their use.

Check out some of our expeditions below.

Want to get involved? Reach out and we can let you know when the next expedition is.

Philippines

2026 SPR Expedition – Sumilon Island

Expedition Summary For over 30 years Dr Alan White, and the Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation that he founded, have organized annual volunteer surveys of Marine protected Areas (MPAs) in the Philippines, most of which were established by the foundation over the years. The initial goal of the MPA program was to support local communities to engage in sustainable fishing practices by providing protected habitats for the entire food chain that results in healthy fish …
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Philippines

2025 SPR Expedition – Siquijor

Gallery Expedition Location In 2019, the SPR expedition was conducted in the Municipalities of Moalboal and Badian,Cebu Province, Philippines. The Municipalities of Moalboal and Badian border the watersof the Tañon Strait which has national protection under the National Integrated ProtectedAreas System (NIPAS) (Dolar et al 2006; Tiongson and Karczmarski 2016). Moalboal isone of the premiere dive destinations in the southern Philippines and currently has fourlocally declared and managed marine sanctuaries where a user-fee system operates …
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Philippines

2024 SPR Expedition – Tubbataha

Expedition Location In 2019, the SPR expedition was conducted in the Municipalities of Moalboal and Badian,Cebu Province, Philippines. The Municipalities of Moalboal and Badian border the watersof the Tañon Strait which has national protection under the National Integrated ProtectedAreas System (NIPAS) (Dolar et al 2006; Tiongson and Karczmarski 2016). Moalboal isone of the premiere dive destinations in the southern Philippines and currently has fourlocally declared and managed marine sanctuaries where a user-fee system operates togenerate …
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Philippines

2023 SPR Expedition – Bohol

The expedition will determine the health of coral reefs within the Province of Bohol in comparison to monitoring data collected in 1985, 1999, 2003 and 2007. Expedition Location Bohol is a province of the Philippines, in the country’s Central Visayas region. It comprises Bohol Island and numerous smaller surrounding islands. Bohol is known for coral reefs and unusual geological formations, notably the Chocolate Hills. A popular tourist destination, the province is abundant of beaches and …
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Philippines

2004 SPR Tubbataha

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park lies in a unique position in the centre of the Sulu Sea. The area is home to a great diversity of marine life and protects an area of almost 100,000 hectares of high quality marine habitats containing three atolls and a large area of deep sea. It plays a key role in the process of reproduction, dispersal and colonisation by marine organisms in the whole Sulu Sea system, and helps support …
Dive in

Philippines

2005 SPR Batangas

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park lies in a unique position in the centre of the Sulu Sea. The area is home to a great diversity of marine life and protects an area of almost 100,000 hectares of high quality marine habitats containing three atolls and a large area of deep sea. It plays a key role in the process of reproduction, dispersal and colonisation by marine organisms in the whole Sulu Sea system, and helps support …
Dive in

Philippines

2003 SPR Bohol

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park lies in a unique position in the centre of the Sulu Sea. The area is home to a great diversity of marine life and protects an area of almost 100,000 hectares of high quality marine habitats containing three atolls and a large area of deep sea. It plays a key role in the process of reproduction, dispersal and colonisation by marine organisms in the whole Sulu Sea system, and helps support …
Dive in

Philippines

2018 SPR Report Tubbataha

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park lies in a unique position in the centre of the Sulu Sea. The area is home to a great diversity of marine life and protects an area of almost 100,000 hectares of high quality marine habitats containing three atolls and a large area of deep sea. It plays a key role in the process of reproduction, dispersal and colonisation by marine organisms in the whole Sulu Sea system, and helps support …
Dive in

Philippines

2006 SPR Calamianes

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park lies in a unique position in the centre of the Sulu Sea. The area is home to a great diversity of marine life and protects an area of almost 100,000 hectares of high quality marine habitats containing three atolls and a large area of deep sea. It plays a key role in the process of reproduction, dispersal and colonisation by marine organisms in the whole Sulu Sea system, and helps support …
Dive in

Philippines

2007 SPR Bohol

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park lies in a unique position in the centre of the Sulu Sea. The area is home to a great diversity of marine life and protects an area of almost 100,000 hectares of high quality marine habitats containing three atolls and a large area of deep sea. It plays a key role in the process of reproduction, dispersal and colonisation by marine organisms in the whole Sulu Sea system, and helps support …
Dive in

Philippines

2008 SPR Tubbataha

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park lies in a unique position in the centre of the Sulu Sea. The area is home to a great diversity of marine life and protects an area of almost 100,000 hectares of high quality marine habitats containing three atolls and a large area of deep sea. It plays a key role in the process of reproduction, dispersal and colonisation by marine organisms in the whole Sulu Sea system, and helps support …
Dive in

Philippines

2009 SPR Siquijor

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park lies in a unique position in the centre of the Sulu Sea. The area is home to a great diversity of marine life and protects an area of almost 100,000 hectares of high quality marine habitats containing three atolls and a large area of deep sea. It plays a key role in the process of reproduction, dispersal and colonisation by marine organisms in the whole Sulu Sea system, and helps support …
Dive in

Philippines

2010 SPR Southeastern Cebu

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park lies in a unique position in the centre of the Sulu Sea. The area is home to a great diversity of marine life and protects an area of almost 100,000 hectares of high quality marine habitats containing three atolls and a large area of deep sea. It plays a key role in the process of reproduction, dispersal and colonisation by marine organisms in the whole Sulu Sea system, and helps support …
Dive in

Philippines

SPR 2011 Batangas

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park lies in a unique position in the centre of the Sulu Sea. The area is home to a great diversity of marine life and protects an area of almost 100,000 hectares of high quality marine habitats containing three atolls and a large area of deep sea. It plays a key role in the process of reproduction, dispersal and colonisation by marine organisms in the whole Sulu Sea system, and helps support …
Dive in

Philippines

2017 SPR CCEF Report

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park lies in a unique position in the centre of the Sulu Sea. The area is home to a great diversity of marine life and protects an area of almost 100,000 hectares of high quality marine habitats containing three atolls and a large area of deep sea. It plays a key role in the process of reproduction, dispersal and colonisation by marine organisms in the whole Sulu Sea system, and helps support …
Dive in

Philippines

2019 SPR Expedition – Moalboal

Expedition Location In 2019, the SPR expedition was conducted in the Municipalities of Moalboal and Badian,Cebu Province, Philippines. The Municipalities of Moalboal and Badian border the watersof the Tañon Strait which has national protection under the National Integrated ProtectedAreas System (NIPAS) (Dolar et al 2006; Tiongson and Karczmarski 2016). Moalboal isone of the premiere dive destinations in the southern Philippines and currently has fourlocally declared and managed marine sanctuaries where a user-fee system operates togenerate …
Dive in

Philippines

SPR Tubbataha, Philippines 2012

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park lies in a unique position in the centre of the Sulu Sea. The area is home to a great diversity of marine life and protects an area of almost 100,000 hectares of high quality marine habitats containing three atolls and a large area of deep sea. It plays a key role in the process of reproduction, dispersal and colonisation by marine organisms in the whole Sulu Sea system, and helps support …
Dive in

Philippines

SPR Moalboal, Philippines 2013

Moalboal lies in the waters of the Tañon Strait, which is a NIPAS (National Integrated Protected Areas System) declared protected area. Moalboal has four locally-declared and managed marine sanctuaries which implement a user-fee system that generates income for the local communities. Expedition Location The 2013 Saving Philippine Reefs expedition was held at Moalboal, a premiere domestic and international dive site located about 90 kilometres from the province of Cebu city. Moalboal lies in the waters …
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Philippines

SPR Tubbataha, Philippines 2014

Tubbataha Reef Natural Park declared a World Heritage Site in 1994, lies in the global center of marine biodiversity. The two atoll reefs that form Tubbataha are the best regional example of a well-protected, no fishing, marine park that contains a very diverse and abundant array of fish, corals and other animals in clear and pollution free waters. Expedition Location The 2014 expedition was held at Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea, Philippines a premier …
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Philippines

SPR Calamianes Islands, Philippines 2016

The Calamian Islands represent one of the most biodiverse rich groups of islands in the Philippines owing to the incredible range of islands, shorelines, habitats, geologic structures, oceanographic currents and interfaces with offshore systems in the South China Sea and the northern Sulu Sea. Coral reef and sea grass beds contain 70% of all the coral and sea grass species recorded in the Philippines. Expedition Location The Calamianes group of islands is located in the …
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Philippines

SPR Camiguin Island, Philippines 2015

Known as the ‘Island Born of Fire’, Camiguin Island has developed into a resource base for ecotourism and conservation education. With 31 MPA’s in the area it is linking conservation with economics through increasing the visibility of unique biodiversity species through marine protected area establishment and management. Expedition Location Camiguin Island lies in the Bohol Sea, between Mindanao and Bohol Islands, about 50 km south ofBohol. With seven active volcanoes, it is known as the …
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Philippines

2025 SPR Expedition – Siquijor

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park lies in a unique position in the centre of the Sulu Sea. The area is home to a great diversity of marine life and protects an area of almost 100,000 hectares of high quality marine habitats containing three atolls and a large area of deep sea. It plays a key role in the process of reproduction, dispersal and colonisation by marine organisms in the whole Sulu Sea system, and helps support fisheries outside its boundaries.

Dive in

Philippines

2024 SPR Expedition – Tubbataha

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park lies in a unique position in the centre of the Sulu Sea. The area is home to a great diversity of marine life and protects an area of almost 100,000 hectares of high quality marine habitats containing three atolls and a large area of deep sea. It plays a key role in the process of reproduction, dispersal and colonisation by marine organisms in the whole Sulu Sea system, and helps support fisheries outside its boundaries.

Dive in

Philippines

2023 SPR Expedition – Bohol

Bohol is a province of the Philippines, in the country’s Central Visayas region. It comprises Bohol Island and numerous smaller surrounding islands. Bohol is known for coral reefs and unusual geological formations, notably the Chocolate Hills. A popular tourist destination, the province is abundant of beaches and resorts. Its well‐known beaches are found in Panglao Island, which is situated south-west of the province and in Anda, located on the island’s east side. Bohol is composed of one city (Tagbilaran), and 47 municipalities.

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Philippines

2019 SPR Expedition – Moalboal

In 2019, the SPR expedition was conducted in the Municipalities of Moalboal and Badian, Cebu Province, Philippines. The Municipalities of Moalboal and Badian border the waters
of the Tañon Strait which has national protection under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS)

Dive in

Philippines

2018 SPR Report Tubbataha

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park lies in a unique position in the centre of the Sulu Sea. The area is home to a great diversity of marine life and protects an area of almost 100,000 hectares of high quality marine habitats containing three atolls and a large area of deep sea. It plays a key role in the process of reproduction, dispersal and colonisation by marine organisms in the whole Sulu Sea system, and helps support fisheries outside its boundaries.

Dive in

Philippines

2017 SPR CCEF Report

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park lies in a unique position in the centre of the Sulu Sea. The area is home to a great diversity of marine life and protects an area of almost 100,000 hectares of high quality marine habitats containing three atolls and a large area of deep sea. It plays a key role in the process of reproduction, dispersal and colonisation by marine organisms in the whole Sulu Sea system, and helps support fisheries outside its boundaries.

Dive in

Philippines

2016 SPR Expedition – Calamianes Islands

The Calamianes Islands represent one of the most biodiverse rich groups of islands in the Philippines owing to the incredible range of islands, shorelines, habitats, geologic structures, oceanographic currents and interfaces with offshore systems in the South China Sea and the northern Sulu Sea. Coral reef and sea grass beds contain 70% of all the coral and sea grass species recorded in the Philippines.

Dive in

Philippines

2015 SPR Expedition – Camiguin Island

Known as the ‘Island Born of Fire’, Camiguin Island has developed into a resource base for ecotourism and conservation education. With 31 MPA’s in the area it is linking conservation with economics through increasing the visibility of unique biodiversity species through marine protected area establishment and management.

Dive in

Philippines

2014 SPR Expedition – Tubbataha

Tubbataha Reef Natural Park declared a World Heritage Site in 1994, lies in the global center of marine biodiversity. The two atoll reefs that form Tubbataha are the best regional example of a well-protected, no fishing, marine park that contains a very diverse and abundant array of fish, corals and other animals in clear and pollution free waters.

Dive in

Philippines

2013 SPR Expedition – Moalboal

Moalboal lies in the waters of the Tañon Strait, which is a NIPAS (National Integrated Protected Areas System) declared protected area. Moalboal has four locally-declared and managed marine sanctuaries which implement a user-fee system that generates income for the local communities.

Dive in

Philippines

2012 SPR Expedition – Tubbataha

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park lies in a unique position in the centre of the Sulu Sea. The area is home to a great diversity of marine life and protects an area of almost 100,000 hectares of high quality marine habitats containing three atolls and a large area of deep sea. It plays a key role in the process of reproduction, dispersal and colonisation by marine organisms in the whole Sulu Sea system, and helps support fisheries outside its boundaries.

Dive in

Philippines

2011 SPR Batangas

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park lies in a unique position in the centre of the Sulu Sea. The area is home to a great diversity of marine life and protects an area of almost 100,000 hectares of high quality marine habitats containing three atolls and a large area of deep sea. It plays a key role in the process of reproduction, dispersal and colonisation by marine organisms in the whole Sulu Sea system, and helps support fisheries outside its boundaries.

Dive in

Philippines

2010 SPR Southeastern Cebu

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park lies in a unique position in the centre of the Sulu Sea. The area is home to a great diversity of marine life and protects an area of almost 100,000 hectares of high quality marine habitats containing three atolls and a large area of deep sea. It plays a key role in the process of reproduction, dispersal and colonisation by marine organisms in the whole Sulu Sea system, and helps support fisheries outside its boundaries.

Dive in

Philippines

2009 SPR Siquijor

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park lies in a unique position in the centre of the Sulu Sea. The area is home to a great diversity of marine life and protects an area of almost 100,000 hectares of high quality marine habitats containing three atolls and a large area of deep sea. It plays a key role in the process of reproduction, dispersal and colonisation by marine organisms in the whole Sulu Sea system, and helps support fisheries outside its boundaries.

Dive in

Philippines

2008 SPR Tubbataha

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park lies in a unique position in the centre of the Sulu Sea. The area is home to a great diversity of marine life and protects an area of almost 100,000 hectares of high quality marine habitats containing three atolls and a large area of deep sea. It plays a key role in the process of reproduction, dispersal and colonisation by marine organisms in the whole Sulu Sea system, and helps support fisheries outside its boundaries.

Dive in

Philippines

2007 SPR Bohol

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park lies in a unique position in the centre of the Sulu Sea. The area is home to a great diversity of marine life and protects an area of almost 100,000 hectares of high quality marine habitats containing three atolls and a large area of deep sea. It plays a key role in the process of reproduction, dispersal and colonisation by marine organisms in the whole Sulu Sea system, and helps support fisheries outside its boundaries.

Dive in

Philippines

2006 SPR Calamianes

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park lies in a unique position in the centre of the Sulu Sea. The area is home to a great diversity of marine life and protects an area of almost 100,000 hectares of high quality marine habitats containing three atolls and a large area of deep sea. It plays a key role in the process of reproduction, dispersal and colonisation by marine organisms in the whole Sulu Sea system, and helps support fisheries outside its boundaries.

Dive in

Philippines

2005 SPR Batangas

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park lies in a unique position in the centre of the Sulu Sea. The area is home to a great diversity of marine life and protects an area of almost 100,000 hectares of high quality marine habitats containing three atolls and a large area of deep sea. It plays a key role in the process of reproduction, dispersal and colonisation by marine organisms in the whole Sulu Sea system, and helps support fisheries outside its boundaries.

Dive in

Philippines

2004 SPR Tubbataha

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park lies in a unique position in the centre of the Sulu Sea. The area is home to a great diversity of marine life and protects an area of almost 100,000 hectares of high quality marine habitats containing three atolls and a large area of deep sea. It plays a key role in the process of reproduction, dispersal and colonisation by marine organisms in the whole Sulu Sea system, and helps support fisheries outside its boundaries.

Dive in

Philippines

2003 SPR Bohol

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park lies in a unique position in the centre of the Sulu Sea. The area is home to a great diversity of marine life and protects an area of almost 100,000 hectares of high quality marine habitats containing three atolls and a large area of deep sea. It plays a key role in the process of reproduction, dispersal and colonisation by marine organisms in the whole Sulu Sea system, and helps support fisheries outside its boundaries.

Dive in

The Organisation

Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation

Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the management and sustainable use of Philippine coastal resources through active leadership and participation of coastal communities and stakeholders. Driven by its passion to create sustainable coasts and actively engage communities, CCEF develops and disseminate tools, techniques and research for better marine management, while promoting integrated coastal management approach that includes marine protected areas (MPAs) localized law enforcement and other participatory best practices.​

Find out more info here: https://www.coast.ph/

Project Partners