Black Noddy | Tubbataha Reef

Boat

Renovated in 2025, Black Noddy is a 33-metre Philippine expedition yacht created for small-group liveaboard journeys to Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park. With eight cabins and a published maximum of 16 guests, she offers a more intimate alternative to high-capacity dive boats while retaining distinct dining, lounge, sun-deck and dive-preparation areas.

The operator's plans divide the yacht across four guest-accessible levels. The lower deck contains four guest cabins, crew quarters and the engine room. The main deck holds three more cabins, a stern dive deck, laundry and technical access. The upper deck combines the Horizon Suite with the bridge, kitchen and covered dining space. Above it, the open viewing deck provides loungers, seating and tables for sun, quiet time, yoga or stargazing.

Social spaces are one of the vessel's strongest visible features. Large windows connect the indoor salon and dining area to the sea, while covered outdoor seating allows guests to eat or relax in the shade. The top deck is open and spacious, and the stern platform creates a practical boundary between guest relaxation areas and diving operations. The operator advertises freshly prepared full-board meals, daily refreshments, a welcome cocktail and a special dinner as part of the voyage.

The public specification is intentionally concise. Beyond length, capacity and 2025 renovation, the site does not publish the beam, draft, hull material, build year, engine model, cruising speed, generator capacity, freshwater production, electrical outlets, navigation inventory, tender count or complete safety list. These details should not be copied from another vessel or inferred from photographs. Clubs or charter groups with technical requirements should obtain the current vessel specification and safety certificate directly from Black Noddy.

The yacht's boutique positioning should also be read realistically. Tubbataha lies far offshore in the Sulu Sea, so even a comfortable vessel will move during the long crossing from Puerto Princesa. Outdoor areas depend on weather, Wi-Fi is presented as a paid enhancement rather than an included service, and marine operations remain under the captain's authority. A remote expedition is not equivalent to a hotel stay, despite the refined onboard design.

Cabin

Black Noddy carries exactly eight guest cabins for a maximum of 16 guests. The official deck plans identify them as one cabin on the upper deck, three on the main deck and four on the lower deck. Combining those plans with the published room categories gives the following inventory:

• 1 Horizon Suite — Upper Deck, UD-301: one king bed, private bathroom and accommodation for up to two guests. This is the highest and most private category, positioned next to the bridge and forward of the kitchen/dining area.
• 2 Ocean Twin Suites — Main Deck, MD-201 and MD-202: two single beds in each cabin, a private bathroom and space for up to two guests. These rooms provide easy access to the yacht's main operational level.
• 1 Explorer Cabin — Main Deck, MD-203: two single beds, shared bathroom and accommodation for up to two guests. It is the aft-most main-deck cabin, close to the dive deck and laundry area.
• 4 Voyager Cabins — Lower Deck, LD-101 to LD-104: the category page describes lower-deck accommodation with two single beds, a shared bathroom and capacity for up to two guests per cabin.

Diving

Black Noddy's Tubbataha programme advertises up to four dives per day. The main-deck plan marks a dedicated dive deck at the stern, and official images show direct ladder access at the aft platform. The route is focused on remote atoll diving rather than shore-based activities, with reef walls, drop-offs, coral plateaus, schooling fish and encounters with sharks, rays, turtles and other pelagic species possible across the park.

The standard price includes a “Diving Package,” but the public page does not define its components. It does not state the number or size of standard cylinders, whether weights and belts are included, gas type, guide-to-diver ratio, tender arrangements, compressor capacity, surface-marker requirements, camera facilities, night-dive equipment or maximum total dives. Every dated booking should list these elements before the trip is sold.

Nitrox and 15-litre tanks appear under “Enhance Your Expedition,” meaning they are additional services rather than standard inclusions. No Nitrox price, oxygen percentage, certification rule or 15-litre-cylinder price is published. Scuba courses are also extra, but the available agencies, course types, materials and time taken from the expedition are not specified. Divers should reserve all of these in advance.

Rental prices currently published are €30 per day for a full equipment set, €10 per day for a BCD, €10 for a regulator, €12 for a dive computer, €7 for a wetsuit, €6 for fins and €3 for a mask. Availability, sizes, included accessories and damage/loss terms are not shown. A “full set” should not be assumed to include a dive computer, torch or surface marker unless the confirmation says so.

The operator does not publish minimum certification, minimum logged dives, recency rules, medical documentation, mandatory dive insurance or required personal safety equipment. Tubbataha can involve open-ocean entries, wall diving and current, so these questions are essential. A diver should not book based only on the phrase “up to four dives daily”; the actual programme depends on certification, experience, weather, park rules and individual fitness.

UNESCO describes Tubbataha as a nearly 100,000-hectare protected marine property encompassing North Atoll, South Atoll and Jessie Beazley Reef. Its reefs include extensive flats and near-vertical walls descending beyond 100 metres, while the wider ecosystem supports hundreds of coral and fish species. Whale sharks, manta rays, tiger or hammerhead sharks and other celebrated animals are possible, never guaranteed.

Other Information

The following distinctions reflect the operator's current public room and expedition pages. Black Noddy does not publish full booking terms, so the dated quotation and contract must resolve every item not expressly listed.

Currently advertised as included:

• Hotel and airport transfers in connection with the Puerto Princesa programme; exact hotels, airport, operating hours and transfer direction must be confirmed
• Welcome cocktails
• Daily refreshments; the site does not define which drinks or snacks this covers
• Full-board dining
• One special dinner
• Diving package; cylinders, weights, guide ratio and exact dive count still require clarification
• Towels and toiletries
• Accommodation in the paid cabin category

“Hotel & Airport Transfers” describes transport, not hotel accommodation. Flights to Puerto Princesa, pre- or post-cruise hotel nights, visas, insurance and personal purchases are not listed among the inclusions and should be treated as excluded unless added in writing.

Collected separately:

• Tubbataha National Park fee: €100 per guest on the current page
• Fuel surcharge: €200–€500 per trip on the current page. The site does not specify whether this is charged per guest, cabin or booking, so the invoice must identify the billing unit.

Optional or additional services:

• Nitrox
• Laundry service
• Scuba courses
• Wi-Fi access
• 15-litre tanks
• Alcoholic beverages
• Complete or individual rental dive equipment at the daily prices listed above
• Private charter arrangements

The site does not publish prices for Nitrox, laundry, Wi-Fi, 15-litre cylinders, courses or alcohol. Because Tubbataha is offshore, paid Wi-Fi may still depend on satellite or network conditions; bandwidth and uptime should be confirmed rather than promised.

Commercial and practical points still unpublished:

• Deposit amount, balance deadline, accepted payment methods and bank/card charges
• Cancellation, amendment, substitution, force-majeure and refund rules
• Single-traveller matching, single-use supplement and child policy
• Crew gratuity policy
• Dive and travel-insurance requirements
• Medical forms, certification level and minimum logged dives
• Dietary/allergy process and beverage coverage
• Check-in point and time, luggage limits and final no-fly planning
• Whether marine permits or taxes other than the listed park fee are payable

The current room rates and 2027 schedule can change without notice.

Black Noddy currently promotes 7- and 8-day Tubbataha voyages from Puerto Princesa during the short March-to-June season. The operator publishes the duration and the promise of up to four dives daily, but not a fixed site-by-site route. The sequences below are therefore responsible planning frameworks based on the vessel's programme and the geography of Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park; the captain, park rules and conditions determine the actual order.

Tubbataha Expedition – 7 Days / Typical 6 Nights

Day 1 – Puerto Princesa transfer and embarkation
The included transfer collects guests according to the written pickup plan and brings them to the embarkation point. After cabin assignment, the crew introduces vessel safety, the stern dive deck and onboard routines. Divers verify certifications, medical information, rental equipment, Nitrox or 15-litre reservations and personal gear. Welcome cocktails and full-board service begin onboard. Departure is generally planned around the long offshore crossing, subject to port clearance and weather.

Day 2 – Arrival in Tubbataha and first reef dives
After the overnight passage, the first dive serves as a practical opportunity to confirm weighting, equipment and comfort in local conditions. Later dives can introduce Tubbataha's coral slopes and wall systems. Up to four dives may be offered on a full operating day, but arrival time, sea state and group readiness determine the real number.

Day 3 – North Atoll exploration
The North Atoll sector can combine reef edges, walls and blue-water viewpoints where whitetip reef sharks, turtles, trevallies and schooling reef fish may appear. Briefings should address current direction, depth, separation and surface-marker procedures. Site selection follows mooring availability, park rules and the experience of the group rather than a pre-advertised checklist.

Day 4 – South Atoll and open-ocean walls
The yacht can reposition to the South Atoll for another full day of remote diving. Coral structure and exposure change around the atoll, allowing the cruise team to choose the most appropriate side for the conditions. Manta rays, large sharks, tuna, barracuda and other pelagic animals are possible, while intact reef scenery is the dependable attraction.

Day 5 – Flexible atoll programme
This day gives the captain flexibility to revisit the stronger sector or select a different reef face. Four dives are possible only when crossings, daylight, weather and park operations permit. Underwater photographers should plan battery and file management around the actual boat rules because the public site does not advertise a dedicated camera room or charging station.

Day 6 – Jessie Beazley possibility and return passage
Jessie Beazley Reef forms the third component of the UNESCO property and may be incorporated when routing and sea state allow; it is not guaranteed by the Black Noddy page. Final dives finish early enough to begin the return toward Puerto Princesa and establish an appropriate no-fly interval. Equipment is rinsed and rental items are checked before the crossing.

Day 7 – Puerto Princesa arrival and onward transfer
After arrival and settlement of onboard charges, guests disembark for the included onward transfer described in their confirmation. Flight planning must account for both the uncertain timing of an offshore passage and the safe interval after repetitive diving. A flexible post-cruise hotel night is safer than a tight same-day flight.

Extended Tubbataha Expedition – 8 Days / Typical 7 Nights

The eight-day product follows the same offshore structure but creates an additional scheduling margin. Depending on the dated programme, the extra time may support another full day around North or South Atoll, more flexibility for Jessie Beazley, slower repositioning or a private-charter activity. It must not be advertised as a guaranteed extra four dives or a guaranteed named site.

Day 1 – Arrival, transfer and departure
Guests join in Puerto Princesa, complete documentation and prepare equipment before the offshore crossing.

Days 2–3 – Initial Tubbataha diving
The first sessions establish weighting and group procedures, followed by wall and reef diving in the most suitable atoll sector. A full day can reach four dives when conditions allow.

Days 4–5 – North and South Atoll programme
Two central expedition days provide time to work around both major atolls, adapting to current, wind and park management. The schedule may include sunrise entries or an evening dive only if the operator, park rules and conditions permit; the public page does not promise night diving.

Day 6 – Additional remote-water day
The extra day is used where it adds the most value and safety. It may repeat a productive reef area, make up time lost to weather or extend the exploration. Wildlife remains unpredictable regardless of trip length.

Day 7 – Final dives and return crossing
One or more final dives may be planned before the voyage back to Palawan, with timing governed by sea conditions and no-fly considerations.

Day 8 – Disembarkation and transfer
Guests leave the yacht in Puerto Princesa and use the confirmed onward transfer. All final timing must come from the departure document, not this representative outline.

2027 Published Tubbataha Season

The current Black Noddy page lists a maximum of 16 guests on departures from March to June 2027:

• March: 10–16, 18–24, 26 March–1 April
• April: 3–9, 11–17, 18–24, 25 April–2 May
• May: 3–9, 11–17, 18–24, 25–31
• June: 2–8, 10–16

The 25 April–2 May departure is marked as a private charter. Availability, duration, cabin rate and fuel charge should be reconfirmed before publication because the online schedule and room-rate cards may be updated independently.

Tubbataha Diving Character

Tubbataha's protected area covers North Atoll, South Atoll and Jessie Beazley Reef in the centre of the Sulu Sea. Its isolation is central to the experience: there are no routine resort visits or casual shore alternatives, and diving takes place from a mobile offshore base. Reef flats meet steep walls and deep water, creating opportunities for both coral-focused and pelagic encounters.

UNESCO records exceptional coral and fish diversity, important seabird colonies and habitat for green and hawksbill turtles, sharks, rays and cetaceans. This supports strong SEO destination language, but it does not justify promising a whale shark, manta, hammerhead, tiger shark or any other species on a particular departure. Current, visibility and animal movement change daily.

The brief operating season exists because access depends on the calmer weather window. “March to June” is not a guarantee of flat seas, and the long passage can still be rough. Seasickness preparation, adequate hydration and conservative flight planning are part of a well-prepared trip.

Private Charter Planning

One 2027 departure is already marked as private, and the operator invites enquiries for exclusive voyages. A charter can control cabin allocation and group atmosphere, but it cannot override protected-area regulation, port authority, weather or the captain's safety decision.

A charter quotation should specify all 16 guest places, cabin IDs, bathroom arrangements, transfer endpoints, meal and drink package, guides, cylinders, Nitrox, 15-litre tanks, rental equipment, courses, Wi-Fi, park fee, fuel surcharge, gratuities, taxes and cancellation conditions. Any request for a photographer schedule, family programme or non-diver activities needs written operational approval.

Non-Divers and Onboard Time

Black Noddy markets the yacht to divers and ocean lovers, but the Tubbataha page does not publish a separate non-diver, snorkelling or island-landing programme. A non-diver should therefore confirm whether snorkelling is allowed, supervised and supported at the sites selected for that departure, and whether equipment is available. The park's remoteness means that a guest who does not enter the water will spend most expedition days aboard the yacht rather than choosing independent shore excursions.

The open viewing deck, covered dining area and indoor salon provide several places to read, work with photographs or watch the sea between activities. Their use can be limited by wind, spray, operational briefings and crew movements. Yoga and stargazing are suggested by the operator as ways to enjoy the deck, not scheduled classes or guided inclusions.

Private-charter organisers bringing children, non-swimmers or guests with reduced mobility must request an explicit risk and access assessment. The public site does not state a minimum passenger age, childcare, lift access, accessible cabins or medical support. Tubbataha's offshore location and the yacht's multi-level stairs make these questions material to the booking, not minor preferences.