This dive site, Black Rock, is a renowned reef manta cleaning station in Southeast Asia, named for a prominent black rock at 8 meters depth where a buoy is located. It serves as a vital ecosystem where cleaner wrasse service reef mantas, removing dead skin. Navigation typically involves descending to the cleaning station and observing the pelagic activity around the reef, which forms part of a larger reef structure.
Divers can expect incredible encounters with large pelagics, including reef mantas frequenting the cleaning station. The site is famous for whitetip sharks, often observed in feeding frenzies, silvertip sharks, and occasional sightings of tiger sharks and even whale sharks. The reef structure itself hosts various cleaner wrasse and other reef fish that contribute to the cleaning station's ecosystem.
The best time to visit Black Rock for prime pelagic action is typically during the dry season, generally from March to June for the Tubbataha region, when conditions are calmer and marine life is abundant. Freedivers will find the average depth of 12 meters and the manta cleaning station at 8 meters highly suitable for breath-hold diving. Divers should be prepared for potential strong or variable currents and maintain excellent buoyancy control to observe the marine life without disturbance.
