7,641 Islands & the Coral Triangle
The Philippines consist of 7,641 islands (at low tide — fewer at high tide). Of these, only about 2,000 are inhabited, and only 500 are larger than one square kilometer. The three main groups are Luzon (north), Visayas (center), and Mindanao (south).
The true wonder lies underwater: The Philippines form the northwestern corner of the Coral Triangle, which spans six countries and hosts the highest marine biodiversity in the world. What this means:
- 500+ coral species — more than in the entire Atlantic
- 2,500+ fish species — including whale sharks, manta rays, thresher sharks, hammerhead sharks
- Sea turtles — 5 out of 7 species worldwide are found here
- Dugongs (sea cows) — one of the last significant populations in Southeast Asia
The Tubbataha Reef Natural Park (UNESCO, south of Palawan) is the most spectacular marine sanctuary: an atoll in the middle of the Sulu Sea, accessible only by liveaboard boat (March–June), with visibility of 30–40 meters and the highest coral density on the planet. For divers, Tubbataha is the Holy Grail.
