Triggerfish City

South Atoll, Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, Sulu Sea, Philippines

A high-energy South Atoll drift named for its triggerfish: clouds of red-toothed triggerfish swirl over the reef top, with yellowmargin and clown triggerfish among them and territorial titan triggerfish guarding conical nests in season (give them room). The reef starts shallow around 5 m over sparse staghorn, then rolls into a wall dropping past a 12–14 m sand shelf and steepening toward 50 m on the east side. Expect schooling juvenile grey reef and whitetip sharks, barracuda, turtles, oriental sweetlips and grouper. Liveaboard only; advanced.