Phl clears 2 dive spots as salvage of US ship in Tubbataha Reef begins

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The Philippine government has advised tourists and recreational divers not to go to two of the 15 dive spots in the Tubbataha Reef Marine Park, as salvage operations of a grounded US Navy minesweeper have kicked off, a senior coast guard official said today.

Commodore Enrico Efren Evangelista, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Palawan district commander and chief of Task Force Tubbataha, said that the two dive sites have been closed upon the orders of the Tubbataha Management.

He said that tourists could just visit the other 13 dive spots in the area.

"Tubbataha is huge. Of the 15 dive sites, only two are affected. The remaining dive sites are open," Evangelista said.

He also said that as the salvaging team prepares for the removal of the USS Guardian's second level, the task force is hoping to finish it by the end of the week.

The US Navy ship has been stuck in the reef of the park as it ran aground on Jan. 17 while on its way to next port of call after docking in Subic. At least 4,000 square meters of the world heritage site have been damaged due to the grounding incident.