Southern Leyte: Dive Site Jun’s Pinnacle – Located on the eastern side of Sogod Bay near the small village of Cabungalon, this site offers exceptional diving with vibrant marine life and dramatic underwater scenery.
Video taken: March 2025

Southern Leyte Padre Burgo: Situated on the southern most tip of the province, this area along side Limasawa Island is home to some of the best diving sites in the Philippines
Images taken: March 2025

Diver's Guide to Southern Leyte

Southern Leyte’s center for diving, Padre Burgos, sits at the southern tip of the province and takes the better part of a day to reach from my home in Panglao, Bohol. It's off the path traveled by most divers coming to the Visayas, but for those that can set time aside and are willing to do some traveling, you will be rewarded with some unforgettable experiences.

The province has a population of around half a million people, making it the least populated in the Eastern Visayas. Originally part of Leyte, Southern Leyte became its own province in 1960 to improve governance and give the people here a stronger voice. With its distinct economy of coconut, abaca, rice, and fishing, it is now the 41st province of the Philippines, home to Maasin City and 18 municipalities — a place known not only for its natural beauty but also for the warmth and friendliness of its people.

Exploratory diving began here in the late 1990s, laying the foundation for tourism when Peter’s Dive Resort officially opened in 2001. To this day there are only three or four dedicated dive resorts operating around Sogod Bay, all just north of Padre Burgos — a testament to the unspoiled character that still defines diving in Southern Leyte.

Diving here is split into four main areas: the Padre Burgos shoreline, the Himayangan area on the east side of Sogod Bay for whale shark spotting, and further south, the dive sites around Napantao and finally Limasawa Island.

What makes the area so unique is that each site offers something different, and every time I return to dive here I discover something new — that’s what keeps me coming back. From the beauty of Limasawa Island to Napantao’s towering walls, Jun’s Pinnacle’s tabletop reef, and the vast coral shelves along the Padre Burgos shoreline, this is truly a very special place to dive.

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Dive Central Philippines Live

If you’re planning a dive trip or just curious about what it’s really like underwater here, check out my YouTube channel. I share fresh dive clips from sites across the central Visayas, giving you a real feel for the conditions, the reefs, and the kind of marine life you can expect when you dive here yourself.

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Visayas: In Focus - Dive Guides & Dive Trips

Our diving hub and articles have been created to showcase the region. They provide up-to-date information on dive sites, itinerary options, conditions, and the kind of marine life you can expect to see. Whether you're planning a future dive trip or just getting a feel for what's out there, it's a great place to start. Bookmark us or subscribe to our monthly newsletter — we’re continually adding fresh articles and updates.

Dive Map – Southern Leyte

The map highlights the main transport hubs of Cebu, Bohol, and Panglao, which are the usual gateways for reaching Southern Leyte. It also marks the dive sites around Padre Burgos itself, the eastern side of Sogod Bay, and Limasawa Island.

Southern Leyte: Dive Site Map - Click the map pins for location snippets
Map Source: John Hawkins | Leaflet | 2025

Limasawa Island: Dive Site Adrian’s Cove – This small cove on the east side of the island features a micro coral shelf leading to a dramatic wall. Currents here can be strong, and if your guide takes you downstream of the boat, be prepared for a tough kick back to the ladder.
Video taken: March 2025

Diving Highlights & Final Thoughts – Southern Leyte, Padre Burgos

Coming to this region to dive is always one of the highlights of my year. For me it’s never a short-stay trip — with two full days of travel there and back, I usually plan four to five days of diving to catch the main events. Of course, you can shorten your stay and still pack in plenty: dive boats typically rotate through the main areas, and with night dives you could cover a lot in just three days. Any less, though, and you’ll miss out on some truly special sites. For perspective, on my last visit I met a Canadian couple who had booked six weeks at their hotel and were diving three times a day — and if you ever have trouble sleeping at night, that’s one cure I can recommend.

Diving here offers something for all levels of divers, though it’s the more experienced who will find the greatest variety. The Padre Burgos shoreline provides easier conditions compared to Limasawa Island and the sites along Napantao, where strong currents are the norm and dives can take you down to maximum recreational depths, with towering walls and dramatic reefscapes waiting below.

It’s difficult to point to any single highlight. The dives along the Padre Burgos shore feature outstanding coral shelves, especially at Medicare North and Medicare South, with beautiful marine life and more than a fair share of hawksbill turtles. Jun’s Pinnacle, over on the east side of the bay, stood out — a rock formation where our guide led us to begin the dive at 40 m before winding up the slope to a coral tabletop. Then there’s Limasawa Island, with its steep forested cliffs, tiny bays, and coves, all filled with first-class reefs and seemingly bottomless walls. Yes — it really is that good.

Whale Shark Watching - Sogod Bay

Sogod Bay forms part of the migratory pathway for whale sharks, which can be seen here from November through May each year. The animals arrive naturally with the plankton blooms, and encounters are carefully managed with strict no-touch, no-feeding rules and limits on group size.

Whale shark tourism in Sogod Bay is firmly rooted in conservation and community. Local fishermen now work as spotters and boat crew, turning to guiding instead of fishing, and a share of the fees supports marine protected areas, reef monitoring, and education programs. This small-scale, community-driven approach keeps the whale sharks safe while giving locals a sustainable livelihood and visitors an authentic, respectful experience.

For those setting out on a day trip expecting a calm, picture-perfect encounter with the sharks gliding gently past, there may be a surprise in store. The standard practice is for spotters to position the bangka well ahead of a cruising shark, with guests perched on the outriggers waiting for the signal to jump.

At that moment, all sense of calm seems to vanish as everyone launches into what feels like the swim leg of an Olympic triathlon. Back in my heyday, sinking was often a better option than sprint swimming, and at one stage I even found myself being towed through the water by the boat’s unlucky guide. That said, I still managed to swim with whale sharks, and we had two or three encounters during the day.

Looking back, I’m glad I went along and enjoyed the experience, even if it’s perhaps a sport better suited to younger people — it’s still one of those adventures worth doing at least once. And a word of advice: if you do decide to set off to see the sharks, make sure you’re covered head to toe with a rash guard. Vinegar was in high demand for jellyfish stings once we all got back on the boat.

Best Time to Dive: When to Go and Why

Diving in Southern Leyte is possible year-round, but the seasons do affect the conditions. High season runs from November through May, when seas are usually calmer, visibility improves, and boat rides feel smoother. I also noticed it genuinely feels a bit cooler here than in Bohol — often a degree or two lower, and noticeably less humid.

December to May overlaps with whale shark season in Sogod Bay, so you can combine colourful reef dives with the chance of pelagic encounters. On the outer sites like Napantao and around Limasawa, visibility often stretches 20 to 30 meters at this time, making the walls and drop-offs even more dramatic. What stands out to me is how uncrowded it remains — despite being peak season, I’ve never had to share a site with another group, a rare luxury in today’s dive destinations.

The wet season, from June to October, brings afternoon rains and choppier seas, but the diving doesn’t stop. When I spoke with the boat crews, they explained that during these months the outer reefs can be harder to reach, but the local sites along the Padre Burgos shore usually remain diveable. You just need to be a bit more flexible with the schedule, and you’ll still find plenty of good diving even in the low season.

Reaching Southern Leyte & Padre Burgos: Routes & Options

Southern Leyte and Padre Burgos fit naturally into a Central Visayas dive itinerary — yes off the beaten track, but accessible from Cebu City, Bohol, or Tacloban Airport.

Cebu City Sea Route

From Cebu City you can take an overnight ferry to Maasin, the capital of Southern Leyte. The crossing usually takes 6 to 8 hours depending on the vessel, with most ferries departing from Cebu Pier 3 in the evening and arriving in Maasin the following morning. It’s a straightforward and popular option if you’re already in Cebu, with several shipping lines running regular schedules.

From Maasin it’s about 30 kilometers south to Padre Burgos, a drive of 40 to 50 minutes along the coastal highway. You can take a van or jeepney from the transport terminal, making it a simple final leg that gets you down to the dive sites.

Panglao Bohol Route

From Panglao, head to Tagbilaran’s main bus terminal and pick up a van to Ubay on Bohol’s northeast coast — a journey of around three hours. From Ubay there are two ferry options to Bato, Southern Leyte. The slow RORO ferry operated by Medallion Transport departs daily, taking around three and a half hours, while the faster “Mama Mary Chloe” ferry completes the same route in about one and a half hours, with morning departures in both directions.

Once you arrive in Bato, the final leg to Padre Burgos takes just under an hour by road if you arrange a resort pick-up for around ₱2,500. If you travel by public transport, vans and jeepneys run south through Maasin before reaching Padre Burgos, which makes the journey slower and less direct compared to a private transfer.

Tacloban Airport Route

If you are coming direct from Manila, a flight to Tacloban is a good option. From Tacloban’s bus terminal you can then take a van to Maasin, a journey of around four to five hours, before continuing the final leg by van or jeepney to reach Padre Burgos.

Travel Notes

If you are travelling by van (minibus), tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis and the vehicle will not depart until it is full. You pay per seat, and fares are reasonably priced; however, no additional luggage space is provided, and you will need to buy an extra seat to accommodate your bags.

Most dive resorts in Padre Burgos can arrange pick-ups from the ferry ports at Bato and Maasin, as well as from Tacloban Airport. It’s a convenient option for divers with gear, though more expensive than taking a van or public transport.

Southern Leyte, Padre Burgos: Peter's Dive Resort was opened in 2001 and opened up the area for dive tourism
Images taken: 2025

Where to Stay: Padre Burgos

When you come to Padre Burgos for the diving, the best choice is to stay with one of the dedicated dive resorts. Three stand out, and most visitors end up choosing between them: Peter’s Dive Resort, Sogod Bay Scuba Resort, and Padre Burgos Castle Resort. Each one gives you direct access to the bay, daily dive boats, and the kind of set-up that keeps the focus on the diving rather than the logistics.

Peter’s Dive Resort and Sogod Bay Scuba Resort sit just north of the town and are both long-established, with professional facilities and experienced crews. Being right on the shoreline means you can step out of your room and onto the boats in minutes, with everything organised around making life simple for divers. It’s a convenience you really notice once you’ve settled into the rhythm of two or three dives a day.

I personally stay at Peter’s Dive Resort when I come here. It has a good mix of rooms to suit different budgets, and the restaurant serves great food in a relaxed, friendly setting that makes it easy to meet other divers. What really stood out for me was how well the whole place is managed — everything runs smoothly, from the daily dive schedules to the way the gear is handled. On top of that, the dive boat team were first class, both in how they ran the dives and how approachable they were on and off the water.

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