Diving in Southern Leyte, Philippines offers incredible underwater variety across four key areas at the island’s southern tip. Limasawa Island suits all skill levels, with colorful reefs and easy conditions. Panaon Island features deep canyons, steep walls, and strong currents, where black corals and vibrant marine life await. Further north, Libagon is a pelagic hotspot - divers may encounter whale sharks, manta rays, and dolphins. With such diverse dive environments, spending a few days here ensures a rich and rewarding diving experience.
Plan your Southern Leyte dive trip from November to May to swim with whale sharks in Panaon Island and Sogod Bay. Even when whale sharks leave, dolphins, whales, and mantas are still common. Napantao Sanctuary’s rich reef life offers excellent diving all year.
Your journey to Southern Leyte begins with an international flight into the Philippines. Most travelers arrive via Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila or Mactan-Cebu International Airport (CEB) in Cebu, the two major international gateways to the country.
From either Manila or Cebu, take a domestic flight to Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport (TAC) in Tacloban City. Local airlines such as Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, AirPhil Express, and Zest Airways operate multiple daily flights.
Upon arrival in Tacloban, travelers can continue their journey to Southern Leyte by bus, minivan, or taxi, heading south towards Maasin, Padre Burgos, or Sogod Bay - home to the region’s top diving spots. The drive typically takes 4–5 hours, offering scenic views along the way.
Alternatively, divers coming from Cebu or Bohol can take local ferries directly to various ports in Southern Leyte, such as Hilongos, Bato, or Maasin, making it a flexible and accessible destination for dive tourism in the Visayas.
Technical Diving
Freediving
Emergency First Response
FREE – Introduction to Scuba Diving Online
Marine Debris
Shark & Ray Protection
Adopt a Dive Site
