Leyte is an island located in the Eastern Visayas region of the Philippines. It can be tricky to get to, but there are direct flights from Manila to the airport in Tacloban, or you can take the ferry from Cebu. it is made up of Northern Leyte, Southern Leyte as well as the islands of Panaon to the south and Biliran to the north, which is connected to Leyte with a bridge.
The diving here is renowned as some of the best in the Philippines. It combines some of the best macro and muck diving in the world with some spectacular encounters with large pelagic life such as whale sharks, which migrate through the Sogod Bay area annually. Padre Burgos also offers one of the most diverse dive sites in the world with a staggering amount of life.
There is a bit of everything to see in Leyte’s diving scene. There are walls covered in corals, schooling fish, muck diving, macro life and huge pelagics. There can be strong drift dives but at other times the sea will be still and calm.
There are not so many dive centers in this area, though of course most dive courses are still possible. A couple of dive resorts operate, ranging in prices. A few liveaboards frequent the area too, but it is generally a very quiet area for diving.
Diving in Leyte is possible year round. The months between November and May are best for diving due to calm seas and low rainfall. This is also the best time to see whale sharks. Though the weather can be unpredictable for the rest of the year, with potential for typhoons in September/October, diving is still usually possible.
Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content
