The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines, in partnership with the Department of Tourism (DOT) Korea and DOT Eastern Visayas, hosted a successful PADI Korea Dive Familiarization Trip from June 15 to 21, 2025, spotlighting the pristine marine wonders of Southern Leyte to the Korean dive market.
The initiative brought select members of PADI Korea and popular Korean diving influencers @mermaid_fina and @mermaid_eliane to explore the region’s thriving dive spots, including the famed Sogod Bay and Cuatro Islas. Welcomed by local officials and warmly embraced by the community, the weeklong program combined underwater adventure with cultural immersion.
Padre Burgos Mayor Hermenegildo Culpa led the local welcome, inviting the Korean delegation to experience Leyte’s natural beauty and the warmth of its people. “Leyte is not just a dive destination—it’s a story of resilience, community, and culture,” he said.
The tour kicked off with dives across Sogod Bay’s vibrant reef systems, including Napantaw North, Max Climax, and Medicare North, and continued to whale shark territory in Pintuyan. Sites like Gunter’s Wall and Adrian’s Cove offered stunning underwater scenery, while a night dive at Baluarte provided an unforgettable finale. The group capped their adventure with island-hopping in Cuatro Islas—Himokilan, Mahaba, Digyo, and Apid.
A special networking night in Padre Burgos gathered Korean divers with local dive operators, including Blue Deep Resort, Sogod Bay Scuba Resort, Peter’s Dive Resort, and Southern Leyte Divers. The exchange centered on sustainable marine tourism, conservation, and expanding partnerships in the regional dive industry.
TPB COO Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles emphasized the importance of diversifying the country’s dive offerings. “After Cebu and Dumaguete, Leyte is our next jewel—untouched, sustainable, and full of promise. We want Korean divers to discover that the Philippines offers not just one, but 7,641 islands of world-class dive experiences.”
With 1.57 million Korean visitors in 2024 and over 170,000 Korean dive enthusiasts recorded in the Philippines last year, the country remains the top diving destination for Korean travelers in the Asia-Pacific region—outpacing Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Palau, and even the Maldives.
DOT Korea’s Tourism Attaché Erwin Balane said the program reflects a growing demand for meaningful, sustainable travel. “Korean divers value both biodiversity and responsible tourism. Leyte delivers both, making it a natural choice for our market,” he noted.
The dive familiarization trip was made possible with the support of Bai Hotel Cebu and Cebu Pacific, which provided seamless connections from Cebu to Southern Leyte, bringing Korean divers closer to the heart of the Philippines’ next top dive destination.
Southern Leyte is no longer just a hidden gem—it’s the next must-dive paradise.
