The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines, in partnership with the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) Korea Office and DOT Eastern Visayas, welcomed Korean divers to Southern Leyte for the PADI Korea Dive Familiarization Trip held from June 15 to 21, 2025.
The initiative brought together PADI Korea members and diving influencers @mermaid_fina and @mermaid_eliane for a weeklong underwater exploration, supported by local officials from Southern Leyte and the Municipality of Padre Burgos.
Mayor Hermenegildo Culpa of Padre Burgos greeted the delegation, urging them to experience not only Leyte’s dive sites but also the warmth and hospitality of its communities.
The tour began in Sogod Bay, where participants explored vibrant coral gardens and macro life at dive sites such as Napantaw North, Max Climax and Medicare North.
The journey continued to Pintuyan, a whale shark destination, before heading to Gunter’s Wall, Adrian’s Cove and Medicare South for daytime dives.
Divers capped their underwater experience with a night dive at Baluarte, renowned for its surreal ambiance and marine diversity.
On the final day, the group joined an island-hopping expedition around Cuatro Islas—Himokilan, Mahaba, Digyo and Apid Islands—concluding the trip on a high note.
During a networking dinner in Padre Burgos, the Korean group engaged with local stakeholders from Blue Deep Resort, Burgos Reef, Southern Leyte Divers, Sogod Bay Scuba Resort, Peter’s Dive Resort and the Provincial Tourism Office.
The event provided a forum to discuss marine conservation, sustainable diving practices and future tourism partnerships between Eastern Visayas and Korean operators.
“Following our extensive efforts to promote sustainable diving in Cebu and Dumaguete, we’re thrilled to offer our friends from Korea a fresh experience in Leyte,” said TPB Chief Operating Officer Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles.
“This carefully curated tour not only highlights Leyte’s incredible marine biodiversity and warm hospitality, but also the hidden gems surrounding our 7,641 islands, each one offering an unforgettable, world-class diving experience,” she added.
The familiarization trip builds on TPB’s strategy to market the Philippines as a premier diving destination for Korean travelers, leveraging the country’s rising appeal.
In 2024, the Philippines welcomed 1.57 million Korean visitors, and approximately 170,000 Korean divers chose the country over regional alternatives like Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
The Korean dive market grew to an estimated 1.4 to 1.5 million active divers in 2024, from 1.29 million in 2021, including both SCUBA and skin diving enthusiasts.
“Through this collaboration with TPB, we’re not only showcasing Leyte’s beauty but also strengthening Korea’s travel connection with the Philippines,” said Erwin Balane, Tourism Attaché at the DOT Korea Office.
“Leyte’s sustainability and rich marine life align with the values Korean divers care most about,” he affirmed.
The tour was supported by Bai Hotel Cebu and Cebu Pacific Air, which facilitated seamless travel between Cebu and Southern Leyte.
Southern Leyte, home to sites like Sogod Bay and Cuatro Islas, is gaining global attention as an emerging dive hub thanks to its biodiversity, conservation focus and genuine cultural experiences.
