The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines joins forces with the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) Korea Office and DOT Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) to unveil Southern Leyte’s exquisite underwater biodiversity to a group of Korean divers during the PADI Korea Dive Familiarization Trip held from June 15 to 21, 2025. The trip brought together select PADI Korea members, along with diving influencers @mermaid_fina and @mermaid_eliane, for a weeklong exploration accompanied by representatives from the Province of Southern Leyte and the Municipality of Padre Burgos.
Municipality of Padre Burgos Mayor Hermenegildo Culpa welcomed the group to discover Leyte not just through its dive sites, but through the spirit of its people. As participants engaged with local communities, they experienced firsthand the warmth and hospitality that define the Filipino travel experience. These meaningful cultural encounters turned the trip into a dive tour and a platform for deepening tourism ties between the Philippines and Korea.
The group’s journey began with an immersive dive tour of Sogod Bay, where vibrant reefs revealed coral gardens and the macro life of sites like Napantaw North, Max Climax, and Medicare North. The adventure continued to Pintuyan, a destination popular for whale shark encounters.
From the daytime explorations of Gunter’s Wall, Adrian’s Cove, and Medicare South, the dive tour culminated in a surreal night dive experience at Baluarte. To cap off the trip, the group embarked on an island-hopping experience around Cuatro Islas, where Himokilan, Mahaba, Digyo, and Apid Islands provided the perfect expedition finale.
During a special networking dinner in the municipality of Padre Burgos, the Korean delegation met with local dive stakeholders from Blue Deep Resort, Burgos Reef, Southern Leyte Divers, Sogod Bay Scuba Resort, Peter’s Dive Resort, and the Provincial Tourism Office of Southern Leyte. The gathering served as a platform for dynamic discussions on marine conservation, sustainable diving, and stronger tourism partnerships not just within Eastern Visayas but also with its neighboring regions.
Korean dive market expansion
The program builds on the success of previous dive familiarization tours in key destinations, further strengthening TPB’s efforts to position the Philippines as a premier diving destination for the Korean market. With 1.57 million Korean arrivals in 2024, the Philippines continues to be a favored destination–this time, spotlighting Leyte’s captivating offerings both above and beneath the waves.
“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.”
The Korean dive market boasts an estimated 1.4 to 1.5 million active divers in 2024, encompassing both skin and SCUBA diving, an increase from approximately 1.29 million in 2021. Amidst the dynamic tourism landscape, the Philippines continues to be the preferred destination for diving in the Asia Pacific region, with an estimated 170,000 Korean divers in 2023. This strong preference positions the Philippines significantly ahead of neighboring dive destinations such as Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Palau, and the Maldives.
Erwin Balane, Tourism Attaché at the DOT Korea Office, emphasized the program’s role in shaping market preferences. “Through this collaboration with TPB, we’re not only showcasing Leyte’s beauty but also strengthening Korea’s travel connection with the Philippines. Leyte’s sustainability and rich marine life align with the values Korean divers care most about,” he affirmed.
The PADI Korea Dive Familiarization Trip was made possible through the support of Bai Hotel Cebu and Cebu Pacific Air, with the airline facilitating seamless air travel from the Cebu hub to Southern Leyte.