I've seen a fair amount of discussion of South Leyte options, but not many recent trip reports. Am I missing some? I'm thinking of Peter's dive resort in late May of 2025 (post Tubbataha).
Recent trip reports for South Leyte / Peter's
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Luko
Contributor
May 2023? On my own, not really flabbergasted with Peter's dive resort honestly.
scubaboard.com
Trip Report - Sogod Bay and Panglao first weeks of May 2023
First part Sogod Bay. People ain't kidding when they say it's a long way to Sogod Bay, at least from Europe. That was first a long but comfortable trip to Singapore on AF, upgraded to Business class, overnight in S'pore hawkers dinner and dim sum breakfast, the SIN-Manila flight with Scoot...
Southern Leyte is slightly off the beaten track.
I was diving/staying with Peter's last Feb and will be returning again in Feb 2025.
I had stayed with Peter's on several occasions. There has been vast improvement on the facility of the resort since my first visit nearly 20 years ago. Top notch operator and no complaint whatsoever.
Johncn
Contributor
Worth the effort in my book. We were there right after they opened the new rooms above the pool in 2023, and have stayed there a couple of times previously. The new rooms post-typhoon are a great addition, and the diving is still very good in Sogod Bay. First class family management team runs small dive shop and front office. Restaurant small, but good and inexpensive. Added bonus of organized snorkeling with whale sharks via local boatman's cooperative. This is biologist-regulated, fairly low impact whale shark tourism, not the situation found in some other Philippine locations.
Johncn
Contributor
Yes, Sogod Bay, Southern Leyte is the best place we have found yet to swim with whale sharks in a controlled, non-impactful way. There is zero feeding or containment. They are there for the plankton bloom.
The boatmen’s collective group has spotters in one-man dugouts that work with the boat to locate whale sharks, and the boat drops snorkelers (about 10 -12 max per boat) in the projected path of the oncoming feeding shark. It’s fabulous. An observer comes onboard to make sure nobody gets too close or touches the sharks. Sometimes we have had a marine biologist from the Manila-based Marine Invertebrates Center on board who answered questions.
The dive shops in the bay all have trips there during the usual season (roughly December - April), with a peak in March. Each boat gets a three hour slot of time to look for them, and they take turns. Usually, it is one boat a time. Trips usually booked in advance. Sightings not guaranteed, but we have never been skunked yet.
. This year we are going in April, though, and have heard March was a little a weaker than usual, so who knows?
Although diving is not permitted with the sharks, they do show up on dives in certain areas. Your dive shop or resort will know where chances are best.
Hope this helps.
The boatmen’s collective group has spotters in one-man dugouts that work with the boat to locate whale sharks, and the boat drops snorkelers (about 10 -12 max per boat) in the projected path of the oncoming feeding shark. It’s fabulous. An observer comes onboard to make sure nobody gets too close or touches the sharks. Sometimes we have had a marine biologist from the Manila-based Marine Invertebrates Center on board who answered questions.
The dive shops in the bay all have trips there during the usual season (roughly December - April), with a peak in March. Each boat gets a three hour slot of time to look for them, and they take turns. Usually, it is one boat a time. Trips usually booked in advance. Sightings not guaranteed, but we have never been skunked yet.
. This year we are going in April, though, and have heard March was a little a weaker than usual, so who knows?Although diving is not permitted with the sharks, they do show up on dives in certain areas. Your dive shop or resort will know where chances are best.
Hope this helps.
Did you end up going to Sogod Bay in April? I have heard the season was difficult for whale sharks in 2025 so I'm curious what your experience was.Yes, Sogod Bay, Southern Leyte is the best place we have found yet to swim with whale sharks in a controlled, non-impactful way. There is zero feeding or containment. They are there for the plankton bloom.
The boatmen’s collective group has spotters in one-man dugouts that work with the boat to locate whale sharks, and the boat drops snorkelers (about 10 -12 max per boat) in the projected path of the oncoming feeding shark. It’s fabulous. An observer comes onboard to make sure nobody gets too close or touches the sharks. Sometimes we have had a marine biologist from the Manila-based Marine Invertebrates Center on board who answered questions.
The dive shops in the bay all have trips there during the usual season (roughly December - April), with a peak in March. Each boat gets a three hour slot of time to look for them, and they take turns. Usually, it is one boat a time. Trips usually booked in advance. Sightings not guaranteed, but we have never been skunked yet.
Although diving is not permitted with the sharks, they do show up on dives in certain areas. Your dive shop or resort will know where chances are best.
Hope this helps.
I'm planning a trip in Jan 2026 and wondering if I should swap out Sogod Bay for Baliscag instead if the whale shark viewing has not been the best recently (and to make trip logistics a bit easier as well). Will be diving in Malapascua and Coron as well.
@Patkilla
Why would you prefer such a mediocre place ie Balicarag than a very good one ie. Sogod Bay?
For sure it is dead easy to travel to Bohol but what for if you are looking for good diving?
Sighting is never guarantee even in a good season.
If you want to see this gentle giant in natural environment than Sogod Bay is the place, NO feeding permitted.
But if you want just to see it than Oslob may be better. There is even a ferry from Bohol(Momo Beach) to Oslob. Pay no notice to all those negative comments on whaleshark watching in Oslob.
I will be there in Feb.
Why would you prefer such a mediocre place ie Balicarag than a very good one ie. Sogod Bay?
For sure it is dead easy to travel to Bohol but what for if you are looking for good diving?
Sighting is never guarantee even in a good season.
If you want to see this gentle giant in natural environment than Sogod Bay is the place, NO feeding permitted.
But if you want just to see it than Oslob may be better. There is even a ferry from Bohol(Momo Beach) to Oslob. Pay no notice to all those negative comments on whaleshark watching in Oslob.
I will be there in Feb.
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