Diving Napantau (Marine Protected Area)

Napantau MPA is the oldest marine protected area in Sogod Bay. Coral Cay Conservation is based in the area so there is not alot of illegal fishing in the sanctuary. It is said to be one of the top 10 wall dives in South East Asia.

Napantau is a fantastic wall dive starts at around 13 metres and drops down to around 50 metres. Currents can be a bit tricky, when currents are strong pelagics are often seen. Tuna, wahoo, devil rays, rainbow runners and mid night snappers. The wall is covered with soft corals gorgoian fans and green tree coarls quite breath taking. The best time to dive Napantau MPA is mid morning. The colours are tremendous. There are 2 walls the major one which is shaped like a horse shoe has a big crack at around 42 metres which is full off sweet lips and spotted groupers. We normally dive it from where the prevailing current is coming from and zig zag up the wall. At about 12 metres on top of the wall there is an abundance of marine life and coral. Also a few white tip reef sharks can be found in caves.

The second wall is short but very colourful drops down to about 45 metres frogfish scorpion fish and batfish are often seen on this wall. You can sometimes do both walls in one dive if the current is strong.

Napantau MPA is a must to dive when visiting Sogod Bay.

For futher information contact

www.sogodbayscubaresort.com

info@sogodbayscubaresort.com

Diving at Tankaan (Marine Protected Area)

Tankaan MPA is situated on a peninsular south of Padre Burgos. It has both a wall dive and a 45 degree coral slope. It drops down to about 27 metres and has a nice out crop half way along the dive site and when the current is strong there is alot of fish action. Plenty of barrel sponges, green tree corals and big tables corals as well a number of big gorgonian fans. There is an abundance of marine life along the wall and reef. Black frog fish are often seen perched on green tree corals also bat fish, pygmy seahorses, nudiebranchs , turtles and occasional whale shark are also seen. Tankaan MPA is also a marine protected area.

www.sogodbayscubaresort.com

Diving at Adrians Cove, Limsawa

Adrians Cove is situated on the east side of Limasawa. It is a marine sanctury Limasawa is also famous for Ferdinand Magellan, and the first Catholic mass in the Philippines. It is a outstanding wall dive dropping down to about 40 metres. Walls are covered with soft corals, gorgonian fans and green tree corals. This site is quite unusual it has deep gorges and a number of caves. Adrians cove normally has plenty of nudibranchs, pacific oysters and occasional hammerhead and humped head wrasses.

The view around the island is spectacular normally do 2 dives on Limasawa giving you breath taking views while doing your dive interval.

Whale sharks on Limasawa 2010

Whale sharks on Limasawa.

We have been seeing whale sharks on Limasawa since March 2010. So far we have had a 100% sucess rate on our whale sharking trips.

Come snorkel with the whale sharks of Limasawa.

Whale sharks in Sogod Bay Southern Leyte Philippines

Sogod Bay is visited by whales sharks yearly, usually between the months of early November up until late April. They visit the bay at this time for the krill, jellyfish and plankton. They are usually seen at the following sites Sunok point along the coast of Panaon island about an hour and forty minutes across the bay from Padre Burgos. They are also seen at Limasawa island about 30 minutes from Padre Burgos by boat. Please remember whale sharks are wild animals and it is very hard to predict where they will be from season to season
The three licenced dive operators in Sogod Bay travel to these areas during the whale shark season. Normally they need at least  4 persons to make the trips this is also subject to weather.

The water visibility is normally around 15 to 20 metres which is superb for photographers. (note alot better than Donsol). This time of year the water temperature is around 25 to 26 C so I would suggest divers bring 5mm wetsuits if you feel the cold.

The locals at Sunok, San Ricardo and Limasawa have organised whale shark spotters. Which the dive operators use while finding the whale sharks. The spotters have a fair idea where the sharks will be and guide the dive operators with their guests to them. The local authorities have set up fees for these services.

In September 2008 a new ordinance was pass by the local authorities within Sogod Bay only allowing snorkeling and Strictly No scuba diving with Whale sharks.

Whale shark Update check link Whale shark update

 In 2009 and 2010 the whale sharks appeared in Limasawa Island we had alot of sighting probably the best season yet. Hopefully 2010/2011 season will be a good one too.

Licenced dive operators in Sogod Bay

Sogod Bay Scuba Resort

Peters Dive Resort

Southern Leyte Divers