Sugbu Diver went Scuba Diving in Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte

After years of dreaming and meticulous planning, our long-awaited scuba diving adventure to Padre Burgos, Leyte finally came to life in March 2025. We were set to go in 2024, but my wife's brother was rushed to the hospital that time, so we canceled the trip. This year, fate almost repeated itself. On the night of March 24, just a day before our planned departure, he had another emergency hospital visit due to stomach pain. Thankfully, it turned out to be a minor allergic reaction and he was discharged. With relief and a little hesitation, we decided to proceed.

We had packed over the weekend. By Saturday, March 22, all our gear was ready—three bags filled with scuba equipment and camera gear, plus one small bag for my clothes. This trip needed thoughtful planning, especially since dive shops in Padre Burgos are known to be pricey. To stay within our budget, we coordinated with local divers and arranged a do-it-yourself dive experience.

The Journey

We took a taxi to Cebu's Pier 3, not wanting to navigate several public rides while carrying all our bags. We chose Gabisan Shipping Lines, which offers a daily 9 PM trip to Hilongos. It was both more affordable and faster (5 hours vs. Roble’s 8 hours). At the port, we grabbed dinner before boarding. The ferry left on time, and reservation stubs for the connecting bus were distributed onboard.

By 2:29 AM, we arrived in Hilongos, 77 km away from Cebu. We hopped on a crowded non-airconditioned bus bound for Maasin and Malitbog, passing through Padre Burgos. The bus was packed—we had bags on our laps and one in the aisle. Despite the discomfort, the cool early morning breeze made the trip bearable. After 2 hours and 83 km, we arrived at Padre Burgos at 4:32 AM, just before sunrise.

A short walk brought us to the beachfront dive shop where we would be staying. The place was around 100 sqm with basic amenities, including a kitchen and pantry. After buying canned goods from a nearby sari-sari store, we had breakfast and coffee, energized for the dives ahead.

Day 1 - Four Incredible Dives

1st Dive - Baluarte (8:23 AM)

• Max Depth: 23.6 m

• Avg Depth: 13.4 m

• Dive Time: 62 minutes

• Water Temp: 28°C

• Visibility: 30 meters

The visibility was stunning—comparable to Tubbataha. The terrain was sloping sand with about 70% coral cover. We saw a clown triggerfish, three nudibranchs, and even a submerged car wreck.

2nd Dive - Max Climax (11:06 AM)

• Max Depth: 22 m

• Avg Depth: 11.2 m

• Dive Time: 65 minutes

Only a short swim from the shop, this site had huge barrel and fan corals, countless fish, and several turtles. It felt like a mini Tubbataha. After covering over 300 meters underwater, we walked to the highway post-dive and caught a tricycle back.

We cooked lunch at the shop, enjoying it by the sea. While eating, we spotted dolphins swimming by—a magical moment we sadly didn’t capture on camera.

3rd Dive - Voltaire's Rock (2:49 PM)

• Dive Time: 70 minutes

Positioned between Baluarte and Max Climax, this site was a haven for nudibranchs. We saw mating Oreo nudis, a vivid flabellina, and seven others in close proximity. These nudis were 2 to 3 inches long—larger than the usual ones we see in Kontiki, Cebu.

4th Dive - Night Dive (6:06 PM)

• Max Depth: 13.6 m

• Avg Depth: 8.4 m

• Dive Time: 57 minutes

It was rainy and wavy, but we pushed through. Without our hoods, we were slightly uneasy about the tiny worm-like creatures attracted to our lights. We saw cuttlefish, stingrays, octopus, basket stars, and shrimp. Thermoclines dropped temps to about 18°C, making us wrap up early.

Back at the shop, we carefully navigated the slippery path in the dark waves with our gear. After rinsing and hanging everything to dry, we ended the day grateful for four amazing dives.

Day 2 - Medicare North and South

Originally planning for three dives on March 27, we revised it to two. We had to travel to Northern Leyte the next day and wanted to save energy.

Henry arrived early, helped fill tanks, and even arranged a tricycle for our 3.5 km journey to the Medicare dive sites. I realized I forgot my booties halfway, and Henry dashed back to get them on his motorcycle. Lifesaver!

5th Dive - Medicare North (8:51 AM)

• Max Depth: 23.7 m

• Avg Depth: 11.6 m

• Dive Time: 64 minutes

Initial terrain resembled Dalaguete but with better visibility and coral density. The deeper we went, the more vibrant and alive the corals became. We spotted gray frogfish, lots of fish, and two massive turtles toward the end.

6th Dive - Medicare South (11:10 AM)

• Max Depth: 20 m

• Avg Depth: 9.6 m

• Dive Time: 67 minutes

This site had similar coral variety but featured a beautiful wall section teeming with sea fans and soft corals. More turtle sightings, although smaller. I got so mesmerized I lost track of our guide but was quickly redirected by my buddy.

Afterward, our trusty tricycle brought us back to the shop. On the way, we grabbed fried chicken from a local store with hundreds of branches in Leyte.

Reflections

Padre Burgos is breathtaking, both above and below water. The locals were kind, our guide Henry was exceptional, and the underwater scenery exceeded our expectations. It took years of waiting and planning, but it was all worth it. We came for the corals and marine life, but we left with deeper appreciation, beautiful memories, and a fulfilled dream.

We will definitely be back.