Leyte
South East Asia
Philippines
£2.50
Leyte: The Home of the Gentle Giants
Southern Leyte, specifically Sogod Bay, is the eco-conscious diver's answer to swimming with Whale Sharks. Unlike other crowded spots where the animals are fed, Leyte offers raw, natural encounters. Here, you jump into the deep blue and wait for the "Butanding" to glide by on their own terms. It is widely considered one of the most ethical places in the world to interact with the biggest fish in the sea. When you see a 10-meter speckled shadow emerging from the gloom in the open ocean, the adrenaline rush is absolutely unmatched.
Why We Chose This Sticker Design
The visual story of this sticker is completely dominated by the massive scale of the Whale Shark. We illustrated this gentle giant swimming diagonally across the frame to emphasize its sheer size and length compared to the open ocean around it. We made sure to highlight its iconic white polka-dot pattern—nature's own QR code—which is unique to every individual shark. To complete the pelagic vibe, we added a few companion jacks hitching a ride in the shark's slipstream, a classic sight for anyone lucky enough to swim alongside them.
Diving Leyte
Southern Leyte is one of the quieter corners of Philippine diving, centred on Sogod Bay — a deep, sheltered inlet where whale sharks arrive to feed through the winter and spring months. Unlike the controversial provisioned encounters elsewhere in the country, sightings here are generally of free-ranging animals. Beyond the whale sharks, the bay holds excellent wall diving at Napantao, healthy coral and good macro, all with very few other divers around. It is a destination for people who want the marine life without the crowds.
- Best time to dive
- November to May, with whale sharks typically from around December
- Difficulty
- Easy to intermediate
- Water temperature
- 27–29°C
- Visibility
- 15–30m
Top dive sites
- •Pintuyan — Whale shark encounters in Sogod Bay
- •Napantao — Marine sanctuary wall with healthy coral
- •Limasawa Island — Walls and drop-offs across the bay
What you’ll see
Frequently asked questions
When can you see whale sharks in Southern Leyte?
The season in Sogod Bay generally runs from around November or December through to May, peaking in the early months of the year. The animals arrive to feed on plankton in the deep bay, and encounters are usually snorkel-based with a guide. Sightings vary considerably year to year — this is a natural aggregation rather than a fed one, so nothing is guaranteed, and the trade-off for that authenticity is less predictability.
How does Leyte compare with Oslob for whale sharks?
They are very different, and the distinction matters ethically. At Oslob on Cebu, whale sharks are hand-fed daily to keep them in one place, which guarantees sightings but has drawn sustained criticism from marine scientists over impacts on the animals’ behaviour and health. In Sogod Bay the sharks are wild and free-ranging, so encounters depend on genuinely finding them. Divers who care about the welfare question generally choose Leyte.
