Southern Leyte Divers

The dive operations were acceptable, and diving with Malps and crew was great. They also have a new medium-size boat. But I couldn't recommend this place to a friend, and would look elsewhere. The room is old and needs updating, as does some rental gear. There are no water bottle refill stations available 24 hours, which I've never encountered at a dive resort. They sell single-use plastic bottles at the bar for double the local price, or you can ask kitchen staff to fill a bottle at certain hours and get treated like a cheap dirt bag for not wanting more plastic in the ocean. That's unacceptable. They charge for every little thing: 10x the store price for a single instant Nescafe packet, and morning coffee is only free with an expensive breakfast. On a three-dive day, my wife and I spent over $300 between diving and the room, yet I was charged for instant Nescafe during the surface interval. I've dived around the world and never paid for warm coffee or tea on a boat surface interval, especially instant powder. There's also a fuel surcharge for sites a little farther away. Outside food and drinks aren't allowed. We usually have just a little fruit for breakfast, and I felt like a criminal sneaking fruit and 6L water jugs into the room. I'm not asking them to buy fruit or add a surcharge, and I won't buy half-liter single-use plastic bottles at the bar. The beach in front isn't good for swimming, and the house reef has been destroyed by local fisherman and typhoons. Dive in Sogod Bay instead of in front of the resort. Some basic updates to the policies and facilities would help. A second router or booster to bring wifi to the bungalows, not just the bar, would be great. Hot water was marginal at best, unpleasant when you're cold after diving. No potable water station, and charging for instant coffee on a surface interval says a lot. I usually post good reviews, so I feel bad writing this, but I hope it helps other travelers make an informed choice. I hope the business changes course and becomes more welcoming and generous. Those small acts of hospitality go a long way toward making guests feel welcome.

The area is still recovering from the Dec 2021 typhoon, so some things are being rebuilt, the internet is flaky, and beaches and some reefs aren't what they used to be. We spent a week here as a family and enjoyed every moment. It's a family-run diving resort with more than 25 years' tradition, and the owners and staff made us feel welcome and comfortable so we could relax. Diving was world class, with very professional instructors and a completely new boat. The rooms were clean, air-conditioned, comfortable, and well maintained. The food was great too, including home-made bread, local dishes prepared properly, and the occasional sashimi or other specialties. A real gem in Southern Leyte!

The dive operations were well run. At the end of September I did four shore dives in Sogod Bay, and I was the only diver across the three resorts in the area, so a boat ride farther out wasn't possible with just one passenger. To see whale sharks or visit more exotic places like Limasawa, you really have to come later. The resort has lovely views, and the food was excellent, especially for vegetarians. I enjoyed meeting Gunter and his wife. My cottage mattress was pretty basic. There's no wi-fi, but that wasn't a big issue for me. A Smart SIM card with data from the airport makes it easy enough to stay in touch.

The area is beautiful for scuba diving, but this was my worst stay ever. There's no WiFi, and the shower swings between cold and boiling water. I like hot water, but this was boiling. The toilet only worked about half the time, so we had to use the trash bin to scoop water and pour it in. Sometimes there wasn't water in the bathroom at all. You're in the middle of nowhere, and they weren't helpful.