Napantao Marine Sanctuary

A community-managed marine protected area that has been recovering for over a decade, resulting in some of the densest hard coral coverage in Southern Leyte. The sanctuary is relatively shallow — perfect for long, relaxed dives — and its protected status means fish biomass is dramatically higher than surrounding areas. Enormous bumphead parrotfish schools patrol the coral heads at dawn, leopard sharks rest on sandy patches between coral formations, and the macro life rivals anything in the Visayas: hairy frogfish, seahorses, and ornate ghost pipefish are routine finds.