The Department of Tourism (DOT) 8 (Eastern Visayas) has completed a 12-day assessment of 11 diving sites in the region that documented vibrant coral reefs, diverse marine life, and promising new features.

Conducted in partnership with Applied Technical Diving and Marines Solutions, the assessment covered key coastal areas across five provinces, DOT-8 Director Karina Rosa Tiopes said in a phone interview Thursday.

Survey teams inspected underwater conditions, reef health, dive entry and exit points, and distinct ecological features at each site.

The sites assessed were San Francisco in Southern Leyte; Naval, Almeria, Kawayan, Caibiran, and Maripipi in Biliran; Palo, Leyte; Borongan City, Eastern Samar; and Capul, San Antonio, and San Vicente in Northern Samar.

Of all areas, the dive sites in Southern Leyte province are considered the region’s existing dive spots with dive resorts and dive tours.

“The rest are potential dive areas. We had them assessed to validate the marine resources in those areas and get professional opinion on their viability. Our intent is to promote these areas to have dive shops. We cannot market dive sites, no matter how rich their marine resource(s) are, if there’s no operating dive shop or dive resort,” Tiopes told the Philippine News Agency.

The findings will play a crucial role in shaping responsible and sustainable dive tourism frameworks for the region, according to Tiopes.

“The collected data will support the development of standardized dive products, ensuring that future diving activities meet both safety and environmental protection standards,” she said.

The DOT official said the initiative underscores their commitment to promoting Eastern Visayas as a rising hub for marine adventure tourism, while emphasizing the importance of conservation-centric practices in preserving the region’s underwater heritage. (PNA)