Paris, France – At the 2026 Paris Dive Show (Salon de la Plongée Sous-Marine), world-renowned Philippine dive destinations were in the spotlight. Iconic locations like Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, Bohol, Anilao, Cebu, Puerto Galera, Dumaguete, Ticao Island, and Southern Leyte drew significant interest from the European dive market.
The Philippine delegation produced more than PHP 80.15 million in sales leads during the four-day event, a 43 percent rise from last year’s PHP 56 million. Hosted at the Parc des Expositions in Paris recently, this event was a crucial platform for enhancing the country’s dive tourism visibility in France and throughout Europe.
The 90-square-meter Philippine Pavilion featured immersive underwater photography panels from 12 Department of Tourism (DOT)-accredited dive establishments, highlighting the country’s rich marine biodiversity, sustainability initiatives, and conservation-driven tourism programs.
Meanwhile, Southern Leyte’s Sogod Bay Dive Sites took the spotlight as the Pavilion’s Featured Destination, through the DOT Regional Office VIII, showcasing the region’s growing profile as a sustainable, conservation-oriented, and biodiversity-rich dive tourism hub.
Global Spotlight on Marine Conservation
Laurent Ballesta, an internationally renowned underwater photographer and four-time Wildlife Photographer of the Year winner, headlined the Philippine Pavilion. His exhibit showcased rare deep-sea images from his Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park expedition, taken at depths of up to 150 meters. Titled “Far from the Sky,” the display was complemented by film screenings and public talks, highlighting the Philippines’ reputation as a top dive destination and a leader in marine conservation and scientific research.
Ballesta also presented insights from his recent Gombessa Expeditions to Tubbataha, where he documented previously unseen marine species and collected groundbreaking scientific data. His acclaimed series from Pangatalan Island, focusing on reef recovery and ecosystem resilience, also premiered at the event. This highlighted the Philippines’ dedication to sustainable tourism, marine conservation, and protecting UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The Philippines regularly exhibits at the annual Paris Dive Show (Salon de la Plongée Sous-Marine), as part of the Department’s sustained market development and brand positioning strategy to expand the country’s footprint in the French and European markets, while reinforcing the country’s global identity as a diverse, world-class, sustainable, and conservation-driven dive destination.
Participating Philippine companies and agencies included Seadoors Liveaboard, Sea Explorers, Solitude Acacia Resort, Ticao Island Resort, Blue Lagoon Dive Resort, El Galleon Resort/Asia Divers, M/Y Resolute, Thalatta Resort, Casalay Boutique Villas and Dive Resort, Atmosphere Resorts& Spa, Magic Resorts Philippines, Abyssworld Philippines, Inc, Peter’s Dive Resort, and Sogod Bay Scuba Resort. Government representatives were led by Governor Manuel Sagarbarria of Negros Oriental, Provincial Tourism Executive Director Woodrow C. Maquiling, Jr., and Board Members Erwin Michael Macias, Jessica Jane Villanueva, and Bruno Bouffard, III.
In 2025, the country secured its seventh consecutive title as the World’s Leading Dive Destination at the World Travel Awards (WTA), prevailing over 12 global contenders.
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