Swimming with the Whale Sharks in Oslob, Cebu

The Experience!

The gravel and sand crackled under our feet as we walked down the path to the whale shark watching station. The weather was just right, neither too hot nor too cold. No matter how many times we have gone swimming with the whale sharks before, we felt the same amount of excitement every time.

When we arrived, we were surprised by the sight of thousands of tourists waiting for their turn to get a close encounter with the whale sharks. Unlike our previous visits, it was really crowded.

Doug, our tour guide, had purchased our tickets and got our queue number earlier that morning. We were very fortunate because just a few minutes after our number had been called, the staff announced the cut off for whale shark watching.

We grabbed our snorkels and life vests and hopped on the boat. We headed towards the cluster of other boats, to the area where the whale sharks swam. The boatmen gave us the cue to jump in the water and we did without hesitation.

While underwater, it can be difficult to spot a whale shark from afar. The stripes and spots on their skin act as camouflage and blend in with their surroundings. A whale shark’s mouth is big enough to swallow us whole but we would be the least of their interest. They only feed on plankton, krill and other small organisms. These gentle giants can reach lengths of about 40 feet. In spite of their intimidating size, we felt no fear as they were virtually harmless.

Responsible Whale Shark Watching

Whale shark watching has been growing in popularity but has been controversial since it started. There are some blogs which discuss why they don’t favor whale shark watching. In those blogs, they showed photos of both tourists and staff violating the most important rule of not touching the whale sharks.

During our encounters with the whale sharks, we did not witness a time when tourists and staff members touched or harmed them. If there are some who can follow rules, indeed there is still hope for humanity. We may not be environmentalists but we want to do what we can by promoting awareness to ensure that these beautiful creatures would still be around for future generations to see.

There are a few important things to remember when doing whale shark watching. One, do not put sunblock on as it can harm marine life. Second, do not touch the whale sharks. Third, DO NOT TOUCH THE WHALE SHARKS.

You might not enjoy the texture of a whale shark’s skin against yours anyway because according to some who have been grazed by one, their skin felt like sandpaper. If that is not enough to discourage you, you might want to know that there is a fine of P2, 500.00 (last time we checked) for touching them.

Check out this link http://www.oslobwhalesharks.com/guide for FAQs and rules for whale shark watching.

How We Got From Manila to Oslob, Cebu

We took an early morning flight from Manila to Dumaguete for our five-day adventure. Our first destination was the municipality of Oslob. Even though Oslob is located in Cebu, it was a lot closer to the Dumaguete Airport compared to the Mactan Airport in Cebu.

When we arrived at the Dumaguete Airport, our tour guide, Doug picked us up using a tricycle that he had rented.

We rushed to the Sibulan Port to make sure we won’t miss the RORO (Roll-on/ Roll-off) bound for Liloan Port. The trip was approximately 30 minutes and fortunately, the ride was not a rough one. We just relaxed on the benches, enjoyed the view and the cool sea breeze.

That’s how our Five-Day Adventure began…

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