Experience the thrill of swimming with gentle giants at Oslob Whale Shark Watching. Dive into an unforgettable marine adventure in Cebu, Philippines.
Swimming with whale sharks is an awe-inspiring experience that many ocean enthusiasts dream of. These gentle giants, moving like massive barges just a few meters away, can leave you breathless with a mix of primal fear and joy.
One of the most renowned places to have this experience is in the Philippines, specifically on Cebu Island, near Oslob. The site is known as “Oslob Whale Shark Watching,” and it’s a must-visit for anyone seeking a unique marine adventure.
I recommend prioritizing this activity in your itinerary for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the visibility is best in the early morning, between 7 and 9 AM. Secondly, the whale shark interaction is only held until 12:30 PM each day.
To avoid the weekend crowd, consider visiting Oslob on a weekday. Trust me, you wouldn’t want to be bumping snorkels with other people when there’s a colossal fish to watch out for.
Whale Shark Watching
Before you can proceed to the whale watching area, there’s a mandatory orientation conducted by government staff that lasts about 5 minutes. This briefing will inform you about the dos and don’ts when you encounter the whale sharks.
You’ll then be grouped into 5-6 people per boat. The Oslob Whale Shark Watching experience is quite unique, reminding one of an enclosure at a zoo.
The area where the boats and sharks are located is quite small, with a maximum depth of 8 meters. It’s often crowded, with boats that brought tourists staying in place.
You’ll need to maneuver between people, boats, and sharks, taking care not to inadvertently touch a shark or bump into a boat “log-float”.
Despite the crowd, it’s an exciting experience that I would gladly repeat.
Getting Here
To get to the site, you need to head to Tan-Awan village, which is 10 km south from Oslob.
All drivers are familiar with the place, so whether you’re taking public transport or a taxi, just inform the driver or conductor that your final destination is “Whale sharks”.
How Much Does It Cost?
There are three main options for spending time with the whale sharks:
- Watching from the boat: This is the cheapest option at 600 pesos. You’ll just sit in the boat and look around.
- Swimming with sharks: For 1,000 pesos, you can jump into the water from the boat and then do as you please – snorkel, dive, take photos and videos, look into the sharks’ huge mouths, lie on the bottom, or hang on the boat while observing the beautiful ocean animals around. Freediving with whale sharks is also included in this ticket.
- Diving: For 1,500 pesos, you can go down to the bottom and look at the silhouettes above. Sharks are almost always at the surface, so divers just watch from the bottom, unable to maneuver between the large fishes.
Children under 6 years don’t need a ticket, and prices for Filipinos are significantly lower.
What to Bring?
- Swimsuit: You can wear a lycra shirt as a sunscreen. There’s no need for a wetsuit as you won’t get cold during a half-hour of active swimming in 29°C water.
- Mask and snorkel: How else would you look in the water?
- Fins: I highly recommend taking fins to improve maneuverability and enable diving into the water. A depth of 3-4 meters is enough to watch a shark from all sides.
- Camera: What could be better than a photo titled “Meeting with Sea Giants”?
- Towel and a swimsuit to change into after swimming.
The Oslob Whale Shark Watching experience
It is not just popular but also somewhat controversial.
Despite this, it continues to attract tourists from all over the world who flock to the Oslob shores to encounter these gentle giants.
The site also offers combined tours with other popular attractions in southern Cebu for a day filled with fun and fascinating adventures.
Some of these combined tours include snorkeling with whale sharks and experiencing the cold waters of Tumalog falls, or meeting whale sharks in Oslob and snorkeling with massive shoals of sardines on the coastline of Panagsama Moalboal.
There’s also an option to relax and swim at the stunning shifting sandbar of Sumilon Island after your incredible whale shark watching experience.