Swimming with Gentle Giants: Our Oslob Whale Shark Experience



Besides homo sapiens, whale sharks are very amazing creatures. they are so gentle and obviously huge. Some have the wrong impression about how folks in Oslob resorts have exploited them for money but this is not the case. Yes, they bring money to the locals but some international animal loving organizations are taking care of them too and tracking their whereabouts. No, they are not trapped in pens. they only entertain people from morning to lunch time and after lunch they go strolling around the ocean. I am so lucky to have swum with them.

If you want to have a memorable whale shark experience you can simply take a 20 minute minute fast craft ride from Sibulan to Lilo-an Cebu then hop on a 30 minute air conditioned Ceres bus ride to Oslob.The bus driver will simply drop you off the resort where you can register for the ultimate whale shark adventure. You can also ask the driver to drop you off at the Briefing area. 

 When you reach the resort, you have to register and pay necessary fees including 100 pesos entrance fee and 500 pesos for the whale shark watching fee. Life vests, goggles and snorkels are part of the 500 peso package. If you do not want to swim with the sharks and simply sit on the boat and watch them swim around you only have to pay 300 pesos. You can also go scuba diving. Here is a link for Scuba Diving rates and other rates at Aaron Beach resort, Oslob -

http://www.aaronbeachresort.com/faces/Prices.xhtml#swimWithTheWhaleSharks

 We did not bring with us and underwater camera or waterproof camera. So we rented a camera at the resort. It was 550 Php with CD. After the swim a staff member will copy all pictures to your memory card or to a CD. It was actually nice to have rented a camera because we got to have our very own camera man underwater.

Before you begin your underwater journey you need to take a quick boat ride or walk to the briefing area where you will be oriented with the do's and don'ts of the activity. Here are the guidelines that you must follow when swimming with the giants.
  • Feeding of Whale Sharks is prohibited. Only authorized personnel are allowed to do so.
  • Riding , touching, or chasing the whale sharks is not allowed
  • Never restrict  the shark's normal movement or behavior
  • Never use flash photography as whale sharks are wild creatures and may become agitated by the sudden flash of light.
  • Never create splash when entering the water. Diving from the boat is discouraged.
  • Never wear sunscreen if you are going to enter the water. The chemicals might harm the creatures. If you have already applied it, you can wash it off on showers provided in the briefing area.
  • Motor boats are prohibited in the area. Only paddle boats are allowed.
  • Viewing is limited to 30 minutes only
  • Maintain a minimum distance of 5m from the head, 6m from the tail (this differs from the 2m from the head, and 5m from the tail stated in the ordinance)


Summary of Fees:

Fast craft (from dumaguete-lilo-an Lilo-an Dumaguete) -62 per way = 124 Php
Bus to Oslob - 33 per way = 66 Php
Resort  entrance fee - 100 Php
Whale Shark Watching fee - 500 Php
Camera rental - 500 Php (my american tita paid for it..lol)
                         -----------------------------------------------
                      total cost = 890 PhP





Location: Oslob, Philippines

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