DIY Oslob, Cebu: Swimming With The Whalesharks

July 25, 2014


Yes, whale sharks swimming around you is just one of the most amazing things that can happen in your life. I know environmentalists are against this tourism advocacy because it disrupts the natural ecosystem in the sea and I understand their point. It's just that swimming with the whale sharks was really a priceless experience.

How to go to Oslob, Cebu:

1. Book a ticket via Cebu Pacific or Air Asia. Alternatively, you may also use 2Go ferry services.
2. Upon arriving at the airport, you may ride a taxi and just tell the driver to drop you off at the South Bus Station.
3. Ride a Ceres bus going to Bato via Oslob. Make sure that it passes along Oslob because you might ride the other way, Bato via Badian which is the Moalboal area or other side of Oslob. Travel time is approximately 3 hours. Just tell the driver to drop you off at The Whaleshark Watching Area in Brgy. Tan-awan. Fare is 155php for air-conditioned bus and 145php for non-aircon.

The sign along the highway that you should look for

Where to stay:
I highly recommend Ms. Pearl's place, Costabella. They will take care of you as if you are their relatives who have visited their place. Their service goes the extra mile for their customers. They will make sure that everything will go smoothly for you and will make you feel safe at all times. Superb service.

Not to mention, the view from their place especially from the gazebo was just so amazing. Their place is deemed as the "Jewel of Oslob" because it has a high vantage point not like other resorts there. Click here for their website if you want to contact them.

View from Costabella

This is their gazebo where we have our breakfasts in the morning.

Spot the Butanding from the gazebo heading to the whale shark watching area

Whaleshark watching:
1. It is a must to NOT put sunblock. It is a no-no for them because according to them it might poison the whaleshark. Otherwise, you'd have to rinse it off.
2. The best time to do the Whale shark watching activity is in the morning between 7am to 9am. According to Ms. Pearl, it gets really crowded during weekends so it is better to do the activity on weekdays.
3. The Whale shark watching area opens as early as 6am and closes by 1pm.
4. If you are not going to alight from the boat, you will still have to pay 300php. But if you are gonna swim with the whalesharks, it will cost 500php.
For foreigners, it costs 1000php to swim with the gentle giants. But if you are just going to watch the sharks from the boat, it will only cost 500php .
5. Fins rental cost 50php per pair.
6. The activity usually lasts for 30 minutes.
7. You will first be oriented before going to the activity proper. They will tell you to stay 3meters away from the Butanding and to never touch it otherwise, you will be penalized or go to jail.

Ms. Pearl asked Kuya Jio, her associate, to swim with us. He took care of us and took great pictures of us. Here are some of the pictures he got for us:

I noticed that the whalesharks in Cebu are way smaller than the one I've seen in Donsol, Bicol. I guess those in Cebu are just baby whalesharks. All in all, the whale shark watching experience was really a one of a kind experience that I will never ever forget.