Meet whale hark Destiny, Dory's childhood best friend!
- Maya del Aire
- Feb 15, 2019
- 5 min read
Updated: May 28, 2019
This is your itinerary of your ultimate 8 day trip that starts in Cebu old city. This itinerary includes: Cebu city, Bohol Island, Siquijor island, Apo island, Oslob whale shark watching and Kawasan falls canyoneering. This particular post covers day seven, and will give you an idea of how to respectfully meet gentle giants, whale sharks. This post includes all relevant information that you need, to have a smooth vacation, so just get ready and follow my lead.
Click below to to check out the rest of your 8 day itinerary in the Philippines
Day 7 Meet whale hark Destiny, Dory's childhood best friend!
About whale sharks
Remember Destiny from “Finding Dory,” gentle whale shark? Guess what? You can meet her too! Whale sharks are the biggest fish in the sea, and their name refers to the fish’s size, as they are large like whales. However, they have no relations to whales, indeed they are gentle sharks that pose no threat to humans. They can reach up to 14m (46 feet) length, and weight up to 12 tons (24000 pounds). They have about 3000 small teeth, that don’t use to eat as they are soft as your toothbrush.Whale sharks can feed vertically, which means practically standing on their tail. They are filter-feeding docile giants that open their mouth to sieve plankton, which are their main food source, and other small fish, through their gill. They are slow swimmers and their speed doesn’t exceed 5km/hour (2-3miles/h). These giants can be pregnant with hundreds of pups at the time, however only 10% of them make it till their maturity. They have no natural predators except humans in many ways. They can suck any plastic which will eventually kill them, they might get injured swimming too close to boats, etc.
Whale sharks are protected species in only 13 countries out of 100 that they visit every year. They are considered to be endangered by International Union for Conservation of Nature.
How to reach Oslob Whale Shark Sanctuary
From Dumaguete
Ferries depart from Sibulan Port, which is not the main port but the one closest to the airport. Your ride to Liloan will take around 30 minutes. Try to arrive as early as possible and see what boats are available to purchase the ticket. Unfortunately, there is no official website for schedules for ferries on the Sibulan Port, however they are very frequent and you will be able to find your way any time you go there.
When you purchase a ferry ticket to Liloan Port, ask for a bus seat as well, that will take you to the Whale Shark place from Liloan Port.
You can also take a tricycle which we did. We paid 400php for both of us. We had two big suitcases which the driver took care of, while we went for swim.
From Cebu
Hop on the Ceres, Sunrays or Sugbo bus going to Bato, via Oslob. Buses going to Oslob depart very early, around 03:00 and trip may take from 3-4 hours, depending on the traffic. You can also try and negotiate the price to take a taxi or a van.
From Bohol
If you happen to be in Bohol, unfortunately your way to Oslob will be a bit more complicated. There are no ferries that go directly to Liloan Port. You will have to take any fast ferry to Cebu city and then take a bus, van or a taxi from there.
Whale Shark Experience
You don’t need a tourist agency to organize this trip for you.
The experience with whale sharks is done by the sanctuary personnel, and the only thing you need to think about is your transport till there, which is very easy to organize. I highly advise you to not waste any money on agencies, as this can be easily done on your own. Agencies also bring you very late to the shore, so I don’t think that you could enjoy it much as when you don’t have many people around.
Make sure to arrive early. Whale Shark watching is conducted only from 06:30-12:30.
Tips and tricks***
Bear in mind that bus might leave you at one of the resorts instead of the actual sanctuary. If you go through resort, you will have to pay the entrance for the resort and the ticket for whale shark watching. The ticket for whale shark will not be more expensive than the regular one, and you will most probably skip queuing as the resort will arrange a visit for you. If you arrive early, then I suggest you to go directly to the sanctuary and just pay for the whale shark ticket.
Once you arrive, you will have to register, and then wait for your turn to go for the mandatory orientation.
I have arrived at 07:30, and there were too many people already. I advise you to come the sooner you can, so you can avoid waiting in a line, which will take some time, and also having many people around you while you are trying to take a picture.
You will take your snorkel gears that you have tried previously and head to the sea. There will be another boat coming with plankton and they will simply throw them in the water for whale sharks to approach and eat them. You will then be instructed from which side you should enter the water. Instructors will be there to make sure you are not too close to the whale sharks, and they will also help you take pictures.
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Basic Instructions
Please follow all the rules the local tourism is strictly implementing. This is to make the gentle giants safe all throughout the activity.
- Stay away at least 4 meters away.
- It is not allowed to touch, ride or chase them.
- Feeding is only allowed by assigned personnel.
- Do not use flash photography
- Do not use sudden movements and make splash when entering water
- Do not use any sun protection.
Fees
All fees include boat ride and for snorkeling gears are included
Watching whale sharks:
300php for locals, 500php for foreigners
Snorkeling
500php for locals, 1000php for foreigners
Scuba Diving
600 for locals, 1500php for foreigners (diving gears not included)
Why some people choose not to swim with whale sharks?
Oslob is not the only place where you can swim with whale sharks. This is why I can't comment on any other experience and treatment of whale sharks. Whale sharks in Oslob are not in their ideal environment, they come there every day to be fed with plankton, rather then looking around for food which includes mainly plankton, but other fish also. I agree with posts that talk about how whale sharks are affected with tourism, however I have to say, that people working over there are very strict and working hard to minimize any kind of harm to these giants. I also thin that it is better that they stay there, than be at risk to be killed by other humans. It is your choice if you want to do it or not, I am just here to help make your trip smooth and respectful towards these animals, as much as I can.
The latest you can stay there is 12:30, and there is a whole day ahead of you and other things that you could do in Oslob.
If you want to know more about it click here.
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