Oslob, Cebu is approximately 3 hours ride from Cebu City and many tour companies offer packages that comes with canyoneering with the nearby Badian. The boats will stay just a few dozen meters away from the shore (if you are a strong experience swimmer, I think you can even swim back to the beach) where you will be given a chance to see the gentle giants or what locals call 'butanding'. Life vests are required while the boat is on the move but the boat man ('bankero') allowed some to remove them if they know how to swim. You will be given a 5-10 minute briefing on a nearby post by English-speaking locals and 30 minutes for the main event. Most 'bankeros' we spoke to knows how to use a GoPro and some with push you underwater (if you know how to swim of course) to take a great shot of you.
Another boat will continue luring the whale sharks by throwing shrimps (and they smell terrible, believe me) and you can see them opening their mouths to catch them. Their babies are like less than a foot long and they are really white. Above, you will see that they only have a small head (like almost a meter long) but when you see them underwater, woah! These creatures are huge but they are extremely harmless and cute!
Just be reminded that you are to stay 5 meters away from them at all times and touching them is prohibited and may cost you a Php 5,000 fine (US$ 103.41 as of today).
We took the bus from Cebu South bound Terminal and stayed in Malonzo pension for the night. We went to whale shark watching early morning. Need to pay for the boat and gear rental. I was surprised, they look so scary but harmless. Please be reminded that wearing sunblock lotion is not allowed. Also this attraction is just 30 mins- 1 hour so you may need additional point of interest to include in this trip.
The curiosity is just there - so off we went.
Tourists like us have only in the morning to go and swim with the whale sharks. There is a short orientation on what you can or cannot do while swimming with the whale sharks.
The thing is, the whale sharks are fed around the area which is why the whale sharks stay in the area. Feeding is a controversial issue.
Whale watching in Oslob Cebu was so incredible. It's a breath taking moment to see the whale sharks that is just a meter away from you. It was a one of a lifetime experience to see those beautiful creatures. There were lots of foreigners from all over the globe when we were there in July of 2016. My children and friends wanted to go back again next summer and plan of staying there a little longer.
I can't believe this is not spoken about more often? I only found out by a chance meeting with a local as I was about to leave another dirty disappointing city, how lucky was I to then get to the beach induction on what to do when in the water with them !!!! There's a 2000 fine for touching them, well I owe a fair bit in fines then as I stood on , kicked and touched one all by accident ! They swim under you and right upto you I just happened to put my hand out without looking to stick my face back in the water and stroked the back of one ( great feeling like sandpaper) but it is one of the most wonderful things you will do and cost £15 for 30 mins the only regret is I didn't switch to video !! But my friends did so I nicked theirs lol
