I'm also aware of the controversial discussion of the whaleshark-event in Oslob. If it helps to raise sensitivity for nature to a wider public then it might also have positive effects. I can't assess if it's extreme stress for the animals or if over times they just got used to it. Before they have been hunted, now they were attracted by food and exposed to hundreds of tourists every day. I hope this is still the better option for them, undoubtedly it's a fascinating experience to swim so close with these beautiful animals.

Against my better judgement, I went to swim with the whale sharks. I totally regret going.

This is pure exploitation--both the animals and the tourists. The sharks have been domesticated and they follow a boat that feeds them. Meanwhile the tourists are crammed into boats and the boats are so close to each other that they physically touch. You get in the water and there is so little room that you are pretty much guaranteed to be kicked by or to kick another tourist. You are supposed to be at least 5m away from the animals, but the distance between the tourist boats and the feeder boat is only about 2-3m. So you actually have to avoid the sharks to protect yourself from getting hit by their tailfins. The water stinks from all of the food being thrown into the water, and it's quite cloudy as well. Disgusting, disgraceful, exploitative and ignorant.

Please don't support this hideous industry. If you go out diving and happen upon a whale shark, that will be a true experience. Don't fall for this tourist trap.

We snorkeled with the whale sharks at Oslob which was awesome. The only down side, as so many reviews say, is the pure volume of people who are both waiting and swimming. Its best to get there as early as possible and if possible avoid weekends and public holidays. Once you have paid, you join a briefing session telling you what you can and cannot do. Then you wait for your available boat to take you out and tie up in a determined location along with all the other boats. Small boats go up and down, leaving a trail of food in the water, which the whale sharks follow. This enables you to get very close up for around 30 minutes. Well worth it.