When you travel to Cebu, EVERYONE will ask if you’re going to do the Whale Shark Experience in Oslob. It feels like the thing to do on Cebu and people come from everywhere just to do it.
Of course, it makes sense. Whale sharks are amazing creatures so who wouldn’t want to swim next to a whole pod of them? But, the experience is definitely not everything it seems. So I’m here to share my honest experience to help you determine if the Oslob Whale Shark Encounter is for you.
The Facts
Before even going into my personal experience, the fact of this tour is that it is not an ethical way to see Whale Sharks. The natural patterns of Whale Sharks consist of both migration and habitat utilization – meaning throughout the year they move to different areas of the globe and throughout the day they go to different depths of the ocean – usually determined by food sources.
The tour guides at the Oslob Whale Shark Experience feed the Whale Sharks every day at 5:30 am so it is certain the huge fish will be there when tourists jump in the water. This actually destroys these Whale Sharks’ natural patterns of migration and diving as they simply remain off the coast of Cebu all year round. Long term effects of this could be a shift in this pod’s breeding cycle and low nutrients intake from unnatural food.
The feeding also teaches these Whale Sharks that boats and people are a means for food and not dangerous, leading them to approach any and all boats – even ones carrying shark fishermen. Thus, this practice is detrimental to their natural instincts to protect themselves.
Learn more about Whale Shark Tourism HERE
Find out more about local conservation efforts HERE
My Experience
Getting Tickets: Getting tickets is an unorganized process and, quite honestly, a terrible all around experience. If you are on a tour from Moalboal or Cebu City, you will need to get on your bus around 2 am to reach Oslob by 4:30. If you are in Oslob, you will need to arrive at the ticket station by 4 am in order to beat the massive crowds even though tickets are not given out until 5:30.
This means you are waiting in a line of uncomfortable chairs for an hour and a half until they announce you can collect your ticket. Then, you are crowded into a briefing area where they tell you rules that are not actually enforced (i.e. don’t touch the Whale Sharks or do not wear sunscreen into the water) and send you on your way into tiny boats.
In the Water: The boat ride is only five minutes off the shore, you are handed goggles, and hurried into the water. Being next to the Whale Sharks is truly a surreal experience, however, it is difficult to truly relax and enjoy their majestic company when 50 other tourists are clamoring to get near them. I was extremely overwhelmed the entire time and I can’t even image how the Whale Sharks feel at the center of all this chaos.
The experience lasts only 30 minutes and soon enough you are back onshore.
My Advice
My advice is to skip the Oslob Whale Shark Experience and go somewhere more ethical. Donsol and Sogod Bay are good options. Your chances of seeing Whale Sharks at these sites vary throughout the year.
If after all of this you are still set on doing the Oslob Whale Shark Experience, here is my advice:
Do not book a tour out of Moalboal or Cebu City: Stay in Oslob and support the local businesses of the area.
Stay at Sharky Hostel to be first in line and to get a discount on the experience
Other things to do in Oslob:
- Eat at Felice’s Italian Restaurant or one of the local spots where their grill is right next to the road!
- Motor bike to Tumalog Waterfalls for a refreshing swim!
Only bring your GoPro or waterproof camera: Anything you bring in the boat will get wet – so leave other belongings hidden onshore or with your tour guide.
Follow the rules as well as you can: Don’t wear sunscreen or other chemicals into the water, don’t crowd the Whale Sharks, and as tempting as it may be, don’t touch them. The recommended 5 meters distance is difficult to maintain with so many people and Whale Sharks in the water, but at least try!
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2 responses to “The TRUTH about the Oslob Whale Shark Experience”
That’s so sad! I just did a similar snorkeling trip in Mexico and it was very regulated: they only let a certain number of boats in the area at any time, only one boat was allowed near one whale, and each boat could only let five swimmers (plus one guide) in the water at any time.
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Very good input. I think I will just go ahead and do it anyways but will let you know how it goes. You still around Cebu for coffee sometime and we can talk about it?
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