I've always loved the idea of being in the ocean. Blue, cold and crystal clear water, beautiful corals and many different kinds of fishes. What always worries me is the thought that there might be a shark underneath the majestic ocean. You know the movies about sharks such as 'Jaws' , 'The Shallows' and the likes? I have watched plenty of movies about sharks and how they attack humans; how they eat the flesh out of those innocent human. That made me cringe! And since then, I've always been afraid of them. Sure, I could watch them swim behind the thick walls in Ocean parks' big aquariums but to swim with them? Nah, never gonna happen. Or so I thought..
Part of our Cebu tour includes whale shark (locally referred as Butanding) watching. Seems horrifying for someone like me,eh? You would need to pay P500 to be able to interact or swim with these whale sharks for only 30minutes. Life vests and snorkeling gear are already provided.
Before the big event, I already told my boyfriend that I would come with them but I would just watch the whalesharks from the small boat. I'm too afraid to come near them despite their being 'gentle'.
We woke up early in the morning to prepare for the activity. The activity starts at 6am. We didn't even bother to take a bath because the water is salty anyway.
(Here's our photo going to the activity area. It's a 3-5mins drive from our Inn)
Before starting with the activity, all of the guests were asked to sit down and attend the quick orientation to discuss about the do's and don'ts of whale shark interaction.
Do's & Dont's:
•Do keep a distance from the whale sharks
•Do not touch or ride the whale sharks or block its way
•Do not use flash when taking photos
•Do not put on Sunblock lotion when swimming with the whaleshark as the chemicals might be harmful to them.
•No jumping from the boat
(Briefing area)
We rode the boat and we instantly smell something off. It was coming from the food that the tour guides are feeding to the whalesharks. It was shrimps or krill I guess. Upon reaching the spot where the whale sharks are swimming, people from
the boat started to go down in the water. I was hesitant at first but soon enough, I went down in the water with them.
(Here's a picture of us getting on the boat.)
The first time I saw them in water, I was very amazed. It was very surreal, I could only see them before in Geographic channel and I cannot believe that I'm looking at the real thing at that moment. They are indeed huge, they are the size of a shuttle bus! I even saw bigger ones.
A few minutes after, I could see a giant whale shark approaching us. I literally jumped back at the boat as I panicked and then come back in the water after. 😂 I guess I'm still not comfortable being around them. They seemed to be clingy because they really go near us and there was also an instance where they swam under us I was so nervous. 😂
These whale sharks come here only for a season because of food and when they leave, new batch of whale sharks come.
I do not have a photo with these giants because I was very tensed. Lol. So here's a photo of my boyfriend instead.
If you ask me if I would do it again, I definitely will. It was a very nice experience overcoming your fears and these are the kinds of memories that I'll cherish forever. If you would like to experience it yourself, it's at Tan-awan Oslob, Cebu here in the Philippines!
Do you have an experience swimming with the whalesharks before? Write it down on the comment section below. Cheers! 😉
Wow!! sana makapag travel blog din soon!
it's really fun doing a travel blog. you should try it 😁
Do you have T.P. for my bunghole? I would hate for my bungholio to get polio.
Sana makapagtravel na ulit ako.. Kakamiss.. Pero soooon! 😊
pahinga din sis. deserve mo magbakasyon naman! haha ❤
jealous naman ako..sana mapuntahan ko rin iyang lugar na iyan someday
gawin mo syang reward mo sa sarili mo sis hehe!
You only lived ones. So, why limit yourself in spending something for travel? hehehe. I do want to travel more and thanks for reminding me that I should spend traveling sometimes.
correct sis. It wouldnt hurt to treat yourself once in a while. You deserve it for working hard and para din mareplenish yung spirit mo. hehe
Amazing adventure there..when will you comeback?
Kapag nalibot ko na ang pinas! hehe at pag marunong na akong magswimming lol
Masarap talaga mgtravel paminsan-minsan. Pro no experience swimming with the whalesharks.
I'm glad that I tried it. siguro pagsisisihan ko ngayon yun if hndi ako bumaba sa water hehe
I have not experienced that but maybe someday. :)
Were you not from cebu? Haha. ang dami kasi sa Steemit na tagaCebu. 😁
Hehehe I am from Metro Manila. :)
A wonderful experience for a traveller, planning to catch one and fry (joke) I mean will catch a promo plane ticket first to witness that creature before their extinction. Sad thing that they are now dependent for the feeding by humans and distort their natural routine.
yes thats the sad thing about it. they keep coming back here because of food. the only perks is that the community living there earn a living through this activity especially the boatmen
OMG SHARKS!!!! Uhmmmm......can I just swim without them? hehe...Awesome experience you got right there sis.....
You'll be afraid at first but you'll get amazed when you see them upclose. I promise. Haha
I've never seen the ocean, and I'm very happy for you.
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In the last 5 years, i haven't had a moment like this
I guess it was your tight schedule that's keeping you from doing travels like this? Hehe. It's fun you should try it! Thanks for dropping by @surpassinggoogle. I appreciate it. :)
Well, deeper things than that
we been there last summer as well, 30 minutes is worth to meet this giant fish.
Wow! Nice to know that sis. Hehe do you have photos with the giant?
I don't know how to swim but i want to learn swimming. It's my dream.
I do not know how to swim too that's why I rely to life vest hehe
I miss traveling. Sobrang gusto ko na mag travel ulit. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
You should sis para pambawas stress and pangrelax! 😊
Thanks for the wonderful photographs and for sharing the experience. I wonder if i can even go there but thanks to you, was able to see it through your post
You are most welcome. Glad you liked it. Thanks for dropping by! ☺️
Travel blog is really awesome...
Why are you limit yourself over whale sharks ?
Those pictures with whales is captivating and beautiful
Try and get over your fears,you will discover that it will be mire fun than this.....kisses
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STOPWoooow @enjieneer! Good for you. I'm from Cebu but I have not yet met that big adorable shark in your photo. Sad life 😖
Aww. Haha! when are you planning to
meet them? 😁
I want to make an honest comment. I don't support this kind of activity in Oslob. Because I am an advocate of responsible traveling and we condemned the interaction of whalesharks with tourists in Oslob. We care about the health of marine animals and their natural habitat but because of whaleshark feeding there in Oslob, their natural food changed into carbs that made them more aggressive. Instead of looking for their food in the deepest part of the sea, they just go near shore because they are waiting for humans to feed them. They get wounds too because of the boats. Sana matigil na yung ganitong activity. Anyway, I just want to educate and share my thoughts about responsible traveling para sa kaalaman ng lahat. Kung gusto nyo po ng interactions sa whalesharks meron po sa Romblon at iba pang lugar na di na kailangang mag suffer ng ng whalesharks. Salamat.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Before the tour, I didnt even plan to go there because I have read about that in DIY Travel and I'm afraid anyway, but my friends want it and it's included sa binayaran namin sa tour and I didnt want to argue about that.
lol. I love the oceanic view in the picture and I always wish to swim in the middle of the sea. just wear a block sock to avoid sharks.
Really? How can a black sock help in avoiding sharks? I do not know about that. Haha. I'm assuming that you can swim well. I'm jealous 😂
Hi @enjieneer Wow what an experience it was swimming with whale sharks over there,on my side i have really been inspired to do so as well since i have never done it eventhough i live in Kenya and we do have a coast line but now i will definitely do it inorder to overcome my fears like you otherwise that was such an adventure as you may call it indeed it was a great experience,lastly thank you for the post.
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