I HAVE been wanting to go swimming with the whale sharks in Oslob for the longest time and the opportunity finally came this summer. There are two places in the Philippines where one can swim with the whale sharks. The first one is in Donsol, Sorsogon and then in Oslob, Cebu.
When I asked around regarding which of the two places we should go to, I was told that the ones in Donsol are more ethical and that to see the whale sharks will solely be based on Mother Nature. In Oslob, they feed the whale sharks with krill, therefore guaranteeing the chance that one will see them. This article will not touch on whether it is ethical or not but I know for sure that ever since we swam with the whale sharks, we have a more profound appreciation for these creatures and a firm resolve to save our seas.
Oslob is also accessible through Dumaguete but we liked the Cebu route more as I love Cebu and there were more flights available through Cebu than through Dumaguete. We were a group of 10 people, so the three hours travel time from Mactan Cebu to Oslob did not pose as boredom as we were traveling with a group of friends.
En route to our hotel in Oslob, we stopped by the Cuartel ruins, which are remnants of Spanish colonization in the province. There is a park and a church at the ruins site that you can explore. I think the thrill for the group was getting street food there like corn on the cob with cheese powder, fresh coconut juice, fish balls, ice scramble.
We checked in at Down South 118 hotel, which has an amazing view of the sea. It is a small boutique hotel which is very quaint and with beachy chic decor. Service was tops and the rooms were large. Due to some connections, we were able to rent the owner's villa since they were fully booked. I do not think the room is for rent usually so just ask for hotel rooms when you book.
On our first night at Down South, they prepared a boodle fight feast for us complete with grilled pork, grilled fresh tuna, Cebu green mangoes with shrimp paste, bam-i which is their specialty noodle, and fresh pineapples. We thoroughly enjoyed this boodle fight where in we ate with our hands. This is a great group bonding activity if you are traveling with a group.
On our next day, we discovered the beautiful beach resort of Sumilon Bluewater. Since we were checked in at Down South, we opted to go to Sumilon for a day trip for access to their famed white stretch of sandbar. Our access included a buffet lunch at their restaurant which we loved. Filipino specialties and even lamb kaldereta were served at the buffet. Fresh fruits complemented by buko pandan, leche flan, and other Western desserts were served at the buffet as well. The grilling section had home-made "atsara" and sauces for grilled meat, fish, and chicken.
The next day proved to be the highlight of our trip as we left the hotel early at 530am to go see the whale sharks. I have to give credit to the government body managing the tourism part of this because it was very organized. One has to line up early to get a number, you are then briefed in the section on the do's and dont's of interacting with whale sharks. Masks and snorkels are provided for and is included in the entrance fee that you pay. Foreigners pay Php1,000 while locals pay Php500.
We rented a go pro camera which proved to be one of our best decisions as our boat man was game enough to keep on taking photos of us while we swam with the sharks. He was diving every time a shark passes by near us and would take out under water photos. Please give your boat man a hefty tip later on.
Down South 118 proved to be a great choice for us as they also helped us navigate our transportation needs such as pick up from the airport, travel from hotel to the port for Sumilon bluewater resort, the travel to Oslob to get to do the activity with the whale shark.
I highly recommend Ate Marie and her team at Down South 118. They have a facebook page Down South 118 Beach Resort for reservations.
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