A few hours south of Cebu is Oslob, a mountainous area that is home to 30,000 locals and miles of pristine coastline. The [almost] poor town caters to thousands of daily visitors who take the plunge into the deep blue waters to swim with whale sharks.
The underwater giants are technically sharks but act like an overgrown goldfish. Their name comes from their similarity (in size) to whales, not the aggressive nature of traditional sharks which nibble on meat (and some humans). These giant fishies gently glide through the water filter-feeding and pose no significant danger to humans.
Every morning dozens of locals set out to “hunt” for whale sharks; Not to kill or harm them, but to lure them close to shore so people can swim with them. In an almost ritualistic fashion, the locals guide the sharks close to the beach for the tourists to see. There are typically 3-5 whale sharks filter feeding while swimming very slowly in large circles. All of the sharks are focused on food and completely ignore humans and the other fish in the water.
Swimming with Whale Sharks Uncensored
The sharks are 100% free roaming – something I liked. The juvenile whale sharks are a measly 15-20′ (4-5 meters) and weigh as much as a fully loaded bus. Strangely, they appear to be completely happy with the daily ritual of swimming in circles while people snap selfies a few feet away.
It is a mind over matter battle for some people to get into the water with something that big, but once in the water, the fears subside quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Swimming with Whale Sharks through the viewfinder
