No
aquarium, regardless of how spacious and fancy it is, can replace the amazement
that comes with an actual exploration of the sea’s wilderness. This is why we
were so excited to visit Oslob. We arrived in Cebu at midnight and took a
20-minute cab ride going to Ceres Bus Terminal. Our bus ride lasted for almost
four hours. When we arrived at Brgy. Tan-awan, it was only 4 a.m., but instead
of booking a room (we were only there for a day tour anyway), we opted to pay
for a cottage where we could rest and charge our gadgets.
Come 7 a.m., we had breakfast and braced ourselves to meet
the maritime wonders called butanding or
their local name, tuki. Whale sharks are technically not whales but slow-moving
sharks whose mouths resemble those of baleen whales. Don’t let the “shark” name
frighten you because they’re gentle and docile.
Apart from paying for the fees, I likewise rented an
underwater camera because it’s the boatman who’d operate the camera. I don’t
want to think about pictures since it isn’t every day that you get the chance
to swim with whale sharks.
Oslob’s fishermen will bring you to a spot where the whale
sharks are. You will ride a hand-paddled boat to reach a certain area that’s a
few meters shy from the shore. The fishermen will then feed the whale sharks
buckets of krill for them to come close. I removed my life jacket, jumped off
the boat, and got captivated by the presence of such massive yet elegant
creatures.
Shortly after, guilt nudged me. It’s something I won’t deny
upon realizing that our humbling interaction with the whale sharks, though
innocuous, might not be in their best interests. Feeding them essentially keeps
them captive until noon. This has sparked controversy too.
They say the whale sharks becoming reliant on locals for food does not
contribute to a healthy ecosystem.
I have to commend Oslob’s Whale Shark Watching Center’s
efforts though to raise the guests’ awareness on ethical interactions with
wildlife. It appears that the whale sharks are generally well-protected because
of the policies. Guests are prohibited to wear sunblock lotions for these can
pose perils to the whale sharks’ health. If you did apply some, there’s a
designated shower area for you to rinse off your cream or lotion.
Please adhere to the center’s rules. Don’t touch the whale
sharks or swim too closely because even if they’re devoid of jaws and teeth,
they can still defend themselves with their enormous tails if they are
startled. Don’t use flash photography as it can frighten them. A snorkeling kit
is included in the package but you can forego it and opt for free diving. While
you are only given 30 minutes for the monitored encounter, don’t forget to be
cautious because there’s a tendency for you to be poked by other swimming
tourists.
Fees
Air-conditioned
bus from Cebu to Oslob – P150++
Resort
cottage – P100 each
Oslob
whale shark watching fees – P 500 each for local tourists and P1,000 each for
foreign tourists
Single
tank scuba dive – P3,500 inclusive of gears and marine fees
