Charmaine Acha
Image credit: Adam Brill
Whale sharks are the most gigantic creatures I have ever seen. A regret of mine is not swimming with them because I was afraid I would be eaten alive! Even though the guides assured me that whale sharks are friendly creatures incapable of harming humans, I still did not dare to enter the water. So if you have plan to, just dive, swim and enjoy. Don’t be a scaredy-cat like me.
Also read: Insider’s Guide to Cebu: All You Need to Know Before Your Trip
How to get there
- Wake up early. You should be in Cebu South Bus Terminal at 3 AM.
- Travel time: 3-4 hrs from Cebu City proper to Oslob, so you’ll reach there at around 7 AM.
- Tell the bus conductor to drop you off at the whale shark area in Tan-awan, Oslob.
- Bus fare: non-air-conditioned = PHP 150 (approx. SGD 4); air-conditioned = PHP 155 (approx. SGD 4.5)
- When you reach there, expect a lot of people lining up to pay the fees.
Entrance fees
Whale watching only
- PHP 300 (approx. SGD 8.6) for local guests (with boat ride)
- PHP 500 (approx. SGD 14) for foreign guests (with boat ride)
Whale watching + snorkelling
- PHP 500 (approx. SGD 14) for local guests (with boat ride + snorkelling gear)
- PHP 1, 000 (approx. SGD 28) for foreign guests (with boat ride + snorkelling gear)
What to do next
- After paying, get your ticket(s) and proceed to the briefing area.
- It’s mandatory to wear a life jacket. Bring your own if you have or rent one for PHP 30 (approx. SGD 0.8).
- You’ll be assigned a designated colour: blue, yellow, green. Ask your guide to bring you to your designated group.
- Ride the boat and enjoy! Whale watching /diving will last for about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Estimated travel budget = PHP 600-700 (approx. SGD 17-20)
Also read: 15 Thrilling Outdoor Adventures to Conquer in Cebu
Here’s our butanding (whale shark) video. Enjoy!
Contributed by Chill and Travel.
These gentle giants will not stay there for long. Visit Cebu before they’re gone.
