Oslob

Oslob in southern Cebu is one of the few places in the world where visitors are pretty much guaranteed whaleshark sightings all year round, whether it’s diving or snorkelling with these gentle giants. The whalesharks typically migrate from southern region of the Philippines off Mindanao, make their way in and around the islands and continue up towards Taiwan.

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In the small town of Tan-Awan in Oslob, the local fishermen have historically had a long-standing relationship with the filter feeding whalesharks. Some of the older residents describe that when their grandfathers were teaching them to fish on outrigger or ‘banka’ boats, it was not uncommon for them to come eye to eye with a whaleshark or two. The whalesharks were attracted to the smell of krill from the net bag that was thrown into the water to attract bigger fish. After the fishermen caught what they needed, they would empty the mesh bag and give the rest to the sharks.

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In August 2011, a diver at a nearby resort heard about this relationship with the whalesharks and paid a fisherman to take him out to show him. This was a light bulb moment for the fishermen – the idea of charging tourists to show them the whalesharks was born and by early 2012, Oslob had been put on the map as a tourist destination.

Today, most of the resorts in Moalboal, Dumaguete and even some from Alona Beach, Bohol, will offer trips to Oslob. Some resorts offer snorkelling only trips, and snorkelers may still have an unforgettable experience however, in our experience, diving with the sharks is by far the better option.

The whalesharks are hand fed by local fishermen between 6am and 1pm. Visitors are given a briefing on the dos and don’ts of interactions with the sharks, which obviously includes no touching, which is strictly enforced. A snorkel or dive experience is a maximum of one hour from the time you enter the water to exiting.

The whalesharks are fed in an area that is about 80 to100 meters from shore where depth can range from 10 to 20 meters however the whalesharks stay mostly between the surface and about 10 meters depth. There are far more snorkelers than divers, so in our experience it is better to dip down to 3-5m and enjoy the show. Sharks come here all year round and it is not uncommon to see 10 plus sharks on one dive.

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