Will it be fine if I go and experience swimming with the whale sharks (butanding in Filipino) alone?

I asked myself this question before I packed up for a swim with the butandings in Oslob, Cebu. If you also have this question on mind. Let me help you answer it:

If you're just like me who loves adventure, dares and fun, I tell you it's safe to travel and swim with the butandings as long as you follow the rules they have. And you need not  have  travel buddy/ies to cheer with you when they're showing up and you go swimming with the whale sharks.

So, if I where you, go and enjoy the rare opportunity of swimming with them, not in the ocean parks but right at their territory.

I have enumerated here, as requested by my friends,  some of tips and things that you need to know and might be useful to you.

How to get there:

1. From the airport or wherever you are, take a taxi to South Bus Terminal.  The terminal is near Elizabeth Mall.
2. Pay the terminal fee. There is a terminal personnel that will collect your payment.
3. Go straight to where the Ceres buses are parked. It's a yellow colored bus. The trip is less than 3 hours.
4. Look for Oslob signage
5. When the conductor will ask, where you're heading advise him to drop you off  at Tan-awan Barangay Hall in Oslob. I think this is the easiest landmark for you not to get lost.
6. Walk a few steps back the barangay hall and look for the 'whale shark watching' signage, in blue.
7. Get inside the resort and you'll be accommodated by fishermen around and will bring you to the registration area for you to pay the fees and briefing area after.

Expenses:
Taxi fare, from where I am staying : P60.00
South bus terminal fee: P5.000
Bus fare: P156.00 one way
Whale watching fee: P 300.00
Lunch: P90.00
Jeepney from Bus terminal to where I am staying: P8.00
Tip for the fisherman (optional): P50.00


Random photos and info

The signage| landmark of the resort. This is located at the left side when you are from Cebu City. Get inside the gate and ask around for instructions.

This is posted at the blue gate, just beside the whale watching signage.

Here are the priority numbers for whale shark watching. There are three groups of fisherman operating at the area and all of them are regulated by the local officials.

Tourists waiting for their turn to swim with the sharks. If you plan to go there, you better go the soonest. Don't wait for it to be too commercialized. You can even  leave your bag to the fisherman who was monitoring the priority numbers, just like what I did.

My  priority number and the ticket. I am so lucky not to wait, for my turn,  for too long. I was accommodated just after few minutes of waiting.

At the briefing area where everyone is oriented before the swim.  Here are some of  the rules: Don't be to close to the whale sharks, maintain a 3 meters distance from them. Don't attempt to touch or chase the whale sharks. Don't use flash when taking pictures. Don't use sunblocks because it has chemicals not good for the whales. Listen to your boatman as they  know the whales better than us-tourists.

Kuya Mervin, my boatman/photographer.  Boatmen like Kuya Mervin earns P1000.00 a day, the most, especially during weekends. He said if they go for fishing they will just earn  P300.00 a day.

Human and sharks are friends, with strings attached!  Fishermen feed the sharks.  Sharks feed the fishermen's family.

Shark's tail at my back.

The white one, at the middle part of the shark's body, is a baby shark.

The non-motorized banca that tourists are using to go near the sharks.

Don't bring your DSLRs or cameras, without water proof camera case. If it's not underwater cam, you will just end up worrying  much of your gear than enjoying the swim with the sharks.

A fish bone

Don't trust the vest included in the whale watching fee package. It's not comfortable for you to wear. And if you have snorkeling gear, bring it with you.

The guy standing  is the one monitoring the priority numbers. If you are just alone, you can request him for you to have the entire boat.

I usually bring my own utensils and tumbler with me every time I am out for outdoor fun. Travelling often gives you surprises so it's good to be always ready and prepared.

For less than a thousand, I did enjoy my Sunday date with the whale sharks. Done dare, once again!