Meet and greet the gentle giants of Cebu- the Whale Sharks!

Plunge into the majestic waters of Oslob as you meet and greet the gentle giants!

Before relaxing in the paradise-like island of Cebu-"Sumilon Island"' which we have talked about last time, why not indulge in a thrilling activity that Oslob can offer? More and more exciting activities are booming in the southern part of Cebu, with its rich natural resources there’s no doubt that the silent town of Oslob has a lot to offer to its foreign and local visitors, and the most popular among them is the “ whale shark watching”! Watching whale sharks may sound exciting, but beyond that, make it a more memorable experience by diving in the water and seeing these gentle giants that are as big as buses!

Oslob is a small and quiet town located in the southern part of Cebu. The town of Oslob can be reached in about 4 hours by car from Cebu City. You may also ride a bus from Cebu South Terminal or hire a private van for a more comfortable ride.

Let the adventure begin!

Local stories say that it all started in 2011 when a fisherman fed some whale sharks with a krill and some other food. Moving forward, the place has now become a famous tourist spot where people can swim and be amazed with these friendly mammals. While these whale sharks have made the place their home as well.

You will start your day by registering your names and be guided with the Do’s and Don’ts during the activity. As soon as you get in the boat, you will see whale sharks peeping their heads above the clear water. Before getting into the cold water, make sure to wear your lifejackets, especially for those who don’t know how to swim, as you are surely in the deep side of the sea. But, to those who are confident enough with their swimming abilities, you can go ahead and join our gentle giants swimming around while having their breakfast as fishermen give them food to eat. Their mouths seem so big when it opens, but don’t worry they are too friendly and will not eat you.

You may be so thrilled swimming with the whale sharks, but don’t forget to capture the moment and pose-all-you-can with these friendly giants! If you possibly left your cameras, organizers of the activity also have underwater cameras you may rent during the activity.

The activity takes about 30 to 40 minutes, so as you visit the beautiful Sumilon Island, drop by the “Whale Shark” watching area which is a few minutes away from the port of Sumilon island. Visit these two tourist spots and make the most of your getaway!

Say “Hi!” to Oslob’s friendly and gentle giants!

Nothing is scarier than to encounter a shark under the deep sea. But, these whale sharks are nothing to be scared of, despite being known as the “largest fish”, they are also called the “gentle giants”. Even with it’s big mouth and body, these whale sharks are too friendly, quiet and gentle. They only eat krills and plankton. It is safe to swim around them as they do not attack people.

Off we go to Oslob, but how?

It takes 4 hours to get to Oslob from the Mactan area where most resorts are lined up. We highly suggest leaving as early as 4-5 AM as the whale shark activity closes by 10 AM. If you have not booked a tour from a travel agency, you may go to South Bus Terminal in Cebu City or rent a private car or van for your convenience. You may find various travel agencies and diving shops offering whale shark watching tours with guides to help you out and round-trip transportation, so if you are new to Cebu, we recommend joining a tour.

Itinerary sample for Whale Shark watching + Sumilon Island

4:00　Depart from Cebu City

5:00　Snack, restroom break

8:00　Arrive in Oslob

　　　Receive an explanation about whale shark watching

　　　Rent a life jacket and snorkel set and go to the boat

　　　Whale shark watching (about 30-40 minutes)

10:00　to Sumilon Island

　　　Snorkeling on the beach of Sumilon Island

12:00　Lunch

　　　 Back to Cebu City

17:00   Arrive at Cebu City

It may be a long 4 hour drive, but don’t worry as you will surely enjoy watching different sceneries as you pass by different towns, from lush green trees to majestic blue seas and the clear blue skies perfecting the panoramic view.

 Sumilon Island x Bluewater Sumilon Island Resort