Swimming with whale sharks in the Philippines.

One of the ultimate bucket-list opportunities is swimming with whale sharks in the Philippines.  You will swim alongside the biggest fish in the sea. There are a couple of destinations in the Philippines, like swimming with whale sharks Philippines in Cebu, where in-season whale shark sightings are almost assured.

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It is an incredible experience to see these gentle giant Oslob whale shark swimming in the wild. Still, it is vital to do so responsibly: maintain a respectful distance from the creatures at all times, choose only trustworthy dive operators (who do not try to lure the fish with food and restrict group numbers to prevent overcrowding), and avoid flash photography. Note you’re there only for observation, not interaction.

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Nothing else compares to a diving encounter with the Philippines Oslob whale shark with high enthusiasm in the deep blue sea. With the unique, lifetime experience of a whale shark swimming trip, getting close and personal with these gentle giants can be done in total security and unforgettable design. This is truly a worthy experience bucket list item that will produce some enriching memories that you will look back on for years to come.

HOW SAFE IS SWIMMING WITH WHALE SHARKS IN THE PHILIPPINES?

Swimming on the shore with the world’s largest fish is no small feat, but the enormity of the whale shark belies its gentle nature. Slow-moving whale sharks feed only on small microorganisms and are responsive to human spectators’ presence submerged. Swimming with whale sharks is carried out with the utmost security and the highest professional standards.

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SWIMMING WITH WHALE SHARKS IN PHILIPPINES

In the Philippines, more than a thousand distinct whale sharks have been recorded, making it the third-largest population in the world and the best place to swim with whale sharks in the Philippines. However, there are a few places to swim with these incredible creatures across the Philippines’ 7,000 islands

You know there’s no shortage of blue waters and powdery beaches while traveling through the Philippines. Beautiful views are abundant, and you’re definitely packed with the food. Although it’s fun to take all this in, you find yourself wanting to do more. Why not take heed of the wind and dive with one of the friendliest giants in the ocean, the whale sharks?

Oslob Philippines whale sharks.

There are many areas to see the Oslob Philippines whale sharks.  But some are better areas than others and more ethical too. Here are some of the locations we suggest for swimming with whale sharks in the Philippines. 

  • Honda Bay, Palawan
  • Southern Leyte
  • Tubbataha, Palawan
  • Donsol, Bicol
  • Utila, Honduras

WHALE SHARKS IN HONDA BAY, PALAWAN

Having a unique tour of the waters of Puerto Princesa’s Honda Bay Port, you will personally meet the largest of all living in a moment of fishing. On some days from April to October, when full moon, before and after full moon, the tours start when sharks come to this area in the wild and when the weather allows the boat to go to the sea! The number of visitors is limited to 30 people per day. Be aware.

  • Budget per head: P1,700 (USD 34)
  • Location: From Puerto Princesa International Airport, you can reach the jump-off point in about an hour.
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WHALE SHARKS AT SOUTHERN LEYTE

Southern Leyte is not that well recognized, resulting in a much more realistic whale shark contact experience and uncrowded waters. You will spend hours looking for wildlife in the bay on a boat with whale shark spotters. For sightings, sites such as Sogod Bay are excellent. When the animals migrate here, the best time of the year is from November to May, so schedule your trip around that season to improve your chances of swimming with them.

  • Budget per head: P1,300 (USD 26)
  • Location: From Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport in Tacloban, dive shops appear after a 3.5-hour drive.
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SEE WHALE SHARKS AT TUBBATAHA, PALAWAN

Located in the middle of the Sulu Sea, the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is a protected area of the Philippines and is well known for some of the world’s best diving. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the best places to swim with whale sharks in the region, but it is hard to reach, and you can only get there on board alive cruise. The fish congregate in this remote marine park from mid-March to mid-June.

  • Budget per head:  for MY Vasco yacht, around P95,700 (USD1,915) + Marine Park fee about P5,000 (USD100)
  • Location: From Puerto Princesa International Airport, go to Puerto Princesa to meet your liveaboard operator.

DONSOL, BICOL

Here, strict protocols are followed concerning contact with whale sharks. Each boat, for instance, must have a qualified guide or spotter on board. In Donsol, too, only snorkeling is permitted. The peak seasons usually run from December to May, but you can maximize your chances of seeing the gentle creatures between February and April.

  • Budget per head: P1,400 (USD28)
  • Location: From Legazpi airport, Donsol is about 90 minutes away by car.

UTILA, HONDURAS

If you are searching for a place to dive with whale sharks abroad, then Honduras is the best option. Utila, for one, welcomes these gentle giants throughout the year. The deeper waters off the island’s north side are where the creatures are seen most frequently.

  • Budget per head: P50,000 (USD1,000) for 8 days and 7 nights in Deep Blue Resort 
  • Location: From San Pedro Sula, Deep Blue Resort is around 3-4 hours by taxi. You can also head to Le Ceiba to catch a ferry.
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In conclusion, there’s always Oslob whale sharks in Cebu. You’re almost guaranteed 100% of the time to see them when you’re traveling and swimming for them. When you choose a place to visit the whale sharks, please make sure that you check out and make sure ethical tour operators. Whale shark tour operators often abused The Animals by poking them with sticks and making their environment dirty and undesirable for the Sharks.

Whale sharks are docile beautiful creatures that swim by themselves in the oceans. Swimming and snorkeling with whale sharks in the Philippines is a big exciting tourist Adventure. So a great place to visit is Sogod Bay in Southern Leyte.  It has one of the best sustainable whale shark swimming experience in the Philippines.  Sogod Bay is a natural, sustainable way to visit.  There is feeding, no touching the sharks, no long waits in the hot sun. We highly recommend Sogod Bay for swimming with whale sharks in the Philippines. 

Philippines influence hopes you enjoy this article.

We would appreciate any comments or experiences that you have about swimming with whale sharks in the Philippines.

~ staff

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