Whale Watching in Oslob Cebu – Tuki Encounter is more fun in Oslob

Oslob Whale-Watching Adventure

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The whale-watching experience in Oslob Cebu is more interactive than many people realize. Surprisingly, the most exciting part is the up-close encounter with a whale shark, commonly called butanding in Sorsogon or Tuki by the local fishermen in Oslob Cebu.

These Whale sharks are actually the largest shark in the world. People called it a whale shark because of its enormous size (like a whale), not because it’s a type of whale. It is just being called a Whale shark because of its close resemblance to whales. They are characterized by their flattened head, wide mouth, and docile nature.

We left Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort early to meet the rest in Oslob for our Tuki Interaction. The town of Oslob is located in the Southern part of Cebu and recently became a popular tourist spot with discovering these friendly whale sharks in the clear waters of Oslob.

From Ester Pension, we left our things and then proceeded to the registration area for safety orientation before heading to the boat. I was pleased to learn that the local government is already implementing some rules and guidelines for visitors and boatmen. The local government of Oslob was questioned earlier this year when a photo showing a girl riding on top of a whale shark surfaced the social media sites.

Whale watching begins at around 5am but knowing how tired we were from a week of fun and adventure, we chose not to do it early in the morning. Of course, a fee is charged, followed by a short orientation that spells out the whale watching etiquette.

The visitor’s guidelines were created to protect the whale sharks. Here are some of the guidelines they discussed with us :

• Visitors need to stay 5 meters away from the Whale Shark
• They are not Tarsier but still No to Flash Photography
• Sunscreen lotion is poisonous to Whale Sharks… and Yes, Tanning lotions too

Underwater Police are all over the place to ensure no one violates the guidelines. Violators will have to pay penalty charges or get involved in community service.

Upon reaching the viewing area, I was amazed at what I saw. Many whale sharks surround our boat; some just follow other boats for food. I like Oslob because you don’t have to dive deep just to see the whale sharks as they are visible in the shallow and clear waters, unlike in Sorsogon.

When you are out in the sea, it does take longer for the whale sharks to appear. These sea giants bravely approach the fishing boats and wait as though they are expecting something. The fishermen treat the whale sharks as pets, building trust by being there often and posing no threat; the whale sharks calmly swim to the boats.

You can actually reach out and touch them, but unfortunately, the rules state that only the fishermen are allowed contact with the whales. Feeding is also not allowed. Attempting to pet the whale sharks could result in a stampede out of the area, preventing other visitors from the opportunity to see the whale sharks. I guess with some people, rules are meant to be broken. I saw a boat full of yuppies applying sunblock like there was no tomorrow.

The excitement of the occasion has been known to cause some people to jump in the water and swim with the whale sharks, as they are not dangerous to humans. Just remember to steer clear of the huge tail fin and its big mouth if you dare. Although I stayed on the boat while the rest were swimming, I still enjoyed Whale watching since they were obvious from where I was seated.

After our close encounter with Whale Sharks in Oslob, we headed to Laguna Restaurant in Cebu City to have lunch with the Department of Tourism Region VII officials. For our last activity, we visited the Imperial Palace Waterpark Resort and Spa for a resort inspection and dinner.

The whole 6 days of waking up early, food trips, resort inspections, adventure activities, and land trips are truly unforgettable. It’s probably one of the best trips I have joined so far. After our dinner, we proceeded to the Mactan International Airport. While the rest took their flight back to Manila, I decided to have my ticket rebooked and extend my stay in Cebu. I just need complete rest and a little bit of detoxification:)

I would like to thank Mr. Cesar Cruz and the rest of the PHILTOA team for organizing this successful Central Visayas Familiarization Tour. I’m so grateful to be part of this activity which gave me a lot of exciting experiences like meeting new friends, discovering heritage and culture, and tasting local food and delicacies.

Also see:

• How We Had The “Need-To-Be-Back-By-Dinner” Oslob Experience
• Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort: Your Own Private Island in Cebu
• Donsol Sorsogon: Whale Shark Capital of the World
• Check Out These 10 Unique Experiences You Can Try in the Philippines