In the swim of things in Oslob, Cebu

When I heard about the whale sharks in Oslob, I made sure that the next time I visit Cebu, this town has to be on my itinerary. Apparently, other tourists thought of the same thing.

Oslob, a once sleepy town south of Cebu City, is rapidly attracting tourists, both local and foreign, and is now considered a must-visit destination. This is not surprising, as a close encounter with the gentle giants of the sea awaits one in Oslob.

Oslob, a once a sleepy town south of Cebu City, is fast becoming a tourist attraction.

Encounter with the tuki

Getting to Oslob is an adventure in itself. From the Mactan International Airport, proceed to the Cebu South Bus Terminal. There are two bus companies that can take you to Oslob: Ceres and Sunrays. First trip begins as early as 3AM. The bus ride is about three hours, so bring snacks with you as there will be no stopovers. It is also best to take a seat on the left side of the bus (driver’s side) for the ocean view. Clearly inform the bus conductor to drop you off at the barangay hall of Tan-awan in Oslob. Keep in mind: Never tell him to bring you to where the “butandings” are because they call the whale sharks “tuki."

Welcome to Oslob!

I am from Sorsogon, and I had also swum with the same denizens of the deep. I loved my experience with the butanding in Donsol, but the encounter with the tuki in Oslob is a totally different one. You don’t have to go too far from the shore because as soon as your outrigger boat takes off, you can already see the whale sharks swimming at surface level. According to our guide, Mang Jimmy, the feeding and interaction time is from 6AM to 12:30PM.

There's a briefing session where a guide will inform you of the do's and don'ts of whale interaction.

Before you get too cozy and comfortable with the whale sharks in Oslob, there are guidelines you have to follow. Everyone is required to attend a short briefing session for safety as well as the welfare of the tuki. Among the rules that have to be followed are:

1. Maintain a minimum distance of 5m-6m from the whale shark.

2. Do not touch the whale shark.

3. Do not jump from the boat.

4. Guide and life vest are mandatory.

5. Flash photography is not permitted.

6. Do not touch the coral.

7. Do not litter.

The tuki right before your very eyes.

The briefing officer also advises tourists not to put on sunblock, as the chemicals might mix with the water, which could be harmful to the tuki. After the briefing, tickets can be purchased at a designated station. Tickets are priced at P500 for Filipino citizens and P1,000 for foreigners. This includes the fees for the boat, boatmen, and snorkeling gears.

Thinking about where to leave your valuables? The locals proudly say that nobody will touch your things but just to be sure,there are lockers for rent at P20 only. Underwater cameras are also available for rent at P500. You can either provide the memory card or have the pictures saved in a CD. Just make sure to check the CD before you leave. (Remember, Oslob is three hours away from the city and you don’t want that panic scene happening when you’ve realized that the CD is empty!)

One of the whale sharks in Oslob.

The viewing area is just a short boatride away. Unlike in Donsol, there is no need for a spotter as you can easily see the tuki being fed by assigned “feeders” on the shallow Oslob waters. And since the water is aquamarine clear, you can opt to stay on the banca and marvel at the whale sharks from a distance.

There is a 30-minute limit for the whale shark encounter. Just a friendly reminder: Make sure the photographer holding the underwater camera is not just a good diver but also knows how to operate the gadget. Unfortunately, our boatman-photographer wasn’t too familiar with the camera so we had to content ourselves with the available photos.

While the whale shark encounter is Oslob’s major attraction, tourists can also enjoy nature’s beauty a few meters away. A 10-minute habal-habal ride will take you to Tumalog Falls. Your jaws will drop the moment you behold this amazing wonder of nature. An air of mystery permeates the area as the falls is truly breathtaking. Such a perfect place for photo ops.

Tumalog Falls. One word: breathtaking.

These two amazing spots in Oslob prove to all that Cebu is not only about the attractions in the city proper. The once quiet town has already made a fair share of media buzz. Come see for yourself why.

(Published November 6, 2012, Kristn.com)

Glad to have seen this wonder of nature.