Swimming with Whale Sharks in Oslob, Philippines - Is it Ethical?
Apart from canyoneering and chasing waterfalls, swimming with whale sharks in Oslob is one of the most popular activities on Cebu Island in the Philippines.
In a little village called Tan-awan, an organized tour runs every morning, taking visitors just offshore to swim with these so-called gentle giants.
I had never seen a whale shark up close before, and the idea of being in the water with one sounded irresistible. Admittedly, I didn’t do a deep dive into the ethics before going. Most of my “research” was more on the practical stuff like how to get there, how much it would cost, etc.
In my head at least, it sounded more ethical than watching animals perform in a zoo, aquarium, or water park. But as popular as it is, this activity is also one of the most debated.
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Season-wise, Oslob whale shark tours operates year-round. Unlike other places where whale shark sightings depend on migration patterns, the sharks here are present regardless of the month.
The drier months from December to May generally mean calmer seas and better conditions, while the rainy season can bring rougher water and lower visibility, although sightings still happen.
The tours run daily from around 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM, with the last swimmers usually allowed in closer to 11AM. In theory, that gives you a decent window.
But in reality, most people aim to arrive as early as possible to avoid heat and long queues.
How to get to Oslob
Oslob is a small town on the southeastern tip of Cebu Island. The whale shark interaction site is in Tan-awan, about 3–4 hours south of Cebu City.
From Cebu City
By bus
Go to the South Bus Terminal (30 minutes away from the airport) and get a Ceres bus bound for Oslob Bato via Liloan.
The journey should take anywhere from 3.5 to 5 hours, depending on traffic, so keep that in mind if you plan to make a day trip from Cebu City. You might have to start as early as 5 a.m.
By private car
Can be faster (about 3 hours), more comfortable, and more flexible if you’re with a small group, but of course, more expensive.
By shared tour
Many tours from Cebu include early hotel pickup and can be combined with other attractions like the Kawasan Falls and Sumilon Island.
From Moalboal
During my stay on Cebu Island, I based myself in Moalboal. The receptionist at my hostel told me that from Moalboal Bus Terminal, I had to take the bus going to Bato via Oslob.
However, I waited for over an hour and saw no such bus. The only ones passing by were going to Bato via Barili.
So, I hopped on one of those, got off at Bato Bus Terminal, and from there took another bus to Oslob. Just tell the driver that you want to see whale sharks and he should know exactly where to drop you.
Where to stay in Oslob
There’s not much to see or do in Oslob other than swimming with whale sharks, but if you’re serious about going DIY and avoiding the insane early-morning rush, consider staying overnight in Oslob the night before, so you can get an early start.
Budget
- Sharky Hostel Oslob — Dormitories and bamboo chalets, some with air-conditioning. Features a garden, terrace, shared kitchen, and game room.
- Luna Oslob Travelers Inn — Clean, spacious private rooms (some with en suite bathrooms), with a shared kitchen and an on-site restaurant.
- Germaroze Oslob — Air-conditioned rooms with private bathrooms. Features an outdoor pool, a garden, shared kitchen, and terrace with sea views.
Mid-range
- Pobla Hotel — A modern, stylish hotel with a swimming pool and rooms with private bathrooms and pool or garden views.
- RRJ’s Beach Resort — A beachfront resort with a swimming pool, garden, terrace, and restaurant. Rooms come with air-conditioning and private bathrooms.
Luxury
- Emoha Dive Resort — A luxury resort with a private beach, swimming pool, sun terrace, and an in-house restaurant.
- Oslob Whale Shark Resort — A resort with a private beach and sun terrace.
What to bring on a whale shark tour in Oslob
This isn’t a complicated trip, but bringing the right things makes the morning a lot smoother.
Cash (small bills)
There are no ATMs right at the whale shark site, and payments are usually cash only. Bring small denominations for entrance fees, gear rental, snacks, and tips if you plan to give any.
Swimwear (wear it in advance)
Facilities there are very basic, so it’s much easier to arrive already wearing your swimsuit and throw on a cover-up or shorts on top.
Towel & dry clothes
You’ll want to change quickly after the swim, especially if you’re heading straight back to Cebu or continuing to other stops like Tumalog Falls.
Waterproof bag or dry pouch
Your stuff will be left on the boat or shore, often exposed to splashes. A small dry bag is very useful for phones, wallets, and passports.
GoPro or waterproof camera (optional)
Just remember: no flash photography is allowed.
Reef-safe sunscreen (or skip it entirely)
Regular sunscreen isn’t allowed because it harms marine life. Many people choose to skip sunscreen completely for the 30-minute swim and cover up afterward instead. But if you must, opt for the reef-safe kind.
Rash guard or long-sleeve swim top
This helps with sun protection and keeps you warmer in the water, especially if you’re in early morning when it’s still cool.
Flip-flops or easy sandals
You’ll be in and out of water, stepping on wet sand and rocky areas. No need for fancy shoes.
Water & light snacks
There are small stalls nearby, but if you’re coming straight from Cebu at dawn, having water and something light to eat helps.
Motion sickness tablets (if needed)
The boat ride is short, but if you’re sensitive to waves, better safe than sorry.
How much is it to swim with whale sharks in Oslob?
The bus dropped me in front of a resort with a whale shark sign at the entrance. I went to the reception and paid 1,200 pesos for the tour, which included a pair of fins, a snorkel, a life vest, locker service, a shower room, and a guide.
The guide took me and several other tourists to the briefing station where we had to register our names. In the meantime, she went to the cashier counter to make the payment for all of us.
I later learned that I could have gone straight to the briefing station without hiring the guide. Doing so would have saved me 200 pesos.
The only extras I got with that 200 pesos were the fins (which I didn’t use anyway), locker service, and access to the shower room. Oh, and the guide, whose sole job was to walk us to the briefing station and hand our money to the cashier.
So, if you can do without fins or lockers, just walk past the resort and head straight to the official registration area near the briefing station. Snorkels, life vests, and the outdoor shower are available for everyone.
Oslob whale shark tour ticket prices
- Foreigners: PHP 1,000
- Locals: PHP 500
Here in the Philippines — and practically everywhere else in Southeast Asia — I can easily pass for a local. Until I open my mouth, that is.
Unfortunately, my Tagalog is limited to just a few words (mostly cuss words taught by my Filipino colleagues). So, I had to pay the foreigner’s price.
Update: Apparently, they no longer charge different prices for foreigners. It’s now a flat rate of PHP 500 for everyone. Let me know in the comments if you can confirm this!
The dos and don'ts of swimming with whale sharks
After registration, we headed to the briefing station. New groups of tourists were arriving every few minutes, so the briefings had to be repeated continuously throughout the morning.
At least three people took turns explaining to the newcomers what they should and shouldn’t do during the tour. Here are the main dos and don’ts when swimming with whale sharks:
- Do NOT use sunscreen. This is to prevent polluting the ocean and harming the reefs. Some sunscreens also contain chemicals that are toxic to fish and marine mammals. If you’re worried sun exposure (it does get really hot and you may have to wait in line for hours before boarding), make sure to cover up with a hat and long-sleeved clothing or a rash guard.
- Do NOT use flash photography. The flash can startle the whale sharks.
- Do NOT feed, touch, or provoke the whale sharks. For obvious reasons.
- Do maintain a minimum distance of five meters away from the whale sharks at all times. Again, for their safety and yours.
Is it very touristy?
If you’ve done some online research on the whale shark tour in Cebu, you’ve probably noticed that it has gotten quite a bit of bad press.
I came across several bloggers who either refused to try it altogether, or went ahead with it and later wished they hadn’t.
Some raised concerns about the welfare of the animals (more on that later), but most complained that the experience felt overly commercialized and inauthentic.
I do have to agree that it was very, very touristy. After the briefing, we headed to the beach and were given a waiting number. There were only a limited number of boats, each with a maximum capacity of ten people.
And by then, there were already hundreds of tourists ahead of us. No exaggeration.
The entire beach was packed with people waiting for their turn to get on the boats. A man with a microphone called out numbers whenever a boat became available. In the end, I waited nearly two hours for my turn.
My experience swimming with the whale sharks
Finally, after that long, arduous wait (thankfully there was some shade), my number was called.
I grabbed my life vest and snorkel and hopped onto the boat. It was a long and narrow outrigger boat.
My fellow passengers were a group of tourists from China and a few Filipinos from other parts of the country. We didn’t have time to socialize though because the whale shark feeding area was only about 200 meters away from the shore.
Once we arrived, we were given 30 minutes to swim. Everyone jumped in, except for one Filipino lady who was happy to stay in the boat and watch. She volunteered to take photos for us instead.
The current was quite strong, we had to cling on to the bamboo frame. I was glad I was wearing a life vest.
To lure the whale sharks, the local guides on smaller boats dropped shrimp into the water.
From the surface, I couldn’t see anything at all. It was only when I put my head underwater that I suddenly saw the gigantic creature just meters away from me.
Its sheer size terrified me at first, but once I realized it was far more interested in the shrimp than in me, I began to relax.
The whale shark has a fascinating way of feeding. It simply opens its mouth and moves forward, swallowing everything in its path.
At one point, while I was happily taking photos, I got distracted and didn’t realize the current had pushed me too close to the shark as it swam by with its mouth wide open. I was promptly yelled at by the boatmen for not keeping my distance.
Whale shark fun facts
- Whale sharks breathe through gills, so technically they’re sharks, not whales.
- A whale shark’s diet consists of plankton, shrimp, krill, fish eggs, and very small fish. Their mouths aren’t designed anything larger. (So, don’t worry, they won’t eat you, though I still wouldn’t advice testing your luck).
- Most whale sharks migrate, but there are some resident populations (like the one around Mafia Island in Tanzania) that don’t.
Are Oslob whale shark tours ethical?
Any discussion about swimming with whale sharks in Oslob inevitably leads to a broader conversation about animal tourism, and this is where things get complicated.
Animal tourism is often criticized as unethical because it can involve exploiting animals for human entertainment and profit.
In many cases, that criticism is well-deserved. Activities like circuses, captive dolphin shows, or photo ops with sedated wildlife clearly prioritize tourism over animal welfare.
Whale shark tourism in Oslob, however, sits in a greyer area, which is why it continues to be debated.
The main concern raised by critics
Those who oppose the Oslob whale shark tours usually point to a few key issues:
Feeding alters natural behavior. Whale sharks are provisioned with small shrimp (uyap) to keep them in the area, which may encourage them to associate boats with food rather than foraging naturally.
Migration patterns may be affected. Whale sharks are highly migratory animals, and critics worry that regular feeding could disrupt their normal movement and possibly even breeding behavior.
Risk of physical harm. With many boats and swimmers in a confined space, there is concern that sharks could be injured through accidental contact, boat strikes, or stress caused by crowding.
These concerns are valid enough that organizations like marine research groups and conservation NGOs continue to monitor and study the long-term effects of the activity.
Contexts cited by supporters of the tour
On the other hand, there are also facts and conditions on the ground that are often highlighted in defense of the Oslob operation:
The whale sharks are not captive. They are not enclosed or restrained in any way and are free to swim away from the area if they choose.
No motorized propellers are used in the interaction zone. The boats used are paddle boats with wooden oars, which removes the risk of propeller injuries.
Daily monitoring is in place. Marine biologists and local authorities are present at the site to track individual whale sharks, observe their behavior, and ensure rules are followed.
Provisioned food is minimal. The amount of shrimp given is small and not enough to sustain the sharks nutritionally, meaning they still need to forage naturally.
Migration still occurs. The number and identity of adult whale sharks in Oslob change throughout the year, suggesting that not all individuals remain in the area permanently.
- A shift from hunting to protection. Before tourism, whale sharks were sometimes hunted by local fishermen because they damaged nets and fed on fish catches. Since the introduction of the whale shark tours, killings have reportedly stopped, as the animals now represent a vital source of income and employment for the community.
The tourism revenue has significantly improved the local economy in an area that previously struggled with high unemployment, giving residents a strong incentive to protect rather than harm the whale sharks.
So, what's the ethical takeaway?
The reality is that swimming with whale sharks in Oslob isn’t easily categorized as wholly ethical or unethical.
It exists somewhere in between, shaped by conservation concerns, economic realities, and the ongoing challenge of balancing wildlife protection with human livelihoods.
For travelers, the most responsible approach is to understand the context, follow the rules strictly, minimize harm where possible, and make an informed choice about participating.
Final thoughts
So, should you take part in the whale shark tour? Is it worth it?
Well, that depends. I’m not here to encourage or discourage you either way. It is very touristy, for one thing. In general, I tend to dislike experiences that feel “staged” purely for tourism, and that includes certain museums, theme parks, replicas, zoos, and aquariums.
If I had the means, I would have preferred a quieter, less crowded way of seeing whale sharks. But at the time, the Oslob tour felt like the most accessible, and realistically, the only option available to me.
As for the ethical question, I don’t personally see it as unethical, though this is just my own view. You’re free to have yours, just as I have mine.
To me, traditional zoos and aquariums raise far more concerns. The feeding of whale sharks in Oslob feels closer to putting out a birdbath or leaving food in your backyard because you enjoy watching birds come and go — an interaction born out of human presence rather than harm.
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It is actually a new experience to get to see the sharks within a close up. But sometimes, we have to go against our own principle to get through new experience
Ya that’s true. Ultimately it’s all up to one’s own conscience. Personally, I’m not totally against this whale shark tour.
Aktiviti yg sangat menarik. Tak pernah lg ada pengalaman camni. Ada peluang nt nk juga cuba tp kena blajar berenang dulu la kot 😅
Tak payah pandai berenang pun takpe sebenarnya, sebab pakai life jacket. Cuma kena berani je la dalam air tu. Kalau panik, susah jugak.
Seronoknye sis melalui pengalaman berenang bersama shark. Marina tengok dalam akuarium je. Tapi shark kecik
Oo, yang Marina tgk tu mungkin shark biasa kot. Yg ni whale shark, mmg spesis besar.
Waaa seronoknyaaa Ummi… so berani laaa you..kalau Sis tu, mau menggigil lutut takut pengsan dalam air hahahaha.. tengok Ummi seronok plakkkk
Hehehe mula2 takut jugak tgk whale shark tu sebab mulut dia besar gila dan dia main telan je apa2 yg ada depan mulut dia. So kita jgn pegi dekat2 sangat la.
Whale shark tour menariknya..tapi iena takut shark..iena pernah macam ni dengan penyu je dekat pulau redang..seronok tapi sakit kene libas dengan penyu huhu
Wah penyu pun pandai libas2, eh? Whale shark ni ok je sebenarnya, tak macam shark. Tapi kena make sure jgn duduk depan mulut dia, nanti kena telan.
kalau dapat bawa anak2 ke sini, mesti dowang seronok..dapat lihat habitat haiwan yang selalu tengok kat tv hehe
Betul tu. Tengok kat tv dengan tengok depan mata tak sama. 😀
Those who have courage shd try this. Once in a lifetime right.
Yup. It’s actually not that scary if you keep a comfortable distance from the whale shark. Water can be a bit choppy, but you’ve got a life vest.
Do I want to swim with the sharks? Yes.
Dare I do it? No.
Haha. So what does that leave me? I’ll be the lady on the boat la.
Hahaha, well as long as you don’t mind taking pictures for the rest of us! 😀
Perghhhh… Teruja kita tonton your video! Bestnya pengalaman awak. Bukan calang-calang punya keberanian ni. Salute laaa
Hehehe, tenkiu2! Takde la berani mana pun sebenarnya 😀
Interesting! Something new that every traveller need to try out right.. Great experience, sis… After the pandemic is over, i will definitely go visit Philippines.. One of my country bucket list that I havent check the box…
I hope you’ll get to check the box soon. Really beautiful country, with amazing people. As the saying goes, “it’s more fun in the Philippines”. 😉
Woah… This is so much fun and adventurous!! I never experience swimming with whale shark yet
Yup, it was fun! Wish the water wasn’t too choppy and there weren’t too many people though.
wah bestnya dapat pengalaman macam ni. saya pernah sekali jumpa whale shark masa bercuti di tioman.
Oh ye ke? Kat Tioman pun ada rupanya? Masa saya pegi Tioman dulu, duduk kat pantai je, tak pergi dive or snorkel.
Woww beraninya. Kalau ena di offer pon memang taknak. Sebab otak ni pikir bukan2 banyak tengok movie hehe. Salute lah..
Hahaha, penangan movie. Tapi sebenarnya ok je whale shark ni. Tak ganas pun, cuma jangan pegi dekat depan mulut dia je la.
bestnya dapat experience benda macamni. i is jeles haha nanti nak cuba juga la bila keadaan mengizinkan
Hehe hopefully soon! Covid is a bummer 🙁
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