Are you in Cebu and really want to try whale shark watching in Oslob?
Great choice!
Swimming with whale sharks is definitely a bucket list experience.
I’ve been to Oslob twice, and both times I went to see these friendly giants…
And both times, I was amazed just watching them so closely.
But you’re probably wondering:
- What to expect from the Oslob whale shark watching?
- How do you get there?
- What can you expect?
- What’s the best time to visit the whale sharks?
- How much can you expect to spend?
- Is the Oslob whale shark watching ethical?
I’ll answer all these questions and more. So let’s dive right in!
What To Expect from the Oslob Whale Shark Viewing
First things first.
You can expect to watch these beautiful and cute creatures up close…
Even if you don’t know how to swim well.
The butandings (whale sharks) stay just below the surface to be hand-fed tiny shrimps by the local fishermen.
(You’re NOT allowed to touch them.)
You get 30 minutes with the whale sharks.
That’s enough time to see at least two or three, watch them glide across the water, get pics, and just take it all in before heading back to shore.
So for the butandings alone, Oslob whale shark viewing is a MUST.
Okay, here are the not-so-great things to expect…
A huge crowd!
You can always tell when you’ve arrived when you see lots of cars and motorbikes parked outside and streams of locals and foreigners going in and out.
When you get to the beach, you’ll see a long row of bangkas (small boats) a few meters away in the whale shark line.
And when you’re in the water, there’s a lot of arms and legs flailing everywhere.
I even bumped heads with someone. We just looked at each other, confused, and went back to watching the whale sharks.
Not gonna lie…
It’s a bit chaotic.
(Also, you’re not allowed to venture far from your bangka because you’ll get lost from your group. I did this and got scolded 😅)
Now, with crowds come LOOOONG waiting times…
Expect to wait more than an hour.
We went on a Saturday at 7 AM, and it took us 1.5 hours before our turn.
But you won’t mind all those other things if you really want to see the butandings.
As someone who’s always so amazed by the underwater world, this was such a cool, once-in-a-lifetime experience (except for me, it was twice-in-a-lifetime 😅).
How To Get To Oslob Whale Shark Watching From Cebu City
The cheapest way to get to Oslob whale shark viewing is to ride a bus.
(You don’t need to book a ticket in advance because buses leave every 30 minutes.)
For this:
- Head over to Cebu South Bus Terminal.
- Buy your ticket to Oslob at the counter inside.
- Ride the bus with a “Bato – Oslob” signage at the front. If you’re not sure, ask anyone which one goes to Oslob.
- If you’re going straight to the whale sharks, tell the conductor to drop you off in “Tan-Awan” (this is where the whale sharks are), or just tell them you’re going to the “whale sharks”.
- If you’re staying in Oslob’s main town, get off at “Poblacion”. You can then rent a motorbike and drive to the whale shark area or hail a tricycle or habal-habal to take you there.
(The whale shark viewing is a bit farther out than Oslob’s main town.)
I recommend taking the Ceres Liner buses for a smooth ride… You don’t want to experience a speeding star (This is my term for a very crazy bus ride).
A Ceres aircon bus costs around PHP265 ($4.50).
The travel time takes 4-5 hours and, for the people who need a bathroom or snack break, includes one stop.
The other ways to get to Oslob from Cebu City are by taxi, private car, van, or car rental.
I don’t really recommend these because they’re very expensive. You’ll spend around PHP3,000 to PHP7,000 ($50.94 to $118.86).
Don’t want to go through all the hassle?
You can book an Oslob whale shark tour. They offer pick-up and drop-off from/to Cebu City or Mactan Island.
What To Do When You Get to Oslob Whale Shark Watching
There’s only one whale shark watching area, called “Oslob Whale Shark Viewing” on Google Maps.
When you get there:
- Go inside the gate and head straight to the beach. Ignore the people telling you to book their tours.
- Find a person sitting at the desk in the beach area.
- Tell them how many you are in the group.
- Get a ticket with your number.
- Head over to the cashier to pay.
You have to join a 5-10 minute orientation, where they go over all the rules. No touching the whale sharks. No flash photography. No sunblock. No plastic water bottles. Etc.
After that, it’s waiting time.
You can buy souvenirs…
Pearls…
Handmade bracelets and necklaces…
Shirts with Oslob and butanding designs…
Swimsuits and swimming gear (you’re provided with these, so you don’t need to buy any).
You can also grab some breakfast in the carinderias near the entrance…
Change to your swim clothes (there are changing rooms in the area)…
Chill in the sand and wade on the shore…
Or, if you’re like me, you can sit down in the provided chairs and people-watch (but we don’t judge).
Just make sure you’re listening for your number to be called. Or for it to flash on the screen.
When it’s finally your turn, you:
- Get your snorkeling gear and life vest
- Hop into a bangka
- Head to the whale shark line
- Enjoy swimming with them for 30 minutes
- Head back
Note: One of my friends who went to Oslob recently said you can now book a reservation on Facebookto skip the long lines. It’s the same price, but you have to book a few days in advance. And you have to do it before 9 AM because the slots fill up fast. Just send them a message with your dates and time. You also need to provide your name, date of birth, and country.
What’s the Best Time to Visit Oslob Whale Sharks?
Oslob whale shark viewing is only in the morning. It opens at 6 AM and closes at 12 PM, with a cut-off time at 11 AM.
However, it’s open all year-round.
It doesn’t matter what season it is when you get there…
You’ll be able to swim with the whale sharks.
That’s why it’s so popular!
Okay, maybe you want to go when the water is at its calmest and clearest.
Most people say to go between March to May or November to June.
We went in November, and the weather was perfect.
How Much Is the Whale Shark Watching in Oslob?
The entrance fee costs PHP500/head for Pinoys and PHP1,000/head for foreigners (that’s around $17). This fee includes:
- Snorkel and mask
- Life vest
- Bangka ride
- 30 minutes with the whale sharks
You can also rent an underwater camera for PHP550 (roughly $9.35).
Of course, don’t forget extra cash for food, drinks, and souvenirs!
Here’s a table of all the expenses:
| Item | Price |
| Bus transportation | PHP265 ($4.50) |
| Entrance fee | PHP500/head (Pinoys) | PHP1,000 or $17/head (foreigners) |
| Camera for rent | PHP550 ($9.35) |
| Oslobe whale shark tour package (optional) | PHP3,500 to PHP5,000 ($59.50 to $85) |
| Snacks, drinks, and souvenirs | However much you want to spend! |
Is Oslob Whale Shark Watching Ethical?
We can’t talk about Oslob whale shark watching without considering the debate that’s dividing people.
Is it ethical?
Quick answer: No.
I’ll admit, I’m not too familiar with the ethics of it. But here’s what I found:
- Whale sharks are migratory animals. They’re supposed to move around and travel long distances. But in Oslob, around 10-15 of them stay put because they know they’ll get fed every day.
- If fed, whale sharks forget how to hunt for themselves. If they lose their natural feeding behaviors, they also lose their skills and instincts to survive in the wild.
- Whale sharks are already endangered. Anything that changes their natural behavior, like feeding, crowding, or preventing them from migrating, can put them at even more risk.
- They don’t get proper nutrition from the limited food given. All they eat are the tiny shrimps feeders provide. And since they no longer venture out, they lose a lot of the nutrients they need.
- Many people don’t follow the “no touching” whale shark rules. This can hurt their skin, stress them out, or even teach them the wrong behavior. Even if you’re careful, they can still swim close enough to bump into you.
On the other side of the debate, people say it’s okay since the whale sharks aren’t caged.
They’re only visited in the morning and are free to roam around during the afternoon and night.
That already makes it better than animals kept in zoos or ocean parks.
Also, they’re so used to being fed, so what happens if you leave them alone now?
Then, of course, there’s the boost in tourism in Oslob that has helped a lot of the locals.
It really comes down to where you stand in the debate…
You have to make up your own mind if you want to visit or not.
For me personally, it’s 40/60.
It’s amazing to witness the whale sharks gliding across the ocean surface.
It makes you fall in love with these creatures and inspires you to take care of their homes.
It’s an experience I will never forget!
However, I do agree that the crowds are too much.
At one point, I even felt a bit sad seeing the butandings just aimlessly following the feeders back and forth.
I don’t discourage people from going, but I can understand why many are mad about it.
Note: If you want an ethical whale shark watching experience in the Philippines, you can go to Padre Burgos in Southern Leyte. You might not see any butandings, but at least you know it’s not harming them or their ecosystem.
My Oslob Whale Shark Watching Itinerary
As I said, I did the Oslob whale shark watching twice…
But both trips were very different from each other.
If you’re up for adventure, you can do the stop-and-go itinerary.
We rode the bus at 3 AM…
Arrived there at around 7 AM to 8 AM and lined up immediately…
Swam with the butandings…
And, before we even dried out, headed straight to the Maolboal sardine run, which is a 2-hour drive away!
This is actually a very common thing to do. You can easily find someone who will take you to the sardines. Just ask around. Or, most likely, you’ll be flocked by people outside telling you to go there.
If you’re more the chill traveler, you can stay in Oslob for a while.
This is what I did on the 2nd trip.
I found that Oslob is actually a lot more than its whale sharks.
You can read my complete Oslob travel guide if you want to do this itinerary. I’ll tell you about the other tourist spots you can visit, where to eat, where to stay, and more.
Ready to Swim With the Oslob Whale Sharks?
Awesome!
Don’t forget to get there early…
Obey the rules…
And most importantly…
Enjoy watching and marveling at the beautiful butandings!
Have fun!