Oslob whale sharks

And for 100 peso they let you use the Butanding as a surfboard

STOP That Madness !​

 

The Whale Shark would not swim into the fisher net without having that idiots interupting their natural behavior and handfeeding them.

The fisherman also made as much profit as possible first before ordered by Maylyn Avenido to set the butanding free.

many responsible and PROFFESIONAL operators stopped visiting the circus in Oslob, simply to

STOP the MADNESS​

 

Two whale sharks that were spotted frequenting the coastal waters off barangay Tan-awan in Oslob town sustained injuries in separate occasions recently. “Berto” was speared on the back while “Lucas” was wounded in the head by a propeller of a motor banca.

source: Inquirer

 

here my 2 centavos.

I had the chance to go the first time there a few month back, when the "hype" didn't escalate yet, and I had very mixed feelings. One reason why I never wrote on DI about it as I truly belief it should NOT be promoted..

It is a "once-in-a-lifetime" experience for most and even as an experienced diver (I did not dive there, only snorkel) it was just a unreal great experience. It is simply amazing to swim with those creatures.

That was about the good part.

Even months back were already some whale sharks with serious injuries and it made me cry after a while seeing that magnificent creatures begging and poking the boats. Most of them had already bloody mouths. One had a spear in his back (and it got worth on my second visit).

The organization there was and is a joke and those "briefings" and "outlines" the media talk about are not really existing (comparable with "our" helmet-law). In fact, each of the Oslob "guides" allowed, some even emphasized touching the Whale Sharks.

Very experienced Scuba Diver fought for the best spot under water and lost total control about buoyancy, popping up to the surface everywhere, shooting into snorkelers from below. Snorkelers going down, hanging on the Whale Sharks.

Most Dumaguete/Dauin dive shops stopped a while ago to promote that craziness over there (same with most reputable shops in Moalboal). However, it is still business and if a group of diver is in a Resort demanding the trip, one has not much chance to get out of that and might need to go over there. If not they will find another option and bad-mouth the first shop later on.

On my visits in Oslob I caught myself reaching out my arm to get closer and I needed to force myself not to do. It is like that bloody car accident, where you don't want to look at but somehow you have to. (just trying to explain the feeling...)

Therefore, I can understand people with less knowledge and environmental respect. However, what goes on there is IMHO a joke and it is all about money. I agree totally to stop that feeding, those whale sharks don't show any natural behavior and would be on their normal route, wherever that would lead them.

I had some private inquiries to go with groups to Oslob and I simply denied it and recommended Donsol. there is a system in place which works since many years with respecting those magnificent creatures.

 

I had the pleasure of swimming with the whale shark in Donsol a few years back and am impressed by the care that their guides see to it that the sharks are not harmed.

 

I also had the great pleasure of snorkeling with the Whale Sharks in Donsol two years ago. I have dove in some of the remotest areas of the Pacific reachable only by my own long range sail boat. I thought I had seen about all there was to see until the sharks in Donsol!

When I arrived at the tourist center, they first showed a video showing the migration route and how so many are slaughtered when they reach Japan. There they are called the money fish there, and everything that can swim is slaughtered along with the whale sharks.

Then the rules if you want to get in the water. no touching, no flash camera's and no scuba. The guides were very professional and informative.

There was one incident when I was next to a very large shark. A big fat tourist lady grabbed hold and went for a tow, the guide launched off my shoulder and slapped her smack on the side of the face! Pulled her out of the water and screamed that she would not be allowed to ever go back in again. Everyone on the boat started clapping.

It was an experience I will never forget. So I would recommend if you want to give it a try, spend the extra money and do it with the pro's, not the thrill seeking money grubbing fools that harm these amazing animals.
Ron

 

I went past there yesterday,, this has turned into a real "Gong Show" probably 25 to 30 pump boats there, maybe a 100 people in the water as well,, price 1,500 for snorkeling. Big party/picnic atmosphere, and you can get where the trash ends up, even have pay parking in nearby empty lots.. this really needs to be controlled and quick O-|