We went to Cebu and back this week VIA the Sibulan terminal. The pumpboat is still running it's normal route, Sibulan pier/Lilo-an, at the bottom of the hour. Larry
as of 24/12/12 just to ride on the bangka boat and watch the whales from the boat - 500 to go in the water - 500 to get by any of these charges just park about 100 meters north of the main reception where they give the orientation talk and give the lifejackets, etc, buy a lemonade or similar at one of the beach bars and just swim out to where all the commotion is, I didn't see that there's anything to stop anybody doing this. The whalesharks are swimming only thirty meters out.
If you bring your own mask and snorkel, you can swim out from the beach to where the pumpboats are parked, watching the whale sharks, maybe 100 - 200 meters from shore, 10P for entrance. At least that was the case last year when we visited. Gotta keep your eyes open for the pump boats though. Also, I was told that the sharks go to deeper water in the afternoon so very little chance of seeing any except in the morning. Has anybody been there lately? Are the whale sharks still haning around Oslob? Last I heard, there were only 3 remaining juveniles.