Thought I’d add to this dead thread. My jury is still out on this practice of feeding these creatures. Clearly ups and downs. https://www.theguardian.com/environ...-town-and-its-sea-life?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
I visited the place last month, I did not intend to go in the water, but quite honestly there is little to see if you don't! It was only because my niece decided not to "swim" with them that prompted me to take her place. The charges were 1000p non swimmers and 1500pwith snorkel's supplied for those who chose to do so. I respect other peoples reasons for choosing not too , but my experience was that without proper equipment it is hardly swimming with Sharks, just a matter of submerging longer enough to have that photo taken by boaters. Would I go again no and I would suggest to others contemplating going, forget it unless fully equipped. I have seen photographs of people touching the sharks in shallow water, but that is not the case now from what I have seen, a fifteen minutes introduction by local officials takes place before you set off.
I went last year with my wife, niece and her husband After 10 minutes it got a bit boring, I wouldn't go again either John, but my niece had an underwater cam and got some good photos
Does this mean that you cant just mossie over in your own boat and scud around in the hope of seeing one? Or do you have to pay a fee to a warden or suchlike when you get there?
I imagine they wouldn't take to kindly to you just floating in on their territory. All that effort spent baiting those sharks costs money. I don't know if they have any "legal" right to the water but any attempt to move in without paying them would likely end very badly for you.
Not these sharks. I'm all for limiting the impact of people. A little competition is good to find out who really wants to see something as opposed to the "why not" crowd. It just provides a better experience for visitors and the environment. For example, at Machu Picchu they limited the number of people that can climb Wayna Picchu to 400 people per day, when I was there. Made for a much safer excursion and better experience. Being #400 on the list that day was pretty cool.
The whale sharks in Oslob do not have a natural life, they are only there because they were fed and it spoils their natural instinct to search for food. Like I don't go to a Zoo ( Basically you put innocent animals in jail) I want to see the animals in their natural environment
