Whale sharks in Oslob – Ultimate Guide 2025

Welcome to the most in-depth and comprehensive guide on the whale sharks in Oslob in 2025. In this article, you will find top tips and advice that cannot be found anywhere else on the web. The advice in this article will save you a lot of time, money, stress and even sleep!

In this article, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know to plan an independent trip to see the whale sharks in Oslob. In order to research and plan this article, we visited the whale shark twice on two consecutive days. We also spoke to a lot of local staff and guides to pull all of the best tips and information together.

Please do read this article fully and carefully. We have a lot of practical and specific information and details to help save you time, money, and stress.

Swimming with whale sharks in Oslob is genuinely one of our personal top travel highlights anywhere in the world. Paradoxically, swimming with whale sharks is also very challenging. There are also some common mistakes that most people make. We hope to help you avoid making the mistakes so that you really can have the best experience possible.

If you really want to make the most of a trip to swim with whale sharks in Oslob, careful preparation and planning are absolutely essential. A little time researching now will save you a lot of time and stress later. So grab a cuppa, sit back, and enjoy learning about this amazing, unique experience.

AVOID THE QUEUES – The best way to skip the queues and reserve a FREE whale shark slot

Don’t miss the FULL GUIDE – Can you stay near the Whale Shark Beach in Oslob? – Everything You Need to Know

Why is it so challenging to swim with whale sharks in Oslob?

Although we like to be positive, we did want to start with a few of the challenges to help give some context to this article.

If you are hoping to swim with a whale shark in Oslob, the first big challenge is the popularity. This is an extremely popular activity, and for good reason. Every day, thousands of people travel to Oslob to see and swim with the whale sharks (in fact, they have a daily limit on this activity of 3,000 people). Many people make the mistake of trying to queue up without reserving a free slot (we will tell you how to do this soon). Registering on the same day requires an extremely early start (normally around 3 am – 4 am) followed by hours of exhausting queueing and waiting. Keep reading because we will share more information on how you can reserve your spot.

The second big challenge is the conditions in the water. Depending on the weather and the time of year, the water can be particularly challenging for swimming: strong currents, and waves can make it particularly challenging to swim up with these magnificent creatures, especially if you are hoping to get some awesome photographs or footage of the experience. We will share some top tips and information to help you stay safe, manage these challenging conditions and capture this unique and amazing experience.

Is it worth going to see the whale sharks in Oslob?

Absolutely and 100% yes, in our opinion, it is definitely worth going to see the whale sharks in Oslob. There is something exhilarating and humbling about swimming with a creature so much larger than yourself. The whale sharks are huge, majestic, and yet very gentle. Swimming with whale sharks in Oslob genuinely counts amongst our best travel experiences ever (and we have traveled most of the world over many years).

However, there are a few things that we need to share to help you keep your expectations in check. Firstly, we alluded to the popularity of this activity. If you’re planning to see the whale sharks in Oslob, you need to be prepared to share the experience with a lot of other enthusiastic people. This does mean a very early start, a lot of queuing, and potentially crowded water. If you are planning to travel to Oslob in a single day from Cebu City, this is likely to be an extremely long and very tiring day. So if possible, we do recommend spending a night or two in Oslob.

Secondly, some people express concerns about the ethics of swimming with whale sharks in Oslob. It’s important to recognize that the whale sharks in Oslob are genuinely free wild creatures. In order to keep the whale sharks in the area, they are fed bucket loads of small shrimp by local guides. In our opinion, swimming with whale sharks in Oslob is a relatively ethical animal encounter; the locals seem to take a lot of steps and measures to protect the dignity, space, and welfare of these magnificent creatures. 

Here are a few examples: firstly, if you are planning to swim, there are stringent rules about space and proximity (these rules are also enforced so make sure you are fully aware of the requirements); they have also started to line boats up in a single line so that the whale sharks can swim up and down the line (this prevents the whale sharks from being surrounded and crowded by swimmers). They even have rules about wearing sun cream in the water and using flash photography. As wild creatures, the whale sharks can come and go freely and swim around the boats as they please. Although some people may still have concerns about the ethics of swimming with whale sharks, in our opinion, it is a lot more ethical than keeping them in captivity.

LEARN MORE – Is it Ethical to Swim With Whale Sharks in Oslob?

Are you guaranteed to see whale sharks in Oslob?

The quick answer is yes, you are almost guaranteed to see whale sharks in Oslob (as long as you are organized and prepared). There are really two questions here: firstly, are whale sharks always around Oslob? Secondly, are you guaranteed to get a boat trip to see them?

1 Are whale sharks always around Oslob?

Yes, you can always find whale sharks in Oslob. Whale sharks can be seen swimming in these waters every morning (this is because they are fed by locals… who can resist an all-you-can-eat buffet breakfast!) There are generally between 1 – 15 whale sharks in the water in Oslob, with the highest numbers typically found in May and the lowest numbers found in December and January. 

2 Are you guaranteed to get a boat trip to see the whale sharks?

This is where things are a little less certain. If you are prepared and organized, you are almost guaranteed to get a place on a boat to see the whale sharks; however, there are a few limitations and challenges.

• Visitor limit per day: 3,000
• Last Boat Trip around 12pm
• There are fewer boat trips on bad weather days, and they also end early.

There are two ways to get a boat trip to see the whale sharks. Firstly, you can turn up on the day and wait to register for a slot. Secondly, you can reserve a slot for free on the Official Facebook whale shark reservation page. If you are able to secure a slot, you can just turn up at that time and register on arrival (minimal queuing needed). But reserving a slot on Facebook is not as simple as it sounds. Keep reading.

If you do not reserve a slot to see the whale sharks and you also arrive late, you may not be able to get a place on a boat. If you miss the opportunity to see them in the morning, you will need to wait until the following day (the final boat trip normally departs around 12pm).

As a general rule, the earlier you arrive, the greater your chances are of getting a place on the boat and seeing the whale sharks. If you do not have a slot reserved, we recommend arriving by 4am. If you arrive as late as 5am – 6am, there is still a reasonable chance of seeing a whale shark. However, you will probably need to wait until late morning before you actually get on the boat. If you arrive as late as 7am, you may not be able to see the whale sharks on the same day. Some days registration closes as late as 10am and even then it might be possible to see the whale sharks on the same day – but by this time you’re totally relying on luck! 

1 Turn up and register on the day

Most people who come to see the whale sharks turn up and register on the same day. There are a few disadvantages to doing it this way. Firstly, you will need to arrive extremely early in the morning and wait in a queue (the queue doesn’t even move for the first hour or so!). We recommend aiming for 4am. This will minimize your waiting time and also maximize your chances of getting a trip on the same day.

Even if you arrive as early as 4am, you will find there is already a big queue down the road. Just to join this queue and wait. By 4:30am, buses arrive from other areas of Cebu and the queue grows very quickly. The registration office opens at 4:30am, and the queue begins to move slowly; you may need to wait around an hour before you register and get a priority number. Once you have a priority number this means that you will get a place on a boat (as long as they don’t need to cancel for bad weather). 

Once you have got your priority number, you will need to wait until your priority number is called so that you can go to the payment desk; the payment desk opens at 6am. This is actually a nice area to wait (situated on the east coast, you can watch the sunrise over the water).

When you’re called to the desk, you will need to make a cash payment; it costs 500 pesos per person (around £7 or $10). Everyone on the boat needs to pay (including kids). 

Once you have made your payment, you can get breakfast or coffee and rent any equipment you need (we recommend renting some fins if you plan to swim with the whale sharks). The boat trips start at 7am; if you arrived as early as 4am, you are likely to get a boat trip by around 8 – 9am.

Once your priority number is called, you can pick up a life jacket and go to the beach. You need to show your number to a guide on the beach, and they will direct you to a boat.

What about breakfast?

If your day starts this early, you will probably want something to eat to keep your spirits up! If you arrive very early and register on the day, you can find breakfast in the area. The great news is that there are a lot of places to buy food and drink in the area. Many shops and cafes are open extremely early in the morning. For example, we were able to buy a fresh fruit shake for 100 pesos at 4am from the roadside. You can also find several cafes and coffee shops on the small road leading to the whale shark beach.

Can someone else queue up for you?

If you’re planning to show up and register on the same day, it is not possible to get a priority number for anyone else. They enforce this rule quite strictly. In other words, everyone in your group needs to arrive and queue up from the start. However, in exceptional circumstances, they may apply some leniency to this rule; for example, if you are traveling with a baby, they may let you show a photo of your baby. In a situation like this, you may well be able to get a ticket for your partner and kids. This is not an official policy; it is just the local Filipino staff being accommodating and family-friendly, so it is important to be humble and respectful if you are asking about this.

Can you risk it and turn up late?

If you are unsuccessful in reserving a time slot on Facebook and you do not want to get a supremely early start, it is still possible to turn up later, and you may get lucky. From time to time, tickets are available as late as 10am, and on most days, boat trips run until midday. However, if you only have one opportunity to see the whale sharks, we do not recommend arriving late. Some days they will not be able to accommodate you because they have a maximum visitor quota of 3,000 people. What’s more, on bad weather days, they may have to stop early or send fewer boats out.

2 Reserve a free slot on the Facebook page

FULL GUIDE – How to Reserve a FREE whale shark watching slot on FaceBook

The best way to make sure you get to see whale sharks in Oslob (and also avoid a painfully early start) is to reserve your slot. You can do this for free on the official whale shark reservation page on Facebook. We strongly recommend that you do this, especially if you’re planning to visit from Moalboal or Cebu City.

It is only possible to reserve a slot one day in advance. Slots are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are hoping to reserve a free slot, it is essential to send your messages as early as possible (the day before you plan to visit) and be available to reply to their messages as quickly as possible.

Step one is to go to the Official Facebook whale shark reservation page (make sure you use our link to get to the correct page because there are a lot of Facebook whale shark pages, and it can be quite tricky to find the official page through the Facebook). You will need to send them a message the day before you want to do your trip in order to book your slot.

We recommend doing this as early as possible (In fact, if you do it just after midnight the day before your trip, you should be at the front of the queue). You should receive an auto-reply asking you to pick your preferred time slot. Once you have replied to this you need to wait for the office to open and they will message you back. They deal with messages on a first come first served basis, so message early and reply quick. 

You will need to keep a careful eye on your phone throughout the morning of the day before your trip; the Facebook reservation office normally opens around 8 – 9am, and you can expect a message between 9am – 11am. As soon as you get your message, it is important to reply with all of the details. You will need to send some information before they can reserve the slot for you (for each person in your group, you will need to provide the name, date of birth, nationality, gender, and a contact phone number). 

It is important to reply quickly to these messages because they will not reserve your slot until you have sent all of the information (remember the slots fill up fast). Once you have sent the information over, you should be sent a confirmation. All you need to do is arrive around 30 minutes before your time slot. You need to join a short queue to get your priority number. 

Once you have your priority number, you will need to pay 500 pesos per person. After this, you can wait for your number to be called to board the boat. If you reserve your slot on Facebook, you will still probably need to wait for around 1 – 2 hours. However, you do not need to endure the eye-watering early start and queue for hours. There are no additional charges for reserving your slot on the Facebook reservation page.

Top tip: This is very important. If you reserve a whale shark slot on Facebook, you will need to bring a passport to prove your identity when you register in the morning (we were able to show a copy of our passports on our phone. However, it is worth checking that this is acceptable when you book because policies and procedures can change).

3 Book a tour

If all of this seems complicated and tiresome, another option is to book a tour. If you do book a tour, it is important to know exactly what you are getting. Some tours may just take you extremely early to register on the day (so you still end up doing a lot of waiting and queuing). Other tours may use a Facebook reservation page to book a slot on your behalf and then take you at the correct time. So if you are booking a tour, you need to make sure you understand exactly what is included and what times you will be picked up. Some tours depart from Oslob, some depart from Moalboal and other Whale Shark Tours Depart from Cebu City.

Booking a tour is a more expensive option; however, it is also more simple and it cuts out some of the work for you. As a minimum, a good tour should include two-way transportation, and they should also reserve a slot for you (at a reasonable time). We do not recommend booking any tours that do not include these things as a minimum. If you book your whale shark tour locally in Oslob, it should cost around 1,800 pesos per person (including two-way transportation and boat fees). A way to book a tour locally is to arrange it through your hotel or guest house. Hotels and guest houses in Oslob normally have connections with local tour companies who can arrange a tour for a reasonable price.

4 Book a scuba dive

Now here is a very clever, simple alternative if you are hoping to swim with whale sharks and you want a completely unique and different experience. You can take a discovery scuba dive in the area. The great thing about discovery diving is that you do not need any prior experience or qualifications; the water around the whale sharks is only 5m deep, and you will dive under the close supervision of a qualified instructor. There are several advantages to scuba diving at Oslob; firstly, you do not need to arrive stupidly early in the morning.

We recommend booking your scuba dive a day or two in advance, and you will be given an arrival time. This avoids the pre-4am wake-up. Another advantage of scuba diving is the time you will spend underwater; most scuba dive experiences in the area allow you at least 40 minutes underwater. Because you are constantly submerged, this will give you plenty of time to enjoy watching the whale sharks swim over your head. There is, however, one disadvantage to scuba diving in Oslob; recall that the whale sharks swim along the surface. On the other hand, scuba divers swim near the bottom. So if you want that graceful, immersive experience of swimming alongside whale sharks and experiencing the exhilaration of close proximity, you will need to arrange one of the boat trips.

In our opinion, the absolute best way to experience whale sharks is to take a boat trip and swim with them one day and then do a scuba dive the following day. Of course, this depends on your budget and the amount of time you have available in Oslob. There are several diving centers situated near Oslob Beach; they all offer a similar experience.

We recommend the PSI shop; this is situated right next to the whale shark registration office. It costs 2,500 pesos for a dive (around 40 minutes). Contact them a day or two in advance to book a slot, and then just show up and go.

How do you make the most of your whale shark experience

In this section, we’re going to share some top tips and advice to help you make the most of your whale shark experience. The whale shark boat trip only lasts 30 minutes. With all of the excitement and adrenaline, this can go in the blink of an eye. This is particularly true if you are looking after kids or if you are trying to capture the experience on camera.

Before you get on the boat, you will need to wear a life jacket. This is a safety requirement, and this rule applies to everyone, even if you are a strong swimmer. The whale sharks are generally found around 500 meters from the beach (the boat ride only takes a few minutes). Once you reach the whale sharks, your boat will join a line of boats. At this point, you are allowed to jump in the water, and if you are a strong, confident swimmer, you can also take your life jacket off.

Most people jump into the water and hold on to the boat stabilizer (the boats that have long wooden stabilizers on each side). If you have a mask, you can hold on to the stabilizer and put your head in the water to see the whale shark swimming past the boat.

The boat will spend around 30 minutes, and in this time, the whale shark is likely to swim past your boat at least four or five times (This does, of course, depend on how many whale sharks are in the water). Be aware that the water currents in this area can be particularly strong. We do not recommend swimming away from your boat unless you are a strong swimmer, and even then, we strongly recommend that you use swimming fins and a snorkel and mask.

If you are hoping to photograph or film the experience, timing is everything. You need to predict when a whale shark is coming. If you watch carefully, you can spot the feeding boat moving up and down the line. In general, there will be at least one whale shark following a feeding boat. We recommend that you get your shot lined up before the whale shark arrives.

If you do not have a filming buddy in the water with you, you can ask one of the guides on your boat if they will be able to film the experience for you. Many of the guides are very happy to do this (We recommend having a small tip to say thank you – a few hundred pesos is a good amount). The whale sharks in Oslob generally swim along the surface and do not dive down. The water in this area is only around 5 meters deep (Depending on the tide). You do not need to dive under the surface of the water to swim with the whale sharks in Oslob.

If you are not confident in the water, you can also watch the whale sharks from the boat. You can see a surprising amount from the boat as they swim past.

Whale sharks in Oslob – What things do you need to bring

If you’re planning to see the whale sharks in Oslob, it is important to be prepared with everything you need. With such an early start, we recommend packing a small bag the night before your trip.

Anything you take on the boat with you is at risk of getting wet. Waves can splash over the boat, and when people jump in and out of the boat, they may also splash your bags. Avoid bringing any vulnerable valuable items on the boat with you. There is a free secure bag storage service situated at the whale shark reservation office.

If you are bringing any expensive items like smartphones, we recommend using a dry sack (Not the cheap waterproof phone cases that you can buy in the Philippines. You will need a proper dry sack). Preferably, we recommend leaving these items with the bag storage desk.

• Your own mask, snorkel, and fins (If you do not have your own, you can get these in Oslob).
• Swimming kit and towel (We recommend bringing an SPF 50 rash guard. You are not allowed to wear sun cream in the water when you swim with the whale sharks).
• Water bottle with plenty of water.
• Snacks (especially if you’re visiting with young kids).
• Cash (at least enough to pay for your whale shark experience and a drink or two).
• Waterproof camera diving case and a buoyant selfie stick (You can rent a GoPro for 550 pesos if you do not have a waterproof camera).

What equipment can you rent in Oslob?

The great news is that you can rent a lot of equipment in Oslob for very reasonable prices. Here is a list of things that you can rent at the whale shark beach in Oslob (There should be plenty of time to walk around and find your equipment before your number is called).

• Life jackets – These are included for free with your boat. They also have kid size life jackets available (Generally fine for a child as young as 5 years old).
• Snorkel and mask – This should be included for free with your boat, but we recommend you check with your guide before you board your boat. Make sure that there is a mask that fits you well.
• Swimming fins – If you’re planning to swim away from your boat, we strongly recommend that you use swimming fins; the currents in this area can be quite strong (We recommend swimming fins even if you are a strong swimmer). They have a good range of sizes available. Fin rental costs 100 – 150 pesos. You can rent fins near the waiting area by the beach.
• GoPro rental – You can actually rent a GoPro on the whale shark beach in Oslob. If you do rent a GoPro, the camera will not be released to you. However, it will be given to one of your boat guides who will look after the camera and help film you in the water. You can then arrange a file transfer to get your precious shots. GoPro rental costs 550 pesos (around £7 or $10)

What are the facilities like at the whale shark beach?

The facilities at the whale shark beach are excellent. There is a free bag storage service where you can leave valuables bags (Remember any bags you take with you on the boat are liable to get wet). There are public toilets available at the whale shark beach. What’s more here are plenty of places to buy food and drink, and they are open very early in the morning.

Several car parks are available directly across the road from the whale shark beach. At present there are not any changing rooms or showers at the beach. 

Can you visit the whale sharks as a day trip from Cebu City?

It is possible to visit the whale sharks in Oslob as a day trip from Cebu City; in fact, many people choose to see the whale sharks this way. In our opinion, this is not a particularly good way to see the whale sharks. The main problem is the distance; you will need to start your journey extremely early in the morning in order to arrive early enough to see the whale sharks. Remember, the journey from Cebu City to Oslob is likely to take at least 3 – 4 hours by bus.

What’s more, Oslob is actually a very lovely area to stay. If you only visit Oslob as a day trip from Cebu City, you will miss out on staying in a stunning area. Whilst your in Oslob don’t miss the beautiful Tumalog Waterfall. So if you do have the time available, we strongly recommend spending a night or two in Oslob rather than taking a day trip from Cebu City.

Alternatively, you can use Moalboal as a base to visit the whale sharks. This is slightly closer to Oslob than Cebu City, so you do not need to start as early. There are also a lot of things to see and do in Moalboal. However, we still do recommend staying in Oslob if possible.

How do you get to the whale sharks in Oslob

DON’T MISS THE FULL GUIDE – How to travel from Cebu City to Oslob

Visiting the whale sharks in Oslob is a big deal; therefore, we recommend that you spend some time planning your transportation. Firstly, it is important to recognize that you cannot use Grab to arrange a taxi for the whale sharks.

1 From Cebu City

If you are traveling from Cebu City, you will need to take an early morning bus to Oslob. In fact, you will probably need to depart around midnight or 1 am to arrive sufficiently early. Buses from Cebu City to Oslob are very regular and affordable. There is not a strict bus schedule; however, buses run through the early hours of the morning to take people to the whale sharks. If you take a bus from Cebu City to Oslob, you will need to go to the Cebu City South bus terminal. If you take a bus from here, it should drop you off right outside the whale shark beach. Buses cost 300 pesos per person. Alternatively, you can book a private taxi from Cebu City to Oslob for around $60 – $70 (vehicle price for 1-3 people).

GET ORGANISED EARLY – You can book a Whale Sharks tour from Cebu City on KLOOK

2 From Moalboal

If you are planning to see the whale sharks from Moalboal, you could book a tour with one of the many tour operators located in the Panganasama beach area. Whale shark tours from Moalboal cost 1,300 – 1,500 pesos per person and depart around 3 am. This price includes two-way transport and the boat trip. If you’re in Moalboal, we recommend speaking to Mr. Dandy at Kuya Dandy Travel and Tour. Whatsapp +63 930 089 6033 or email israelbada@gmail.com.

3 From Oslob

Oslob town is situated around 8 km north of the whale shark watching beach. This journey takes around 15 minutes by car. If you are staying in Oslob, you need to arrange a local taxi with an early morning pickup (There are plenty of taxi drivers in the area who will be willing to do this because visiting the whale sharks is such a popular experience). Taxis generally cost around 200 – 300 pesos each way. Most hotels and guesthouses in Oslob can arrange a taxi for you. Remember to agree on a pickup time and price before you book.

4 If you have your own transportation

If you have your own transportation, you can drive to the whale shark beach. Car rental in Cebu starts for around 1,000 pesos per day. It is possible to get cheaper car rental if you rent for a longer period of time. There are several car parks on the road near the Whale Shark beach. They charge a standard price of 50 pesos for parking.

What are the best places to stay in Oslob?

1 Sascha’s Resort Oslob

Sascha’s Resort Oslob – beautiful, affordable, nice vibes and friendly welcoming staff. Great value for money. They can also help arrange taxis and whale shark tours. Outdoor pool, cafe and lovely ocean views. Great with kids. 

2 Down South 118 Beach Resort

Down South 118 Beach Resort – If you’re looking for a little more space, comfort & luxury don’t miss the beautiful Down South Resort with great facilities and fantastic food. The perfect place to rest before and after your dip with whale sharks! 

What is the best day to see whale sharks?

The whale shark experience is open seven days a week, and you can visit any day. The quietest days of the week are from Monday to Thursday. Even on these days, this is an extremely popular and busy experience, so you need to be organized, prepared, and arrive early.

What is the best time of year to see the whale sharks in Oslob?

The number of whale sharks in the water depends on the time of year. On average, there are the fewest whale sharks in the water during the months of December and January. During these months, there are often only one or two whale sharks in the water. The best time of year to see whale sharks is from May to October, with a peak in May. During May, you can often find 10 to 15 whale sharks in the water, including some particularly large animals measuring up to 18m in length.

Can you see the whale shark with kids?

The quick answer is yes, you can take kids to see the whale sharks in Oslob. If your kids are not strong swimmers, make sure that they keep their life jacket on throughout the experience. If your kids are very keen to see the whale sharks underwater, you can hold on to the boat stabilizers. Be aware that the stabilizers move up and down as the boat is rocked by the waves, which can be quite hazardous with kids. It is important to be realistic about your kids’ strength, confidence, and capability in the water. You can also speak to the local guides for help and assistance.

We were able to jump in the water with our two boys (4 and 6 years old and both strong swimmers). The experience was particularly challenging for a four-year-old boy (he wore a life jacket throughout, and he did find the experience to be challenging, but he was also very excited to see the whale shark under the water). If you are supervising kids in the water, remember to stay close to them; we strongly recommend using swimming fins as the currents in this area can be very strong (the conditions are challenging even for a strong swimmer).

Is it safe to swim with whale sharks?

The term whale and shark in the same name hardly instills confidence; however, whale sharks are, in fact, very gentle creatures. The whale sharks themselves do not pose any direct threat to humans; however, any activity in the Open Water presents innate risks. Here are a few safety risks that you need to be aware of. Firstly, we have already mentioned the strong currents in the area; we recommend swimming with fins.

If you are not confident in the water, you can hold on to the stabilizer of your boat and watch the whale sharks swimming past. Secondly, many of the boats are rocked around in the waves; the stabilizers lift out of the water from time to time and may bump you in the head. If you are not a confident swimmer, we recommend wearing a life jacket throughout; speak to the guides if you need any help or assistance.

Are the whale sharks in Oslob overcrowded?

We were very surprised to find that the whale sharks in Oslob are not overcrowded (fortunately it is only human beings who are crowded in this experience!). The local guides use a line-up system (Where the boats form a long line and the whale sharks swim up and down the line). This prevents the whale sharks from being surrounded or overcrowded by swimmers. This also makes it a lot easier to get nice clean shots of the whale sharks.

Swimming with whale sharks – What rules do you need to follow?

In order to protect the dignity and well-being of the whale sharks, there are a few important rules that you need to follow; these rules are enforced.

• No touching: One of the most important rules is not to touch the whale sharks; the whale sharks don’t always get the memo and may try to touch you. If you are seen trying to touch a whale shark, you may be asked to leave the water, and in serious cases, you could be fined.

• Give the whale sharks space: It is very important to respect the whale sharks’ space; if you are swimming with the whale sharks, you are supposed to stay at least 4m away from them. This is not always possible, and in some cases, a whale shark may swim closer; as long as you are seen trying to respect the rules, don’t worry.

• Do not wear suncream in the water: If you are wearing sun cream, make sure that you wash it off before you go on the boat. As an alternative to Sun cream, we recommend using a factor 50 spf rash guard.

• Wear your life jacket on the boat: Before you get in the boat, you will be directed to get a free life jacket; they have a range of sizes. You will need to wear this life jacket anytime you are on the boat; however, if you are a strong swimmer, you are allowed to take the life jacket off in the water.

• No flash photography: And finally, you are not allowed to do any flash photography around the whale shark; fortunately, most waterproof action cameras do not have flash photography functions, so in most cases, this is not a concern. On the topic of photography, there is also a strict ban on the use of drones in the area without prior permission (we were a little disappointed to learn this because we were hoping to get a nice aerial shot of the whale sharks).