“Talon! (Soar!)” our whale shark interplay officer shouted. All of the sudden, there have been splashes in all places and we had been within the water. It took just a few seconds to search out my orientation underwater and make out the path of the place I’m wanting. I noticed our information pointing to a path but it surely was too late. I noticed solely a visage of a whale shark descending deeper. We’re already previous 2 hours in our Donsol Whale Shark Watching exercise and already had just a few jumps into the water but nonetheless no respectable sighting. Will we be fortunate sufficient to get actually shut and work together with a whale shark?
Donsol Whale Shark Watching
Within the months of November to Could, vacationer flock Donsol, the Southeast Luzon municipality within the province of Sorsogon for an opportunity to see and presumably work together with the whale sharks. These light giants of the ocean are domestically referred to as butanding. In Southern Leyte, they name them tiki-tiki. And what these faculty of whale sharks are drawn to are the plentiful planktons and krill within the space. It was in 1998 when the locals began regulating the whale shark watching exercise within the space and noticed its potential for tourism.
Wild and Free Butanding
It was not the primary time for me to work together with the whale sharks. My first was in Oslob, Cebu. I by no means wrote about it as I didn’t just like the expertise. The locals had been feeding them so the butanding grew to become dependent to the purpose they might inadvertently hurt themselves by hitting the boat hull or outriggers. The snorkeling wasn’t additionally a pleasing expertise with too many vacationer flocking in the identical space.
The Donsol Whale Shark Watching is healthier managed and a great instance how issues needs to be completed. Feeding will not be allowed so the butanding exhibits up on their very own to feed. This implies sighting is not any assure and can be depending on the planktons and krill out there or the habits of the whale sharks. There are Whale Shark Interplay Officers on board to assist on the sighting and to inform us when to enter the water. Spotters are additionally on the excessive vantage level of the boat to identify butandings from afar.
Donsol Tourism Workplace
The Donsol Tourism Workplace handles all of the registration and the excursions. Throughout peak season, which is normally February to April, it’s best to guide and reserve forward. They could be reached at their Fb Web page /DonsolTourism.
Tour Charges
- Registration Charge: Php 100 for locals, Php 300 for international vacationer
- Boat Rental: Php 5,000 (good for six)
The boat rental could seem exorbitant however it may be shared by as much as six folks. However if you’re touring solo, you must shoulder all the fee. The boat additionally contains the whale shark interplay officer, spotter and different boatmen assist.
Life vest and snorkeling gear are offered. You’re additionally free to convey your individual or purchase from their store.
Tour Schedules
The whale shark watching exercise last as long as 3 hours solely. Throughout these instances, relying on luck or probability, you could work together with one or many and even none. After 3 hours, the boat must return. If luck wasn’t in your facet, you must guide the exercise once more and pay the charges.
There are three window schedules every day: 7:30 AM, 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM
Mornings are the very best time as they’re extra lively and probabilities of sighting are excessive. Afternoons are nonetheless attainable but when there aren’t sufficient vacationer, the exercise could also be cancelled.
Whale Shark Watching Pointers
Earlier than embarking on the exercise, visitor are required to look at a brief video presentation on the tourism workplace overlaying a number of the important details about the whale sharks and pointers for the exercise. Right here’s a rundown of a number of the necessary pointers
- Just one boat with a most of 6 individual is allowed per whale shark interplay. Whereas that is best, in the true world, whale sharks transfer round and might go to different teams however having that restricted distance per boat is sweet sufficient to not crowd an space.
- Attempt to preserve at the very least 3 meters distance from the whale sharks.
- No touching or using the whale sharks.
- No blocking the whale shark path.
- No jet ski, scuba gear or underwater propulsion.
- No flash pictures.
- No fish feeding.
Our Butanding Sighting
Two and a half hours already handed and we nonetheless don’t have any shut interplay. However our whale shark interplay officer refused to surrender till the final minute. Driving our boat to a number of areas till he instructed us to prepare once more. We hear “Soar”! and we’re within the water once more. However this time a transparent sighting!
Goosebumps seeing a butanding gracefully swimming close to the floor. By the dimensions of it, this butanding appears to be like like a juvenile. Very playful as properly. Making just a few rounds swimming with us earlier than it made it’s approach down. It was thrilling and exhilarating swimming with the whale shark even for a short while.
As we bought again to our boat, we congratulated every and everybody of us for a profitable sighting. I’m glad our officer didn’t hand over on us and the water readability was wonderful. It felt good to work together with a whale shark within the wild. Everybody have smiles on their faces and good recollections as we head again to shore.
Ferdz Decena is an award-winning journey photographer, author and blogger. His works has discovered print in publications reminiscent of Singapore Airways’s Silver Kris, Philippine Airways’ Mabuhay, Cebu Pacific’s Smile and Seair InFlight. He has additionally lent his experience to numerous organizations just like the Oceana Philippines, Lopez Group Basis, Save the Youngsters and World Imaginative and prescient, contributing high quality pictures for his or her advertising supplies.
