Oslob Whale Watching in Southern Cebu


Located in Tan-awan, your visit to Oslob will not be complete without witnessing the gentle giants known as butanding. 

For more information about travelling to Oslob, please check out our travel guide here --> Oslob travel guide.
​
Please like our Facebook Page:
Picture
Whale watching in Oslob *Underwater shots courtesy of a friend who went to Oslob in February 2016*

Although I am not a fan of any forms of unnatural fish feeding, I guess a visit to Oslob will not be complete without seeing the butanding. The trick is to lure the whales near the shore by giving them food every morning, which seems to have become a regular activity for the whales. The feeding can start as early as 6AM and ends before lunchtime.

TIP: The earlier you do your whale watching, the better, so you can take advantage of the minimal crowd. The area starts to get crowded by 7:30 AM, especially on weekends so make sure you wake up early. You don't want fins and butts all over your underwater shots.
Picture
The whale watching guides all wear blue TOSWFA shirts as their uniform.

There are rules and regulations set by the Tan-awan Oslob Sea Warden Fisherman's Association (TOSWFA) for the protection of the whales as well as the guests. Travellers are required to attend a short briefing on these do's and don'ts. One of the most important rule is not to touch the gentle giants so they won't get stressed. Those who disobey this rule will be fined or worse, imprisoned. But the most concern of all is what if the whales touch the tourists, like what happened to me? Haha!

Tip: Consider the 30-minute briefing when scheduling your trip. If you would like to start whale watching at 7:30 AM, be at the briefing area by 7:00 AM.
Picture
The whale watching crowd

The waters of Oslob tend to be very deep, possibly because of the strong waves. Whales swim almost only a few meters (less than 10, I think) from land. They swim so near that you can almost see their fins bobbing in and out of the water while standing along the shore. However, TOSWFA won't allow tourists to just swim towards to the viewing area possibly for security purposes and as other people would say, "paano naman sila kikita kung hindi gagamit ng boat ang mga turista" (how will they earn if tourists won't use boats). I'm sure they get this question a lot, especially from the more adventurous travellers. 
Picture
Enjoying the sunrise while watching the gentle giants *Photo courtesy of a friend who went to Oslob in February 2016*

​You will be given 2 choices for your whale watching - one is if you will not be swimming and another one if you would like to swim and snorkel with the whales. The following are the fees:
  • Whale watching only (no swimming) + life jacket: P300
  • Snorkelling with the whales + life jacket: P500 (locals) and P1,000 (foreigners)

If you are not whale watching, you will not be provided with a snorkelling gear but you will be given a life jacket for safety. If you are swimming but have your own snorkelling gear, there will be no deduction in the fee, sadly. 

Tip: Bring your underwater cameras. The guides can double as your photographers (service included in the fee), so take advantage of it. :)
Picture
*Photo courtesy of my friend She*

KEY CONTACT:
​

If you would like to book your boat beforehand, you can contact Kuya Jeff who is a tourist guide in Oslob. His contact number is 0998-559-7198 or 0923-530-6331. He also has a habal-habaland he could take you around Oslob's waterfalls and town proper. He could also arrange for your accommodation if you do not have the time.

If you are planning to visit other places near Oslob, please check out my suggested itinerary of Oslob-Bais-Apo Island in 6 days.

WHERE TO STAY:

For hotels/resorts in Oslob, please visit:

OTHER USEFUL LINKS: