OSLOB, CEBU
THE PHILIPPINES SERIES PT3
After yesterdays experience LINK, todays dive wasn’t as good but nothing really is the second time around.
THE AMOUNT OF TOURISTS WAS OVERWHELMING & THEN THE MANNER OF WHAT WAS GOING ON DAWNED ON ME
Still worth going however, and I can’t anything better to start the day that swim with some sharks. I’m back off to Cebu again on my way to Oslob for some more good way to get you out of bed etc. Off back to Cebu again.
WHERE IS OSLOB?
Regrettably swimming with Whale Sharks
CEBU
Booked in to a cheap hotel/guesthouse for 2 nights to give me a chance to check out the city. Went down to some Irish bar for a bite to eat and it’s safe to say it was my worst nightmare. The bar was empty and then an old fella came on and started to play the guitar and sing, I was stone cold sober.
LADY OF THE NIGHT
Then a girl who I thought was just friends of the bartender asked if she could sit beside me. That was no problem but when you’re neck deep in tacos having some random is a bit of a distraction.
The penny soon dropped after she said a few things and then once she asked if she could get a drink I knew she was no friend of the bartender. I made my excuses and bolted to the bar upstairs to watch the football.
OSLOB
After a long night watching the football I headed south to Oslob and checked into a place called New Village Lodge which was decent enough but it’s really what I have come to expect. You aren’t going to complain about a place that’s maybe only $10 a night! The town is tiny and I’m quickly learning about how friendly the locals are. Just sun bathed and listened to my podcasts this evening so nothing big.
Regrettably swimming with Whale Sharks
SWIMMING WITH WHALE SHARKS
Arriving at the beach It’s incredible the amount of people at these tours, I was 1 of only 2 people who were scuba diving, so at least I had plenty of space. It was amusing looking up from the seabed seeing nothing but kicking legs.
We didn’t need to wait too long for the Whale Sharks either as they were already there. This has been going on for years and as they have been feeding the sharks for so long it has now become routine for them to come here for breakfast. This in turn creates an issue as it doesn’t take long for them to depend on this food. You are messing with the natural ecosystem. The natural ecosystem only works if it evolves slowly over time but this type of behaviour creates too much of a change, too fast.
RELATED READ: DEATH THREATS IN MELBOURNE
REGRET
I’ve swan with Whale Sharks before and this experience doesn’t quite compare. In Thailand it was completely out of the blue and they were in their natural environment
I’m not going to tell you that you should or should not do it but if I were to ask myself ‘was it worth it and would I do it again?” Even if the experience was morally acceptable it still wasn’t a great experience.
FINAL THOUGHTS
For the record in hindsight this was not the right way to see Whale Sharks. As I was scuba diving I can say I wasn’t directly involved in the feeding of the Whales however I still paid a ticket to the circus. As I began to understand certain ethics and morals I wish I had never done it. It’s not like there aren’t plenty of other options!
NEXT UP
Off to Moalboal for some canyoneering and to see the sardine run. Click to read.
SAFE TRAVELS, DS x
34/229
This episode is part of The Philippines Series. Click to view episode1.
