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| early morning in Oslob |
We went to Oslob for two days for work. Although the town's background is definitely set up for a vacation, it was an on-location fashion shoot for me (and the rest of the team).
Oslob is more than three hours of travel from Cebu City. Tourists can take the bus from South Bus Terminal or a v-hire from Citilink. The resorts are located right along the road so it isn't a problem to locate one.
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| bangkas lined up for whale shark diving |
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| tuki: a huge (but adorable) sea creature |
The whale sharks (called tuki in Cebuano) in Oslob brought in a lot of tourists in the recent years. These gentle giants go near the shores to feed on krills given to them by local fishermen. Tourists can go swim and dive with these whale sharks for a certain fee and must adhere to the rules and regulations set by the local government of Oslob. There's also a set swimming time for tourists, usually in the morning.
Before going to the sea, tourists have to go through a quick mini-seminar on what you can and can't do in the sea with the whale sharks. Everyone should also wear a life jacket while on the boat. You can remove it though, if you wish to swim deeper and see the whale sharks.
The whole "swim time" is only 30 minutes so you have to make the most out of time if you want to enjoy the sharks' company. Remember to go to Oslob early so you won't miss the whale sharks.
Aside from the whale sharks, Tumalog Falls is also becoming another famous tourist attraction in Oslob. The waterfall is located far from the main highway. One needs to take a road going up to the mountains and find a sign that says Tumalog Falls. If you have a car, you can drive up to the falls and just park at the "parking space" inside the compound. If you're commuting, you can also ride a motorbike taxi (habal-habal) going up to the falls. Remember, there's an entrance fee.
Tumalog definitely is a breathtaking waterfall. You can have a little picnic on the rocks and eat with your friends and family. You can also stay there the entire day, if you want to. I know my photo doesn't give it justice. We went to Tumalog on a cloudy late afternoon. The area is covered with trees and bamboos which make the place even darker. Anyway, it's best to go there when the sun is out so it's not that cold. Tumalog also closes at 6PM so better be there early.
The whole "swim time" is only 30 minutes so you have to make the most out of time if you want to enjoy the sharks' company. Remember to go to Oslob early so you won't miss the whale sharks.
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| derp face to Tumalog |
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| Tumalog Falls |
Aside from the whale sharks, Tumalog Falls is also becoming another famous tourist attraction in Oslob. The waterfall is located far from the main highway. One needs to take a road going up to the mountains and find a sign that says Tumalog Falls. If you have a car, you can drive up to the falls and just park at the "parking space" inside the compound. If you're commuting, you can also ride a motorbike taxi (habal-habal) going up to the falls. Remember, there's an entrance fee.
Tumalog definitely is a breathtaking waterfall. You can have a little picnic on the rocks and eat with your friends and family. You can also stay there the entire day, if you want to. I know my photo doesn't give it justice. We went to Tumalog on a cloudy late afternoon. The area is covered with trees and bamboos which make the place even darker. Anyway, it's best to go there when the sun is out so it's not that cold. Tumalog also closes at 6PM so better be there early.
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| view from the bangka |
My two cents worth on Oslob's whale shark diving:
I wasn't really a fan of this kind of tourism in Oslob even when it first started. Although this is a good income for displaced fishermen in the area, I feel bad whenever the whale sharks get hit by a boat or when tourists disregard the rules and touch the whale sharks. There have been quite a few instances when people rode the back of the whale sharks and some got hit by the boats. It's so difficult to implement the rules and there should be a hefty fine for not abiding in the said rules.
I don't think this is a sustainable way of tourism for the area, especially environmentally. Although it's a great opportunity to observe whale sharks up close. This can do them even more harm than good. While we were there, one whale shark hit itself against our little boat and almost hit me. Although it was an accident, I hope it didn't get itself badly hurt.
This is the reason why I didn't visit Oslob despite living in Cebu and passing by the area frequently due to my trips to Negros Oriental. If it weren't for my job, I wouldn't have been there. I don't have hate tourists for wanting to dive with the whale sharks. I can't blame them. They're really a beauty to behold. If you do get a chance to visit the whale sharks, please follow the set rules and don't cause any harm to these friendly animals.
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| my little feet |
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| on the way to land |
I hope in the coming months or years, there's a more sustainable way of keeping whale sharks from being hunted while also being able to observe them without sacrificing their natural way of life. I know this is usually a never-ending topic, especially for environmentalists. I just hope there's a compromise somewhere.
*photos taken with underwater plastic camera and Kodak Ultramax 400*
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