Swimming with the Whale Sharks of Donsol

[moyimus]

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Hi! Just sharing the video we took while we went swimming with the whale sharks last week! You guys should try it, its a breathtaking experience that will really blow your mind away!

Click this link to my video:

Our Whale Shark Expedition
It's a 2 minute chronicle of our sweet adventures last Mar 3-7, 2009. 10 stressed out friends travel land, sea & sky to unwind and simmer down. We enjoyed the waterfalls of Legazpi, saw Mt. Mayon & had the time of our lives as we swam with the whale sharks at Donsol, Sorsogon!




Guidelines on interacting with butanding

Contact either the Sorsogon Provincial Tourism Council in Sorsogon City, or any of the Municipal Tourism Councils in Donsol, Pilar, Castilla, Magallanes, or any of the coastal towns in whose waters this large pod of Whale Sharks also congregate. You may also contact the local government or municipal office for information.

Attend a Butanding interaction briefing and wait until you are assigned an accredited boat and boat crew, including a Butanding Interaction Officer (BIO). The BIO is your official group leader whose instructions should be strictly followed.

WHAT TO BRING: Packed food and water, sun protection apparel and lotions, snorkeling gear, and underwater or video cameras, minus artificial underwater illumination devices or gadgets.

WHERE TO STAY: You have the option to stay in any of the hotels, pensions or lodging houses in Sorsogon City, or at small pensions and lodging houses, or resort cottages in Donsol, Pilar, Castilla or Magallanes. There are also accredited home-stay facilities in Donsol that are comfortable, clean and homey. Restaurants, fast food chains, cafes, small eateries and food stalls are available in Sorsogon City as well as in Donsol and the other towns. Ask your BIO to guide you to local food shops offering clean and safe food, and sanitary facilities. As much as possible, eat only in accredited food shops. Seafood is abundant, which you can cook yourself al fresco on the white sand beaches along your route.

[Nutley]

i know Chi-Chi T. a close friend of mine...miga diay mo?

[usrolla]

sus.... just wen u left mao pod pag abot namo ani

march 7 - 10... nice kaayo nga experience

[junman77]

Nice experience!

[D40]

from your video, you were touching the whale shark. You were allowed to do that? You are not supposed to be allowed to touch?

[fauxprophetess]

pilai gasto?

[moyimus]

from your video, you were touching the whale shark. You were allowed to do that? You are not supposed to be allowed to touch?

Hi D40! Yeah you're not allowed to touch the whale sharks because that causes them to descend. Naka timing mi with a big one who was heading straight at our path and duol kaayo siya sa surface. Kami, nag snorkel didn't have a chance to swim away as fast as we'd like to kay conscious kaayo mi nga dili siya ma-igo siya sa amuang fins. So we have to raise our legs para dili ma-igo. Tungod sa kaduol ato nga whale shark, wa ka resist ug hikap oi! Dapat sa side lang gyud ka mu swim pero kato siya, naa mi sa taas ato niya kay nidiretso man padung namo. It was a one time thing ang paghikap (kay na curious lagli ug padung gyud siya sa amua). Dili to siya shy one and swam with us for quite a long time.

You're suppose to swim 3 meters away from the whale shark..pero tungod sa kalawm sa water ug daghan plankton--low visibility kaayo. Ang BIO (Butanding Interaction Officer) is the guide, and siya mismo mu sign nga paduol mi. Di pud ka ka tell kung asa padung langoy ang whale shark mao di ka makadaplin ug kalit-kalit. Its usually just a quick encounter---running for a few minutes or so. Kung wa sa mood ang whale shark, few seconds ra and then munaog na sa water. Ang uban, mu circle around. Kapoy pud ug gukod oi! They say they are slow moving creatures, pero kung naa ka underwater, hala! langoy gyud para maka gukod. Gihangak gyud mi tanan! hehehe! it’s hard to catch up once you start falling behind.

[moyimus]

i know Chi-Chi T. a close friend of mine...miga diay mo?

Yup, miga mi Chi chi! haha, paspas kaayo na siya mulangoy!

[moyimus]

sus.... just wen u left mao pod pag abot namo ani

march 7 - 10... nice kaayo nga experience

usrolla, ang uban nako friends nagpabilin pa man until mar 8.. basin nag-abot mo, kay they went to see the whale sharks again on that day. Katung naay upaw, amua nang kauban, basin nka bantay ka. hehe! Pila ka whale sharks inyong nakit-an? Asa mo nag stay? tinuod gyud, grabe kaayo nga experience bah! I would love to do it again. Post your photos/videos here!

[moyimus]

pilai gasto?

Boat Rental:
P3,500
Includes crew, spotter and BIO/Tour Guide
Maximum of 7 per boat
(**equals P500 per head...kung di mo kaabot ug 7pax, ipa join mo sa lain tao, kasagaran foreigners. ok ra pud basta friendly sila. If not, kamo tanan mu shoulder sa P3500). Kung more than 7 mo, mabuwag gyud sa lain nga boat ang kauban ninyo. Very strict sila nga 7 persons only per boat. Para dili ma harass ang whale sharks kung daghan swimmers.)

Equipment Rental per set:
P300 per set (includes mask, snorkel and fins)
(** Bring your own na lang if you have)

Daghan barato nga food didto. Ilahang market, daghan carinderia nga lami kaayo ang food!! Bicol express, pinangat and other local delicacies. yum yum gyud! Everything is fairly near. Don't you worry kay naa pud internet cafe didto (wala lang aircon hehe).

Nag stay mi sa homestay ni Mama Rosa, P300 per head/per night... each succeeding night is P250. Tricycle is P15 going to the Donsol Tourism Office. Nipakyaw ra mi ug Van gikan sa Legazpi. Ang V-hire from Donsol to Legazpi is only P60 per head.