WHALE SHARK SAFARIS

The journey will take us to an un unexploited area which is known for having the largest amount of whale sharks in the world, namely Donsol, Sorsogon. The whale shark is the world's largest fish and can grow to 18 meters. The water in Donsol is very rich of plankton, which is the main food for the whale shark. Therefore large schools of whale sharks come to this area to feed for a couple of months. It is not uncommon to see 15 whale sharks in a day. Since a couple of years this area is protected by WWF and there is strict supervision here. The Discovery Channel has made a documentary of the whale sharks in this marine sanctuary. An experience with the unique whale shark is something the true dive-enthusiast cannot miss. During this part of the adventure, we will dive around the beautiful island of San Miguel , known for its caves and untouched coral gardens. San Miguel offers great macro diving, and is loved by underwater-photographers. At the Ticao pass we will do incredible drift dives at Manta Bowl, where we have the possibility to see manta, hammerhead, thresher shark and school of tuna. If we are lucky and have the right conditions everything is possible and anything can pass by! During March and April last year we had whale sharks encounters on almost every dive around Manta Bowl. These months are the peak season for the whale shark in Donsol.

This place at the southern tip of luzon recently made a huge break on the country's falling tourism when hundreds of whale sharks were spotted congregating in the muddy but plankton-rich waters of Donsol. Whale shark spotting in sorsogon became a word of mouth passed on to every tourist exploring the Philippines . As thousands of visitors arrive each season to swim and witness their friendly behavior, the unknown town of Donsol , in which its economy was initially reliant to fishing and cottage industry alone, now benefits from higher revenue brought by the presence of these giant fish locally called "Butanding".

These gentle giants arrive from as early as November but the official season starts from February and runs until end of May, where the sea of Donsol is at its clearest and calmest. Local tourism officials and professional divers have established guidelines on proper whale shark watching intended to maintain safety and to defend the creatures from over exploitation.

Best time to go is in March or April when these creatures are most present. It is guaranteed to witness minimum of 8 to 10 whale sharks in two hours. So take your time, swim with them and enjoy more of their sociable behaviour. Only cameras without flashes are allowed to use.

Island Safaris