Only a few meters from the shore, we saw this giant silhouette slowly swimming visibly below us. Locally known as tukî in Cebu, and butanding in Luzon, these whale sharks were spotted years ago near the shores of south of Cebu, between the mainland and Sumilon island.
The news about Cebu’s whale sharks spread among diving enthusiasts. It made to mainstream when it was published by Sunstar Daily News and featured by GMA 7.
Lucky for me, I read my idol SCUBA diver and travel blogger Inday Guapa‘s post and was planning weeks before it became mainstream. And luckily, she has a cousin who is a good friend of mine way back college so she knew the details about whale sharks and how to get there.
Where Do I Start?
My guide told me to just float far away from the boats and the tukî will approach me. Only a few minutes after just aimlessly floating around, the biggest of the 14 whale sharks there slowly inched its way towards me. I froze, I could hardly breath, not knowing what to do as the giant butanding of about eight meters in length was coming straight at me!
I didn’t panic, I remember the guide telling me to just float there, stay calm, and and do nothing. Which what I exactly did.
Seconds passed and this massive thing was closing the gap, me holding my breath and the level of anxiety shooting to the roof of my head! Only moments before impact or about only a foot or two away from me, it veered to its left.
I heaved a sigh of relief. I asked myself. WHAT WAS THAT???
That was, I answered my other self, was amazing.
Yehey! Excited nakong makita to sa Friday! Weeee!!!!
Drew´s last [type] ..Superhuman for a day: My Malapascua Cliff Jumping Experience
WOW!
Marcos´s last [type] ..Babu Santa Beach in Talikud Island, Samal by Habal-habal
feeling nako i’d need a life vest ig langoy nako in case i panic! hahaha. but this one’s amazing dwin! can’t wait!
doi´s last [type] ..2011 Best Travel Blog Finalist
Wah angkyut nya
Sana makapag-dive din ako soon. Do I need to learn how to swim bago makapag-dive?
Micamyx|Senyorita´s last [type] ..Overnight Stay in Taal Vista Hotel – Tagaytay City
bahala na si lord. basta gusto ko to ma experience.. sana pag balik ko janary anjan pa yan
amazing! wow! grabeeee! shucks kung ako to dwin basin mo freeze nalang hehehe thanks for sharing this! mahimo na dyud ning next tourism phenom =)
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Whoa!!! suyaa nako ani oi!!!
dli kaha ko mukaging nuh if tuparan nako sa whale while floating..
tsk tsk tsk =D
@drew: sayang di ako makasama!
@marcos: wow talaga! punta ka na ditey cebu kami naman ang maghohost hehehehe
@doi: magpanic jud. daghan ko’g instances nga makalimot ko’g ginhawa, makalimot ko to stay afloat, makalimot ko’g equalize, etc etc. hahaha
@micamyx: pwede lang snorkel! pwede nga sa banka lang hehehe…
@eric: resident whale sharks daw to.
@cille: i think. pero hopefully naay environmental and safety measures for the tukîs.
@mark: ma anad ra ka brad hahahaha.
nakakainggit naman . this post deserves fb share para makita nila yung ganda ng whale shark experience ninyo, inggit na inggit lang ako… like like like
juanderfulpinoy´s last [type] ..PRETENDING LIES BY MARLON MAGBANUA
waaaah! lalo akong naexcite pumunta ng CEBU! Lakbay! sama ako!
darwin´s last [type] ..Of White, Gray and Gold; Of Fine and Pebbled
cant wait to swim with them.. hahahah! could u provide expenses brad? hihih! para naa nlng idea..
mark´s last [type] ..Triptabai as BCBA 2011 Best Cebu Travel Blog
exciting! kung ako yan, matatakot din ako… hehehe!!! given the chance, i would also love to swim with the Tuki (kahit di ako marunong lumangoy..hehehe!) sana soon! thanks for shring this… Happy Holidays!
mervz | pinoyadventurista.com´s last [type] ..Pinoy Holidays : 2012 Philippine Holidays and Long-weekend Schedule
Woooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhoooooooooooooooo! Dugaya mag friday oooyyy! Hahahahahaha Leeesssggooooooowwww!
i wanna experience this too!
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nice travel blog…sarap maglakbay.
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huwaw! edwin nakakainggit!!!ang sayaaa!
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@chino: salamat!
@darwin: sama ka nila doi bukas! hahaha
@mark: 100 ang entrance tapos 200 ang bayad sa mananagat, good for 40 minutes.
@mervz: hindi sila nangangagat promise hahahaha. it’s natural at first to fear them, but later on you’ll get the hang of it.
@lourd: ugma na brad!
@jean: go!
@spiky: thanks!
@gael: na i-inggit din ako eh oh. hahaha..
lakbay´s last [type] ..Cebu’s Whale Shark: The Tukî Experience
sana makapunta rin ako dyan…malapit lapit lang samin yan.
spiky´s last [type] ..My Pechay-Garlic sauce as a Superhero
Inggit ako. Probably the closest I can get to creatures like this is Seaworld!
Halaaaaaa! Ka nice jud!!! Ikaw na ang pinaka-abtik mag blog about your whaleshark experience
)
@spiky: san inyo?
jie: hahahaha… balik na cebu!
@renz: di ko ka get over man gud.
When do you think is the best time for me to go and swim with them? I’ve never been to Donsol but I want to go diving in Moalboal/Malapascua, so I better swim with them as well. Cebu really rocks!
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well, from the feedback of the fisherfolks there, they’ve become residents to the place already. the best time i guess is summer: clear skies, sunny weather equals clear underwater pics.
wow grabeng adventure!
KAKAINGIT!
I’m in Cebu for about 8 years and never have done this! I hate myself! LOL.
I want to do this too, I hope they won’t eat me. What camera were you using by the way?
Exotic Philippines´s last [type] ..My 2012 Wish List
diyan pala ang tuki talaga lumalapit. naalala ko yung sa donsol kung saan kami ang humahabol para sumabay sa langoy nila.
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[...] Edwin shared this piece of information to us, I knew I had to see it for myself. I had a trip to Legazpi [...]
[...] Edwin shared this piece of information to us, I knew I had to see it for myself. I had a trip to Legazpi [...]
Chuyyaaaa aniii oieeeeee…pilay budget aniii/total-investment??? Hehehe og pila ka taw ideal kuyogon?
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may alam ka po ba na murang lodging sa oslob.. kahit homestay lang.. 2 kami.. balak namin puntahan yan next week eh.. dumaguete kami manggaling..
@randy: grabeh jud. adto nya mo rands, malingaw to’s baby reese
cottage lang kasi yung iparent ata nung caretaker.
@gay: i’m using olympus tough 3000 series.
@dong ho: eto di na kailangan lumangoy wehehehehe…
@vernon: mga 700 damage 1 day including transpo, boat, and rest-house.
@rainier: uhm hindi po ako sure kung meron dun. sorry.
alam mo ba kung anong oras available ang whale watching dun?
buong maghapon ba?u
i think they’re available whole day, but it’s advisable to get there before noon. they start as early as 5am, and they might run out of food to feed the whalesharks late morning.
kuyawa pud kaayo ang kadako sa Tuki ba. Puede man mag life vest ani dwin no?
.
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They have whale sharks in Cebu?!
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[...] Christine - Best Itinerary in 24 Hours for 2011! – Southern Cebu Edcel - Cebu Trip: Whale Shark ‘Butanding’ Encounter in Oslob Edcel and Sheena – Sidetrip: Swimming with the Whale Sharks in Cebu Edgar - Swimming with Oslob’s Whalesharks (Tukî) Lakbay Pilipino - Cebu’s Whale Shark: The Tukî Experience [...]
swerte niyo naman. congrats! happy new year!
Atticus´s last [type] ..This year…
Can someone post contact numbers pls? Will be going tomorrow and the person I talked to said they won’t open tomorrow. Major problem!
nindota sa emu experience oie… nindot unta masakyan ng whale… hehe
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GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! I am sooo green in envy right now! I can’t wait til February! Will go rubbing elbows with them Whale Sharks~
GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! I am sooo green in envy right now! I can’t wait til February! Will go rubbing elbows with them Whale Sharks~
zhequia´s last [type] ..Bucketlist 2012
@bonzenti: o, dako jud. pwede ra mang lifevest.
@corrine: we do!
@atticus: happy new year too!
@timmy: uhm. i’ll send an email.
@macky: hehehe nindot unta sakyan pero dili maayo
@zhequia: kaduha jud mo comment???
lakbay´s last [type] ..Cebu’s Whale Shark: The Tukî Experience
Pasensya. Pakidelete sa isa please?!
zhequia´s last [type] ..Bucketlist 2012
wish I could have a great experience like you do. kaso magaling kang lumangoy eh, astig!
what does “Ang ang ang ang-ang ang-ang” mean? im interested. hehe
chyng´s last [type] ..Goals for 2012 | More Fun In The Philippines
Swimming with sharks, which is unusual, really is a fun experience.