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Snorkeling Adventure: Whale Sharks and Sardines in Oslob
4.7
117 Ratings
Mactan Island
Experience the thrill of snorkeling with Whale Sharks in Oslob and swimming with a large school of sardines and sea turtles in Moalboal. Book now for a safe and secure tour with licensed guides and insurance!
Experience the thrill of snorkeling with Whale Sharks in Oslob and swimming with a large school of sardines and sea turtles in Moalboal. Book now for a safe and secure tour with licensed guides and insurance!
Duration:
14 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Mactan Island - Hotel pick-ups are available from Cebu City and Mactan Island, starting at 3:00 a.m.
- Cebu City - Depart from Cebu City at 4:00 a.m. The journey takes approximately 3 hours, with a stop for breakfast along the way.
- BCD’s Place - Upon arrival in Oslob, complete the registration process and relax in the designated waiting…
- Mactan Island - Hotel pick-ups are available from Cebu City and Mactan Island, starting at 3:00 a.m.
- Cebu City - Depart from Cebu City at 4:00 a.m. The journey takes approximately 3 hours, with a stop for breakfast along the way.
- BCD’s Place - Upon arrival in Oslob, complete the registration process and relax in the designated waiting area (BCD’S PLACE) while awaiting your turn to snorkel in Oslob. The wait time is typically 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- Oslob - Experience snorkeling with whale sharks in Oslob, Cebu Island. As soon as you dip your face into the water, you’ll witness the majestic whale sharks swimming elegantly. Their impressive size and gentle, endearing eyes provide a calming experience.
- Natalio Bacalso Avenue - Enjoy the scenic ocean views from the window as you travel to the next destination.
- Moalboal - Upon arrival in Moalboal, you can immediately enter the ocean from the beach and enjoy snorkeling!
- Panagsama Beach - Observe a vast school of shimmering sardines creating a whirlpool in the ocean. Delight in the charming scenes of sea turtles swimming gracefully, munching on seaweed, and resting serenely.
- Cebu City - After departing Moalboal, the drive back to Cebu City takes about 3 hours, with an estimated arrival time of 5:00 p.m. Drop-off is at the original pick-up location.
What's Included
- Admission fee for all activities (Oslob, Moalboal)
- Hotel pick up and drop off
- Life jackets
- Bottled water
- Oslob Paid Waiting Facility (BCD) Fee
- GoPro rental (request upon booking)
- Snorkeling equipment
- Travel Accident Insurance
- Access to clean shower and bathroom
- Towel rental
- Admission fee for all activities (Oslob, Moalboal)
- Hotel pick up and drop off
- Life jackets
- Bottled water
- Oslob Paid Waiting Facility (BCD) Fee
- GoPro rental (request upon booking)
- Snorkeling equipment
- Travel Accident Insurance
- Access to clean shower and bathroom
- Towel rental
What's Not Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Gratuities
- Optional: Underwater photography fee taken by boatmen (150PHP)
- Optional: Fin rentals (150PHP)
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Gratuities
- Optional: Underwater photography fee taken by boatmen (150PHP)
- Optional: Fin rentals (150PHP)
Additional Information
A tour for snorkeling lovers which contains snorkeling with Whale Sharks for a lifetime memory in Oslob, and swimming with a large school of sardines and sea turtles at the finest diving and snorkeling spot, Moalboal.
We provide safe and secure tours with licensed and experienced guides and *insurance!
Experienced guides certified by the Philippines…
A tour for snorkeling lovers which contains snorkeling with Whale Sharks for a lifetime memory in Oslob, and swimming with a large school of sardines and sea turtles at the finest diving and snorkeling spot, Moalboal.
We provide safe and secure tours with licensed and experienced guides and insurance!
Experienced guides certified by the Philippines Department of Tourism will take you around, so you don’t need to worry about anything. You can enjoy a fulfilling tour with insurance!
Insurance coverage requires the submission of the names and dates of birth of all participants for age verification.
- For safety reasons, children under 7 years old are not allowed on the tour.
- The schedule for the day may be subject to change due to weather conditions. In the event of inclement weather, changes will be at the discretion of the guide on the day of the tour.
- For insurance purposes, we will require the names and dates of birth of all participants in order to verify the age. Failure to provide this information will result in your ineligibility for insurance.
- Insurance cannot be provided for those who are 76 years and older; however, you may participate if you purchase own insurance.
- The whale shark interaction in Oslob involves wild animals in their natural habitat and is operated and managed solely by the Oslob local government authorities. All procedures, including feeding practices, are conducted under their policies and are beyond our company’s control.
Location
Mactan Island
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.7
(117 Ratings)
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Brett
May 11, 2026
Well worth the long travel. Once in a lifetime! - We were given a great tour by Mae, our tour guide. While the pick up time in Cebu City was early, (around 3am), it was well worth it! It took about 4 hours to get down to the Whale Shark stop in Oslob. The whale sharks are fed by a few of the tour operators and you can get fairly close to them! At this time of year, there were only a few there but we were able to get lots of pictures with them and saw them as much as we wanted!
The second stop was about another 2 hour drive away in Moalboal. This stop had a lot of naturally present sea turtles and sardines that were very impressive. Our snorkel guide was exceptional and helped us get pictures of us diving right next to the turtles! He even brought over an octopus for us to hold in our hands!
While the travelling was long, the staff was very friendly and we were able to stop for planned food and bathroom breaks. They speak great English and assisted us with all the equipment provided. I would highly recommend this tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Yasuyuki_i
May 8, 2026
Impressive swimming with whale sharks - I was so impressed to be able to enter the ocean with whale sharks and experience their size and dynamics firsthand. I was also really happy to see moal boals and sea turtles up close, probably because the ocean is beautiful. I recommend renting a GoPro. Including travel time (I didn't recommend it because it won't come back if you drop your phone), I found it commensurately moving, although I'm held captive for a long time.
Review provided by Viator
Robert_b
May 5, 2026
Definitely an adventure but things could be improved - Great day. We did exactly as described on the listing.
Even though I rated this as a 5, there are things everyone should understand. The entire day lasted almost 16 hours - from 2 AM to past 5:30 pm. This could be improved by giving people a set amount of time at lunch and at rest stops. People took advantage of no set time, and the rest of us had to suffer while we waited.
The guide was efficient at the stops in telling us what to do. What would have been nice is a little more commentary as we passed things on this incredibly long ride. I know this wasn't specified, but it would have made the day go by faster.
The experience with the whale sharks was quite an adventure. But is is somewhat ruined by the massive number of people in the water that kick and push you and also by the scuba divers under the sharks sending up constant bubbles so you can't see. The scuba divers seemed uninterested in the sharks - just in taking pictures of themselves.
Review provided by Viator
Merveld
Apr 24, 2026
Fantastic experience! Swimming with Whale sharks, sardines and tutles - We had a terrific time swimming with the whale sharks, sardines and sea turtles! We were picked up from our hotel on time (2am) and were greeted by our tour guide Farrah who was very friendly, cordial and helpful throughout the tour. The driver Richie was also great taking us to each location. One thing to mention is be prepared for a long drive (3-4+ hours each way, if staying in Mactan). It was a long day, but really worth it. Thanks!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Amy_k
Apr 24, 2026
Incredible Whale Sharks - Bucket list experience! Seeing the whale sharks is such an incredible experience.
We especially loved our guide Danny and driver Frances - they made the tour extra special.
The sardine run and turtle snorkel was cool too but the whale shark experience really took the cake for us. Worth the early morning and long drive to get there!
Review provided by Viator
Meena_d
Apr 21, 2026
Excellent experience - Amazing experience.
Great staff. Felt safe. Excursions are good. Whale sharks boats have ladders. Worth it
Review provided by Viator
Jacques_l
Apr 19, 2026
Very well organized. May Excellent. A long way. But good drivers who respect the traffic and speed. Mu - Very well organized. May Excellent. A long way. But good drivers who respect the traffic and speed. Mu Well organized
Review provided by Viator
Milroy_s
Apr 3, 2026
Yes!! - Very well organized tour. The van was very comfortable and Farrah and the driver were awesome. Would recommend.
Review provided by Viator
Rochelle
Apr 15, 2026
Light fingered boat men in Oslob BEWARE. - I was excited to be swimming with Whale Sharks with my family.
Organise a guide for this trip, the wait is long and the guide will take you somewhere peaceful to have breakfast and wait for your number to be called.
We are advised to travel light on the boats, you should be warned of the LIGHT fingers of the boat men, one stole my Maui Jim sunglasses, apparently my sunglasses jumped over board even through 3 hats and a bag!
Do not take ANY VALUABLES on the boats, they will jump overboard, more like light fingered boat people.
Disappointed with this day outing, it ruined the rest of my stay in Cebu.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Single_s
May 14, 2026
The Guide Was Good. Everything Else Was Not - Let me be straight with you.
Pickup was on time at 2:30 AM. The guide was professional. The driver got us there. These guys did their job and deserve to be tipped.
Everything else was an equipment disaster.
The GoPro rental froze mid-video, shut off repeatedly, and destroyed what should have been extraordinary whale shark footage. I have the freeze on video. I kept it as evidence. Don’t rent their GoPro. Bring your own camera — this moment deserves it.
The mask and snorkel at Moalboal were defective. Mask leaked constantly. I have scuba experience so I could clear it — but I spent my entire sardine run and turtle session clearing water instead of watching millions of sardines spiral around me. A child’s snorkel set handed to a paying adult.
The fins cost 100 PHP extra and were so worn they didn’t flex — they folded in the water. Completely useless.
Everything is a paid add-on. Snorkel. Fins. GoPro. Lunch. Budget for it and bring your own gear.
Here’s what’s real — the whale sharks at Oslob are extraordinary. The sardine run at Panagsama delivers everything people say. Sea turtles in the same water, 20 meters from shore. The experiences themselves are worth doing. Just don’t trust their equipment with your memories.
Bring your own everything. Tip the guide and driver. Leave the GoPro on the boat.
One genuine bright spot — a young girl named Myra at Moalboal beach selling souvenirs. Persistent in the best possible way, genuinely funny, and called this bearded American “Santa Claus” for the entire visit. She made a rough day better. If you see her — buy something. Tell her Santa Claus sent you.
Review provided by Viator
