Swimming with the fish...I mean HUGE fish!

[Maria B]

:Wave:My favourite program Sports Unlimited visits Oslob, Cebu to see the fisherman interacting with the whale sharks! That would be tonight with my fave presenter Dyan Castillejo.

Teaser:

http://www.ourawesomeplanet.com/awesome/2012/01/oslob-butandings.html


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=IK4Lo4jX0iQ

[Maria B]

AND MORE


<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/36229336?title=0&amp;byline=0&amp;portrait=0" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/36229336">Oslob's Butanding Watching</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user10184036">Bleu</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

http://vimeo.com/36229336

[Steve.r]

I am a qualified diver, but never seen a whale shark. I have seen some fantastic sights while diving in the Red Sea when working in Saudi. I hope one day to experience these gentle giants. :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[lastlid]

We have some shark around the coast of the Isle of Man, all the time in the summer. The basking shark. Harmless as I understand, live off plankton only, like the whale shark. Seemingly the second largest fish in the world, second to the whale shark. They are a protected species here. For some reason they do a bodyswerve around Liverpool Bay.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-13216496

These creatures attract a lot of interest here and snorkelling amongst them is a regular occurence. The water is a little colder here than in the Philippines though......

[Maria B]

I am a qualified diver, but never seen a whale shark. I have seen some fantastic sights while diving in the Red Sea when working in Saudi. I hope one day to experience these gentle giants. :xxgrinning--00xx3:

Hiya Steve r. It's good you've got lots of experience to share in the future. If you happen to be in the Central Visayas in the Philippines...drop by Cebu where u can also visit the hot diving spots in Malapascua Island in the North and Moalboal in the South. There's a lot of PADI english divers too.

Malapascua Islandis the only place in the world where you can dive with the magnificent thresher sharks every day. Manta Rays can be seen as well plus it's a quiet island. My husband loves it there.

check this out:
http://www.malapascua-diving.com/ThresherSharks.html


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyr3q9ZdEBI&feature=relmfu

In Moalboal
http://diving.flyphilippines.com.ph/cebu/moalboal.php

There are some Diving spots too:
http://www.starfish.ch/dive/Cebu.html

:Wave:

[Maria B]

We have some shark around the coast of the Isle of Man, all the time in the summer. The basking shark.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-13216496

:xxgrinning--00xx3::xxgrinning--00xx3:

[Steve.r]

That would be great Maria. I have dived with Manta Rays before and they are magnificent fish, we got close to them as they seemed curious. I have seen huge spotted rays too, when I say huge I am talking over 6ft across the wings, truely amazing. I was diving what was called the 'Mecca Wreck' just south of Jeddah once and saw a huge shoal of circling Barracuda all of them about 5ft long, like a swirling tornado underwater, quite scary, but an awsome sight. Memories I never forget.

Maybe one day I will make it to Cebu :)

[lastlid]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/17032648

How about this....swimming with the crocodiles? :omg:

Evidently the trick is once you are in the water, below the surface, they are not interested in you.....

On BBC 2 tomorrow night.

[Terpe]

Great thread Maria :xxgrinning--00xx3:
Really enjoyed

[Maria B]

Maybe one day I will make it to Cebu :)

Wicked. I only swin with the clown fish in Bohol & tropical fish in Cebu & Palawan hahaha...I have problem with too dark & everytime I see a dark shallow....also got problem with cramps. I only snorkel :doh yet wanted to do diving long time ago:Erm:

But memories always brings a smile to our face...(good ones only lols)

[Maria B]

Great thread Maria :xxgrinning--00xx3:
Really enjoyed

:)Thank you Terpe.:Wave:

[Maria B]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/17032648

Evidently the trick is once you are in the water, below the surface, they are not interested in you.....

On BBC 2 tomorrow night.

lols:icon_lol::)

[Dedworth]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/17032648

How about this....swimming with the crocodiles? :omg:

Evidently the trick is once you are in the water, below the surface, they are not interested in you.....

On BBC 2 tomorrow night.

Terrifying :omg:

[lastlid]

Terrifying :omg:

Yep. Need to be either brave or crazy to do that......I am going to watch this one tonight, with interest.

[lastlid]

Looking at the two creatures, the basking shark and the whale shark, the whale shark has a more normal looking mouth as the basking sharks mouth is evidently permanently open....

[Terpe]

.................mouth is evidently permanently open....

Bit like my MIL then :D

[lastlid]

Bit like my MIL then :D

I think I know what you mean....

BTW I believe it was a basking shark that Jonah ended up inside....:Erm:

[lastlid]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/17032648

How about this....swimming with the crocodiles? :omg:

Evidently the trick is once you are in the water, below the surface, they are not interested in you.....

On BBC 2 tomorrow night.

"Wildlife experts Brad Bestelink and Andy Crawford have devised a method of diving with crocodiles which they believe to be safe."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00p8drd

[lastlid]

Watched it. Fascinating but wouldnt try it at home.... :omg:

[lastlid]

Part 2 was on last night. Ben Fogle swimming with salt water crocodiles in Darwin, Australia. Same thing, the crocodile didn't bat an eyelid at the him and the crew when they were beneath the surface and on the bottom of the billabong...

[Maria B]

Whale Shark Food Scarce....
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2012/02/29/whale-sharks-food-scarce-208843:yikes::omg:

[des.allright]

nice! thanks Maria for sharing! wish we can visit there one day since i am from cebu too. not far from our place also. :)

[Whoosh]

That would be great Maria. I have dived with Manta Rays before and they are magnificent fish, we got close to them as they seemed curious. I have seen huge spotted rays too, when I say huge I am talking over 6ft across the wings, truely amazing. I was diving what was called the 'Mecca Wreck' just south of Jeddah once and saw a huge shoal of circling Barracuda all of them about 5ft long, like a swirling tornado underwater, quite scary, but an awsome sight. Memories I never forget.

Maybe one day I will make it to Cebu :)

Which outfit did you dive with and what year (s)

[Maria B]

Hiya Kabayan Des,

Would be nice on a summer where the water is crystal blue....hope u can visit too. My cousins will be visiting the site as well. The last time we only stayed in Sumilon Island. Never heard of this before but instead seen 3 baby white tip shark lols.
Hope u can make it in the future & post pics right away lols x

[lastlid]

What a picture eh....

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/p480x480/419477_341070372599204_164618306911079_1006372_458265394_n.jpg








Courtesy of Save the Philippines Seas

[purple]

Hi Maria B, I went swimming with the whale sharks in Oslob when we went to Cebu to visit my family over Xmas and it was fascinating thing to do.
It is not good though that they were being feed, they should be left on the wild or else they might get too dependent with being fee.
I'm a qualified rescue diver as well and hopefully will be doing my dive master certification soon!

[lastlid]

"At 200 tonnes, the blue whale is the largest animal on Earth".



BBC video clips.....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Blue_Whale#p00jp7z6

[Maria B]

What a picture eh....

[IMG]https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/p480x480/419477_341070372599204_164618306911079_1006372_458265394_n.jpg[/







Courtesy of Save the Philippines Seas
:xxgrinning--00xx3::xxgrinning--00xx3:

[Maria B]

"At 200 tonnes, the blue whale is the largest animal on Earth".



BBC video clips.....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Blue_Whale#p00jp7z6

:xxgrinning--00xx3: yeah that!

[Maria B]

Hi Maria B, I went swimming with the whale sharks in Oslob when we went to Cebu to visit my family over Xmas and it was fascinating thing to do.
It is not good though that they were being feed, they should be left on the wild or else they might get too dependent with being fee.
I'm a qualified rescue diver as well and hopefully will be doing my dive master certification soon!

Geee...my friends went there yesterday too. Did u take some photos?
I guess they feed them due to tourism purposes in w/c I agree with u. They should just leave them alone:cwm3:
There are a lot of PADI instructors in Mactan, Moalboal, Malapascua, Badian etc...
I wish u good luck on your dive master certification.:Wave:

[Maria B]

And more Whale Sharks in other parts of the Phils...

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s369/MariaDonna10/Oslob%20Whale/WhaleSharks.jpg
Photo in Oslob, Cebu courtesy of SunStar
http://www.oslobwhalesharks.com/


http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s369/MariaDonna10/Oslob%20Whale/Whale_Shark_Donsol_Philippines.jpg
Photo in Donsol, courtesy of SunStar
http://www.donsolwhaleshark.net/
http://www.donsolecotour.com/

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s369/MariaDonna10/Oslob%20Whale/surigao1.jpg
PHOTOS taken April 2009 courtesy of SURIGAO DIVE CLUB
this 12M long whale shark was seen roaming around Surigao City's underwater world..

[lastlid]

"Blue whale sighting off Pamilacan Island, Bohol! The animal was estimated to be roughly 20 m in length, which is actually small for a blue (large males can reach up to 34 m). Only the 4th ever sighting in the Philippines, with all occurring in the Bohol Sea since 2004. Blue whales are globally listed by the IUCN as endangered. It is possibly the pygmy subspecies, but this would need to be verified through future research. Please keep in mind some of the close shots were taken when the whale approached our boat after we had stopped with our engine off over 300 m away. They can be curious, but it is important to maintain a safe distance. We also spotted the same Bryde's whale from earlier in the week in the area. Rorquals in the Bohol Sea!"

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Large-Marine-Vertebrate-Project-Philippines/106543309387119?sk=taggednotes

[lastlid]

Oslob Cebu. 31/03/2012 Is this a good thing or are some folk being a bit too protectionist?

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/545119_329122620480205_328479727211161_904651_1843909682_n.jpg

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.329122533813547.76345.328479727211161&type=3

[raynaputi]

This is so disturbing :doh :NoNo: I experienced swimming with these creatures in Donsol and the first thing that divers told us, and repeatedly told us, is to NEVER TOUCH the whales..and to always have a certain distance when swimming with them. Feeding it the way they do in Oslob, I'm afraid it should be stopped..:doh:NoNo:

[lastlid]

And this one too....
http://cebudailynews.wordpress.com/2012/04/02/no-fun-for-tuki-facebook-photo-of-hapless-whale-shark-sparks-online-outrage/
http://cebudailynews.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/033112fb05.jpg?w=594&h=445

[stevewool]

look but dont touch they say

[lastlid]

"MANILA, Philippines - In the wake of a controversial photo that showed a girl surfboarding on a whale shark (butanding), government agencies in Central Visayas have given assurances that ordinances and guidelines on proper animal treatment and conservation will be followed.

The regional office of the Department of Tourism (DOT) said it will push for a "massive campaign" among residents in the region, particularly in areas where whale sharks appear.

Residents of Boljoon, Cebu, became the subject of online tirades on Sunday, April 1, when photos showing them in close contact with a stranded whale shark circulated on Facebook."


http://www.rappler.com/nation/3374-viral-butanding-photo-prompts-info-campaign

[Maria B]

To follow up more update:

Please check the attached video: This film is about the Oslob, Philippines whale sharks and the relatively new tourism that they are attracting....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J3kcyBXBKU&feature=youtu.be&a

[Maria B]

And this one too....
http://cebudailynews.wordpress.com/2012/04/02/no-fun-for-tuki-facebook-photo-of-hapless-whale-shark-sparks-online-outrage/
http://cebudailynews.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/033112fb05.jpg?w=594&h=445

this is horrible. It's been a viral 2 weeks ago even reported in abs-cbn. I think it has been under investigation. They should put action in it.:NoNo::angry:

[lastlid]

Hiya Steve r. It's good you've got lots of experience to share in the future. If you happen to be in the Central Visayas in the Philippines...drop by Cebu where u can also visit the hot diving spots in Malapascua Island in the North and Moalboal in the South. There's a lot of PADI english divers too.

Malapascua Islandis the only place in the world where you can dive with the magnificent thresher sharks every day. Manta Rays can be seen as well plus it's a quiet island. My husband loves it there.


In Moalboal
http://diving.flyphilippines.com.ph/cebu/moalboal.php

There are some Diving spots too:
http://www.starfish.ch/dive/Cebu.html

:Wave:

I believe they are going to create a Thresher Shark sanctuary there. The first shark sanctuary in the Philippines in Malapascua, Cebu for the protection and conservation of the pelagic thresher sharks which are classed as vulnerable by the IUCN Red List.

[raynaputi]

The reason why whale shark feeding must be stopped!

An appeal to stop feeding of whale sharks in the Philippines (https://www.facebook.com/notes/elson-aca/an-appeal-to-stop-feeding-of-whale-sharks-in-the-philippines/431051146933579)

[lastlid]

And here....

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150994882894001&set=a.206074589000.130523.201382544000&type=1&theater

[lastlid]

And here...

https://www.facebook.com/FeedingGiants

[lastlid]

Feeding Giants: The Tuki Chronicles

Three excellent Youtube videos on the topic of feeding the whale sharks

Feeding Giants: The Tuki Chronicles Episode 1 (February 2012)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXm8xGWjzVw
" Tanawan, Oslob, Cebu. The crowds arrive by the carloads, busloads and boatloads. The small fishing municipality has seen as much as 1,500 tourists on a single day. They have mixed feelings as to whether this event is good or bad. What do you think?

Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines, Responsible Tourism Philippines and Brownsugar Productions International call on sponsors to help continue to produce this documentary series about the controversial relationship between man and animal."



Feeding Giants: The Tuki Chronicles Episode 2 (April 2012)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RTgxLh88yI
"The fishermen have stopped fishing and began feeding whale sharks to attract tourists...

...a rare event that has transformed a small town and its people in a short period of time..."



Feeding Giants: The Tuki Chronicles Episode 3 (July 2012)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbhMmPvZUwU
"A research team from Physalus has settled in to study in greater depth what is happening to the whale sharks being fed for tourism in Oslob, Cebu".