Oslob

This trip requires a lot of physical exertion, but it's fantastic. We departed at 2:30 AM, and after a two-hour drive to see the whale sharks, we were taken to get our number plates. We had breakfast in between, and then went to see the whale sharks at 7:00 AM. However, the area was very crowded and chaotic, so remember to stay with your group members. We took a small boat there, and we left our belongings in the car as they got wet. The GoPro cost 550 PHP. A good boatman will take great care in taking photos for you, but our boatman was a bit old, so we didn't get many photos taken. We didn't need to tip the boatman for taking photos; it seemed to be included in the price. The next stop was the falls. When we arrived, someone took us there by motorbike. After taking photos, we strolled around for a bit before waiting for the motorbike to take us back. Then we had lunch, followed by a sardine and turtle watching tour (about three hours). This was the best part of the trip; the boatmen were very dedicated and funny. The GoPro cost 800 PHP, and they took the photos very seriously and even taught us how to take the best photos. On the way back, they didn't mention that we could shower; we had to ask ourselves if we could. The shower facilities were very basic. After that, we headed back, arriving at the hotel around 7 PM. A reminder: GoPros are stored directly on your phone, so check if your phone has enough storage or bring a separate USB port. Remember to bring motion sickness medication or any other medication you may need, as it's a long drive, and the driver is a race car driver.

The driver was very friendly. We set off at 3 AM, picking up passengers at different locations along the way, and arrived at 6 AM. We then queued to get our numbers. The driver first took us to a waterfall, which felt like a fairyland, incredibly relaxing and allowing us to spend an hour there. Because it was the weekend and very crowded, we didn't get a turn to swim with the whale sharks until noon. We rented GoPros and had the boatman film us for an extra 550 pesos, but it was all totally worth it! It was a magical underwater experience; whale sharks swam right next to you – truly unforgettable!