After leaving Dauin at the end of April, the next stop on my Philippines diving adventure in May 2025 was Oslob, a small coastal town in southern Cebu that has become world-famous for one unforgettable reason… the chance to dive with whale sharks, the biggest fish in the ocean.
Scuba diving in Oslob is about more than just the whale sharks though. The clear, warm waters here are home to a range of fantastic dive sites along the coast, including the beautiful Sumilon Island, known for its drift dives, colourful corals and schools of fish. With calm conditions, 30 metres plus visibility and plenty of marine life, Oslob offers something for every diver, from beginner to pro.
Getting to Oslob from Dauin was really straightforward. We left from the port at Sibulan in Dumaguete and took the short ferry hop over to Liloan on Cebu Island. The fast passenger-only ferry is the best option as it only takes about 20 to 25 minutes. There is also a car ferry but it is slower.
You don’t need to book in advance… we just turned up on the day and bought tickets at the port. Once we arrived at Liloan port, the dive school, who also run the accommodation we had booked, picked us up for the short 10-minute drive to Whale Shark Dive Camp, just outside of town.
All in all, it was a quick and easy journey that meant we could settle in and relax, ready for the dives the following day.
As with the other stops on this trip, I booked the dive school in advance… I plan everything on an Excel spreadsheet after all. After some research, I chose Deepzone Dive Centre, as they also have their own dive resort, Whale Shark Dive Camp, with accommodation. Their email response was swift and helpful, and the price was really reasonable for what was on offer.
Whale Shark Dive Camp was fantastic. It is tucked away from the main road so it feels quiet and peaceful, with its own little beach that is perfect for snorkelling in the afternoons. Our room was big and clean with air conditioning and a balcony overlooking the sea. It was great waking up to that view each morning.
The dive centre office and boat dock are actually in town, about five to seven minutes’ drive away. Staying at the camp turned out to be a much better choice than staying in town, as the town really quietens down after lunch when the day trippers leave and there isn’t much of an atmosphere in the evenings. The camp gave us the best of both worlds… peaceful surroundings with easy access to the dives. Each morning, the team provided transport between the camp and the dive centre, which made everything simple and stress-free.
Fantastic Service From the Team
The staff were fantastic throughout our stay… so friendly, helpful and welcoming. They really couldn’t do enough for us and made sure we were comfortable and happy the whole time.
There is even a little shop across the road for snacks and drinks, and a homely restaurant about ten minutes’ walk away called Melba’s Homestyle, which was great for lunch and dinner. If you just fancy a cold beer and a relaxed vibe in the evening, head a little further to Linda’s RestoBar, a simple but friendly local spot.
Our first day of diving in Oslob focused on what most people come here for… the whale sharks. The small village of Tan-Awan has become world-famous as the place to see these magnificent creatures up close, and it’s easy to see why.
We got kitted up at the dive office in town, which is conveniently located just across the road from where the crowds gather. This is where being a scuba diver really pays off. Instead of queuing in what felt like a scene from a Disney theme park, waiting for your number to be called, we just geared up and headed straight to the ocean.
The whale sharks here are fed by the locals to encourage them to stay in the area, although they’re free to come and go as they please. Honestly though… if someone guaranteed me a Cloud 9 or Kit Kat ice cream every day with no effort, I’d hang around too.
The excitement hits as soon as you drop into the water. Seeing these huge, graceful creatures swimming straight towards you and gliding past is something you never forget. It really is amazing to watch them up close.
That said, there are a couple of downsides worth mentioning. Trying to get good photos or videos without a crowd of snorkellers splashing around in life jackets above you can be frustrating. Visibility can also get kicked up quickly by divers who don’t realise how much sand they’re disturbing. To be fair, the whale sharks themselves were more interested in heading to the surface to feed than spending time mid-water, so snorkellers probably got a better view overall. Still, I would much rather be in scuba gear and avoid the long queues and mandatory life jacket experience.
On our second day of diving, we explored the famous Sumilon Island, just offshore from Oslob. We were picked up at Whale Shark Dive Camp as usual and taken about five minutes out of town to where the dive school’s boat is moored. The boat was excellent… spacious, comfortable, with plenty of room for everyone and even a toilet on board. It made for a really relaxed start to the day.
Sumilon Island is well-known for its drift dives and calm sanctuary reefs, and it really lived up to its reputation. We did two dives here and saw a brilliant mix of marine life. Huge schools of jackfish swirled around us in the current while we drifted along colourful coral slopes. Big barracuda cruised by in the blue, and we even spotted a few blacktip reef sharks and a couple of giant napoleon wrasse.
One thing to watch out for here though… the Titan Triggerfish. Three of us got chased and even had a few nips aimed our way. We weren’t even that close to their nests but they clearly didn’t appreciate us passing by. They’re protective and don’t hesitate to let you know when you’re too close. It added a bit of excitement to the otherwise peaceful dive.
The second dive was much calmer, giving us plenty of time to slow down and look for the smaller details. The corals here are healthy and vibrant, with an impressive mix of hard and soft species. Turtles are a common sight around Sumilon, and we were lucky enough to see a couple grazing on the reef.
A Great All-Round Dive Day
Sumilon is ideal for all levels of diver. Even as someone who enjoys the odd critter hunt and macro dive, I still really appreciated the wide-open reef and big fish action here. The visibility was excellent… easily over 30 metres… and the warm water and gentle drift made for a really enjoyable day.
Our few days in Oslob were absolutely worth it. Diving with the whale sharks, experiencing the beautiful reefs of Sumilon Island, and staying at the peaceful Whale Shark Dive Camp made it a memorable stop on this journey through the Philippines.
After packing up and saying goodbye to the friendly team at Deepzone Dive Centre, they kindly gave us a lift, along with our luggage, to Oslob Port where we already had our ferry booked. Next up was another island and another adventure… heading across to Bohol and then on to the small, laid-back town of Anda.
Here are a few shots from my time diving in Oslob, including the unforgettable whale sharks and some of the colourful life around Sumilon Island.
