Snorkeling with whale sharks and pilot whales in Puerto Princesa

Philippines have two well known places where world biggest fish, whale sharks, are very common and where people can snorkeling with them. Places are Donsol and Leyte. There is anyway also third place which many people don't know yet. It's Puerto Princesa in Palawan.

I was last year 2010 about 5 months in Palawan and most of the time in Puerto Princesa. During that time I did three whale sharks trip. First trip was in April, next in July and last one in September. Whale shark season in Puerto Princesa is from April to October.

Trips start near city center from Bay Walk. First by banca boat about one hour from Puerto Princesa Bay to open sea. In practise place is on the front of Honda Bay. Then starts the real whale shark searching. Usually smaller fishes show where the whale sharks are. Fishes start to jump in the surface on the large area. When you see jumping fishes many time whale shark fin appears to the surface also. Then boat goes little bit closer and when we see whale shark is everybody jumps to the water and starts swim toward whale shark. Here is small video clip from that moment.

Sometimes it's possible to go very close to whale sharks. Touching is anyway not allowed. Few times whale sharks have swum against me and I had to rise my hands up to protect myself from the massive tail. Close, but no touching.

Whale shark and snorkeler.

This is usually the angle how people see whale shark under water.

On the last trip in September happened something very special. In the beginning of the boat trip, Toto, who run the trips, said I got just a information from the fisherman there is a group of about 30 short-finned pilot whales in the area. After 30min boat ride we found the whales.

Toto said I have seen pilot whales here many times during the years but I have never been in the water with them. Then he added but now I have my under water camera first time. Toto went to water and staying all the time near the boat. Some whales had also small ones and we didn't know anything how they react for people. Can they be protective and aggressive or what? After Toto I went also water to watch whales under water. Because of safety we didn't go close and stayed all the time near the boat. Here three pilot whales diving.

After pilot whales we saw also big group of dolphins. Those are anyway so fast and we didn't go to water.

That was amazing day and I will never forget it!

Mika