Templo Nga Mga Mata: Swimming with Whale Sharks

The second week the temple was closed we decided to make a complete trip around Cebu Island to see more of the Philippines. The first place we stayed was at the Garden Stay Resort in Lagunde which is close to Oslob where we planned on swimming with whale sharks. We were not disappointed. Just a few facts about whale sharks:

✦ Whale sharks are massive creatures. The largest whale shark to have been recorded weighed 47,000 pounds and measured 41 feet long.

✦ The dot and stripe patterns on a whale shark's body are like human fingerprints. They are unique to each individual shark.

✦ Whale sharks have about 3,000 teeth set in 300 to 350 rows. However, these animals being filter feeders, the teeth are not of much use.

✦ They have very big mouths, almost 5 feet (1.5 meter) wide.

✦ Whale sharks live for 70 to 100 years, with some living for an even longer time.

✦ These species of fish are slow-moving. When they are moving in water, they have a speed of not more than 2 to 3 knots per hour.

✦ Female whale sharks are larger in size than the males.

Pictures just can't come close to sharing the experience of swimming with these amazing creatures but here are just a few to share with you. Sorry the pictures underwater aren't better but they were not taken by a professional photographer but by the boatmen that took us out to the whale sharks.

The four couples that went together. Left to right starting in the back: Elder and Sister Johnson, Arizona, Elder and Sister Sorensen, Elder and Sister Henthorn, Washington, Front, Elder and Sister Decker, Arizona.

This is Toni owner of the Garden Stay Resort. He and his brother own this home and rent it out. Toni was a wonderful host.

Entering the Garden Stay Resort. The Johnsons and Deckers stayed in the cottages on the right and the Henthorns and Sorensens stayed in the home just past the van.

Yes it can be tough sitting at the edge of the ocean seeing the waves roll in and watching the sun set.

This is in Oslob where we had the wonderful experience with the whale sharks. At first we went to the structure on the right for orientation. We were cautioned not to touch the whale sharks because you may injure them. There can be a fine and time in jail for intentionally touching one. There were zoologists present to watch all the visitors and insure the whale sharks were not harmed in any way. If we had sunscreen on we were told to wash it off before going in the water. The boats you can see are where the whale sharks are. They are fed everyday starting at 6:30 am until noon so they will come to this area for people to see. This day there were seven sharks who had come in to feed.

Yes they really are sharks as you can see in this picture.

This is Elder Sorensen with a very close encounter. Twice he had to move out of the way so a whale shark didn't hit him as it swam by. At one time the fins and tail of one were within inches of hitting him.

Just how big is this whale shark? BIG

Sister Sorensen warning the sharks to not get too close. At one time we were surrounded by three whale sharks. Notice the one behind us here.

Whale shark coming through. Elder Sorensen can be seen just behind the dorsal fin and Sister Sorensen is in the pink on the right. The foot is one of the boatmen that took us out to the sharks.