Walhaie von Oslob

In Oslob (3-4 hours from Cebu City), small boats take you 50 meters off the beach where 5-15 whale sharks gather each morning. Local boatmen feed them small shrimp, which keeps them in the area. You can snorkel or scuba dive with them, sometimes meters away.

It's an extraordinary experience — these are the world's largest fish, up to 12 meters long, peaceful and slow-moving. It's also been criticized for over a decade. Daily feeding alters whale shark migration patterns and behavior; close contact stresses the animals; tourists frequently touch them despite rules.

If you go: stick to the no-touching rule rigorously, don't use sunscreen before entering the water, and don't use a flash camera. Tours run from 6 AM to 12 PM only; afternoons the sharks leave.

Ethical alternative: Donsol in Sorsogon province (northern Luzon) hosts wild whale sharks from December to May with no feeding involved. Sightings aren't guaranteed but the experience is more respectful of the animals.