On sunny days these magnificent polka dotted sharks cruise just below the surface making for easy spotting.
The boatman will then position the boat so the swimmers can jump off the boat near the fish and give chase.
This is such an amazing event because a snorkeler wearing a life jacket can see one his first time in the water when some scuba divers with over a thousand dives haven't ever seen one.
The first time I visited Donsol I was the only tourist in town and shark fins of a different species were being dried along the waterfront.
Presently, with the help of the WWF and other groups the whale shark watching in Donsol has mushroomed into a major eco-tourist activity.
This is great for both the local residents, the whale sharks, and the tourists. It is a win win situation all the way around.
It does seem a little weird with fleet of whale watching pump boats and tourists zipping back and forth across the bay but it is really cool to see these giant fish lazing along.
They feed on plankton which can be very thick in the Donsol Bay so visibility will vary from day to day but on most days it is difficult to see both the head and the tail at the same time because the water can be too cloudy.
The whale sharks don't seem to mind the swimmers and might stick around for 10 minutes or more.
Often they let you hang around for 2 or 3 minutes and then decide to ditch you and glide into deeper water or just start swimming in high gear.
Getting to Donsol in the Bicol province in southern Luzon can take a bit of time. The easiest way to get there might be to take a flight from Manila to Legazpi and then take a bus to the sleepy seaside village of Donsol.
Lodging for the budget traveler is available in town starting at 300 pesos per room.
Most of the resorts along the beach start at at 1,500 pesos and are geared for the short time traveler on a weeks holiday so money is not a problem.
You get a chance to meet some very cool people while you are out there especially if you share a boat with other snorkelers.
On our boat there were some French people that were working in China and decided to take a short holiday away from the madness. It's great!
The pump boat costs 3,500 pesos for the day including the spotters, the captain and the BIO. (Butanding Interaction Officer) They allow each boat to have up to 7 swimmers so the cost is the very inexpensive 500 pesos each to witness an amazing fish.
The park fee is 300 pesos but it will cover you for a week if you choose to make multiple trips.
The tourist office has been moved to the beach 3 - 4 kilometers from town on the beach where the boats leave from. A tricycle ride from town costs 15 pesos.
Snorkel gear can be rented for 300 pesos for the full kit.
If you are a little nervous in the water there are plenty of life vests that you can wear but it is a little better if you don't wear one because you can swim down to the fish.
If the water is cloudy, which is often the case, going down will give you a better view.
Some free divers can really get down there but I am not that good in the water myself and had a hard time keeping up and trying to get a few pictures.
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