Why Bohol’s Whale Shark Tour Suspension is a Victory for the Ocean
You may have seen the news: the organized, provisioned whale shark interaction tours in some areas of Bohol have been officially suspended by the government. For travelers who had this on their bucket list, this news might be met with confusion or disappointment.
But here at Sierra Madre Divers, our response is clear and wholehearted: a round of applause.
This is a courageous, necessary, and forward-thinking decision, and we stand in full support of this government action. It’s a monumental step forward for marine conservation and sustainable tourism in the Philippines. For years, we have made a conscious, principled choice not to participate in or promote these feeding interactions. Our philosophy has always been rooted in the profound magic of wild, natural, and ethical wildlife encounters.
We want to take a moment to explain why this suspension isn’t a loss for tourism, but a massive victory for the whale sharks, for the long-term health of our oceans, and for the future of authentic diving in Bohol.
The Problem with a “Guaranteed” Encounter
The desire to see a whale shark is completely understandable. They are magnificent, awe-inspiring creatures. To meet this demand, “provisioning” sites were established, where the wild sharks were fed to keep them in a specific area for tourism purposes. While often started with good intentions, a growing body of scientific evidence has shown the unintended negative consequences of this practice.
- Altered Natural Behaviour: Whale sharks are one of the most migratory species on the planet, travelling thousands of kilometers across our oceans. This migration is vital for feeding, breeding, and maintaining genetic diversity. Feeding them in one spot halts this natural instinct, turning a globetrotting giant into a resident.
- Nutritional and Health Risks: A diet of just one type of food (often krill or small shrimp) is like a human eating only one thing every day. It doesn’t provide the full range of nutrients they would get from a diverse, natural diet of plankton, fish eggs, and small fish.
- Increased Risk of Injury: Habituating these massive animals to boats and people makes them less wary. This dramatically increases the risk of injuries from boat propellers, not just at the feeding site, but anywhere they travel, as they may learn to associate all boats with food.
At its core, provisioning creates a spectacle, not an authentic wildlife interaction. It prioritizes a guaranteed sighting over the well-being of the animal.
The Magic of a Truly Wild Encounter
Our passion at Sierra Madre Divers is to be respectful guests in the underwater world. We believe the most profound and memorable wildlife encounters are the ones that happen on nature’s terms—the ones that are earned through patience, luck, and being in the right place at the right time.
There is a world of difference between an appointment with a habituated animal and a chance encounter with a wild one. Imagine you are drifting along a deep wall at Pamilacan Island. You’re watching the schools of fish, and then, out of the deep blue, a majestic, bus-sized shadow emerges. A wild whale shark, on its own terms, on its own journey, glides past. Your heart pounds. Time seems to stop. There is no crowd, no frenzy—just you, the ocean, and a moment of pure, unadulterated magic.
That is an experience that cannot be scheduled. That is the kind of ethical, awe-inspiring encounter we have always championed.
A Victory for Sustainable Tourism and a Healthier Bohol
This suspension is a sign of a maturing and responsible tourism industry in the Philippines. It sends a powerful message that the long-term health of our marine ecosystem is more valuable than any short-term tourism gain.
- Protecting Bohol’s Reputation: This action elevates Bohol as a premier destination for authentic and sustainable eco-tourism, attracting discerning travelers who care about conservation.
- Celebrating True Biodiversity: For too long, the focus on a single species has overshadowed the incredible diversity Bohol has to offer. This decision encourages visitors to appreciate the whole picture: our world-class coral reefs, the resident schools of jacks and barracuda at Balicasag, the rare macro critters on our muck dives, and the dozens of other marine megafauna. Our ecosystem is the star of the show, not just one animal.
- Supporting a Sustainable Future: We are hopeful that the affected local communities will be given support to transition their livelihoods towards other forms of sustainable tourism—becoming reef guides, participating in coral restoration projects, or leading land-based eco-tours. A healthy, wild, and diverse marine environment provides a far more stable and enduring economic foundation than an artificial attraction.
So, Can You Still See a Whale Shark in Bohol?
Absolutely! And seeing one now will be more special than ever.
The suspension of feeding does not remove the whale sharks from our waters. It simply encourages them to return to their natural migratory patterns. The Bohol Sea remains a key part of their route. This means that natural, chance encounters are still very much a possibility for lucky divers. These sightings are most common at sites exposed to currents where plankton accumulates, like the waters around Pamilacan Island.
We must be clear: these encounters are rare. They are not guaranteed. But this rarity is precisely what makes them so precious. A wild whale shark sighting in Bohol has now returned to what it always should have been: a truly special, breathtaking, and magical gift from the ocean.
We applaud the provincial government for this bold and vital step. It’s a win for the whale sharks, a win for the ocean, and a win for the future of diving in Bohol. We look forward to sharing our healthy, diverse, and truly wild reefs with you. And who knows… you might just get lucky.
