Whale Shark Swimming in Puerto Princesa: What to Really Expect
The Puerto Princesa whale shark tour takes place in the open ocean 20 minutes from the pier by speedboat. Wild whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are encountered naturally following plankton blooms with no feeding or baiting. Tour Z's expedition combines whale shark swimming with wild dolphin watching in a single morning, returning by 1:00 PM. The tour includes hotel pickup from Puerto Princesa city centre, professional drone footage, island lunch, and premium snorkel gear. Maximum 12 guests. Season runs April to October.
A whale shark encounter is one of those experiences that exists in a category of its own — the scale of the animal, the silence of the open ocean, the realisation that it chose to surface near you. But what actually happens on tour day? What should you prepare for, and what separates Tour Z's expedition from a standard bangka tour? This is what you need to know.
What Is a Whale Shark?
The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is the world's largest fish, typically reaching 6–10 metres in length and weighing up to 12 tonnes. Despite the name, it is a shark — but a filter feeder, consuming plankton, small fish, and fish eggs through its enormous gape mouth. Whale sharks have no interest in humans as prey and are known to be docile around swimmers.
They are a CITES Appendix II species — vulnerable to extinction — and are protected under Philippine law. Responsible interaction is governed by IUCN guidelines which Tour Z follows strictly on every departure.
Why Puerto Princesa (Not Oslob)?
Puerto Princesa's whale sharks are completely wild — following seasonal plankton blooms in open ocean without any feeding or conditioning. This is fundamentally different from Oslob in Cebu, where sharks are fed daily and have become dependent on the feeding station. Puerto Princesa encounters are endorsed by marine biologists and IUCN-compliant. For a deeper comparison, see our guide on Oslob vs Puerto Princesa.
What Happens on Tour Day
7:00 AM — Tour Z picks you up from your city centre hotel in Puerto Princesa. No logistics, no tricycle to the pier.
7:30 AM — Depart from the pier on the 30ft speedboat. Safety briefing, snorkel and life vest fitting, interaction guidelines explained.
8:00 AM — Dolphin pod search. Spinner and bottlenose dolphins are resident year-round in the deeper channels. We cruise alongside pods using the parallel-cruising technique — never driving at them directly.
9:30 AM — Whale shark expedition begins. Experienced spotters scan the surface. When a shark is located, guests slip into the water guided by Tour Z staff. Interaction is passive — observe, stay parallel, never above or in front of the shark.
11:30 AM — Return to the boat. Lunch served on board or at a quiet beach cove. Your drone and GoPro footage is transferred and edited while you eat.
1:00 PM — Return to pier. Edited video reel sent to your phone.
The Speedboat Advantage
Standard whale shark tours use traditional wooden bangkas that take 60–90 minutes to reach the wildlife zone. By the time they arrive, early speedboats have already had their encounters. Tour Z's 30ft precision speedboat reaches the zone in 20 minutes — consistently ahead of the crowd, with more time in the water and better positioning when sharks are sighted.
The speedboat's 4-stroke engines are also significantly quieter underwater than loud diesel bangka engines — less noise stress on the dolphins during their encounter.
The 2-in-1 Success Guarantee
Tour Z is the only whale shark operator in Puerto Princesa with a transparent refund policy:
- Both whale sharks AND dolphins encountered: Full price (₱3,500)
- Only one species found: 25% refund per person
- Neither species found: 50% refund per person
This guarantee is only possible because we use wild, unhabituated animals. We can only charge full price when we deliver the full experience.
What's Included in ₱3,500
- Hotel pickup and drop-off from Puerto Princesa city centre
- Premium 30ft speedboat with experienced crew
- Professional drone and GoPro video package — edited reel sent to your phone
- Premium snorkel mask and fins for all guests
- Life vests USCG-approved for all guests
- Curated coastal lunch box with fresh local ingredients
- All fuel, permits, and marine park fees
How to Prepare for Your Whale Shark Swim
- Wear swimwear and a rash guard — full-day sun on open water requires coverage
- Apply reef-safe sunscreen only — standard sunscreen harms the marine environment
- Avoid black wetsuits — dark solid colours can be mistaken by sharks for prey
- Bring a waterproof phone pouch as backup even though drone footage is provided
- Take motion sickness medication 30 minutes before departure if you're boat-sensitive
Book Puerto Princesa's Only 2-in-1 Wildlife Expedition
Whale sharks + wild dolphins · Free drone video · Hotel pickup · Max 12 guests · 2-in-1 Success Guarantee
🦈 Check Availability 🐢 Also: Port Barton TourFrequently Asked Questions
Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are the world's largest fish, typically 6–10 metres long and weighing up to 12 tonnes. They are filter feeders — harmless to humans, consuming only plankton and small fish.
Yes. Whale sharks are gentle filter feeders with no predatory interest in humans. Tour Z provides a full safety briefing and maintains strict IUCN distance guidelines. Our maximum group of 12 in the water at once ensures a calm, controlled encounter.
Absolutely not. Tour Z enforces a strict no-contact, no-chasing policy. Touching whale sharks causes stress and potential skin damage. Guests maintain a minimum 3-metre distance from the body and 4-metre distance from the tail throughout the encounter.
Swimwear, a rash guard (strongly recommended for sun protection), and reef-safe sunscreen. Premium snorkel mask and fins are provided. Avoid all-black clothing — dark, solid colours can startle sharks.