Whale watching and diving boosts tourism in Southern Leyte

By ERNA S. GORNE (PIA Southern Leyte)
February 28, 2008

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte  –  One among the remotest  barangays in the province,  Barangay Son-ok in Pintuyan, has become the haven of the  biggest and friendly fish in the sea, the whale sharks, which draws hundreds of foreigners last year, Provincial Tourism Officer Nedgar Garvez disclosed in an interview with PIA Southern Leyte recently.

Whale sharks are known as harmless fish as they don't present a threat to either man or the fish that school around them. Whale sharks can weigh over nine tons and grow up to 12 meters in length. They can generally be found in the entire Indian Ocean in depths of up to 130 meters.

An non-government organization, KASAKA, based in the locality also facilitates for an enjoyable dive with the whale sharks aside from the packaged tour in whale watching since two years ago.  They also managed the marine sanctuary in the same barangay.

Tourism potentials in the locality generate job opportunities among the local residents.  In the whale watching or diving requires spotters, banca operators, food servers, and fees for the tour operators to manage the packaged tours. Accommodation in the barangay for those who would like to stay longer will be taken care of the local residents identified to extend home stay for the tourists.

With the pristine and crystal seas in the barangay as it sits on a coral bed, whale watching could glimpse clearly of the friendly mammals underwater. The pet sharks were usually spotted during the early hours in the morning and late afternoons, however, diving with the whale sharks could be best enjoyed anytime of the day.

While in diving, some people are intimidated by its size.  The whale shark is actually a gentle giant keen to avoid confrontations and generally trusting of humans. As for etiquette when diving with a whale shark, it is said that passive interaction is the best policy.

In fact, aggressive behavior can drive them away - so no touching, or swimming after them if you're hoping for one to hang around you. They can be quite friendly.

The tourists were advised to provide for their own paraphernalia should they opt for swimming with the whale sharks.