Swimming with Sharks! This is not a euphemism!

What an amazing 36 hour vacation! We left the house at 4:30am to catch a 6am flight. We met up with 2 other families (the Charles’ and the Fischelis’) at the airport. This was great as there were always kids to play with! As we yawned our way through check in, the anticipation was in the air. We landed safely in Legaspi, Philippines after a very short, 40 minute flight. Upon landing we were in awe of the view. Mt. Mayon, an active volcano loomed so close. The airport was almost at the base of it. It is a perfectly shaped volcano, just as you remember from your child-hood textbooks. Still smoking from the crater, it was a sight to see. Off the plane, got our luggage and we settled in for an hour and 15 minute drive up and down the winding road to Donsol. Until you visit here and get a chance to ride in a car with a local driver, you have no idea the speed that a minivan can actually go without tipping on a 50 degree turn. Holy cow! Children’ playing alongside the road, people biking, chickens crossing and somehow, no one gets hit. I really don’t know how they do it (the animals/people or the driver).

We arrived at our hotel too early for check in, so we changed into our suits and left our luggage in the lobby. Off to the boats we go, ready to see some whale sharks. The kids were revved up and excited as well. We check in, watch a 12 minute video on whale shark conservation. Whale sharks have been, and currently still are, hunted. There has been a huge push worldwide to teach ecotourism in order to replace income from hunting. Donsol is one of the best success stories in this aspect. We have 3 families (6 adults and 8 children) so we have to split into 2 boats. Aleah, never able to leave Kate’s side, went on the boat with the Charles family. We loaded up with snorkel gear for everyone and got comfortable on the boat ready for a bit of a boat ride before we had to get ready. Little did we know, we didn’t have to go far. Not 10 minutes later, the guides started grumbling and said “get ready.” And when they mean get ready, they do not mean at a leisurely pace, they mean NOW. In just a minute, maybe two, you need to have your gear on and be sitting with your legs hanging over the side ready to jump when you hear “GO!”

I stayed on the boat the first time with the Jones and Elle, while Curt went to out. This way he could gauge the fear factor and see if it was something we should encourage Ellery to do. He came back with a huge smile and full of excitement for all of us. Ellery geared up and the next sighting she went with him.

We still aren’t sure she actually saw anything, but she went out…

Ellery and Curt out looking for sharks!

If you are wondering what Jones was doing, he was hanging out on the deck. Curt and I disassembled the bouncy seat and packed it in the suitcase. We reassembled and brought with us on the boat. What a gem he was. He bounced along as we went and was a great sport! Next up was me! I admit, jumping out of a moving banca boat was a bit nerve-racking, but it was much easier than I thought. I followed the guides pointing and looked down…WOW! There was this great big sea creature with white spots slowly coming in my direction. It didn’t care I was there and made no sudden moves. It just glided along. I stopped just to turn my head and take in the sheer size of the animal. It was amazing. Here I am, not too comfortable in the open water, swimming alongside an animal the length of about two minivans put together. Not to mention as large as the minivans as well. From what I hadread, I knew this was a smaller shark and I couldn’t imagine what a larger one would be like.

Curt and I took turns and a few times the other mom, Liz, that we were with, stayed with the kids and Curt and I both went out. That was such an amazing experience. In fact, one of the times we were together in the water, we saw a large shark. We were able to swim alongside it, up to its head, drift back, snorkel underwater next to it and spend some quality shark time together. This same shark went deep in the water where we almost lost her and then came back up, right underneath us. We had to move out of the way. I believe we spent about 10 minutes in the water that time, just swimming with it. You should note they are slow, but not that slow. We had to kick pretty hard and steady to stay with it.

This went on and on for 3 hours and we loved every minute of it. Aleah couldn’t stop talking about how cool it was and ALL, adults and children alike, were having a blast. Ellery went in a few other times only to get water in nose or in her eyes and lose out on the experience. After the 3 hour tour (yes, I hear Gilligan as well…), we had lunch and headed back for some much needed R&R at the hotel. The hotel was VERY rough, and were it not the nicest hotel in Donsol, I would not being staying there. I am way too much of a hotel snob to stay at places this rough, but I managed and did so with a smile and, I don’t believe, any complaints! We had a great, but slow, dinner at a local spot known for its fresh seafood. You should know, it is also the ONLY real restaurant there, everything else is attached to the little hotel and the food is very Filipino (for me that means not very good). The next morning we got up and were on the boats by 7:30am! That says a lot for 14 people! This time Aleah and Kate went with Curt and the Fischelis’ and Jones, Ellery and I went with the rest of the Charles family. Basically, I didn’t get to swim with Aleah, but Curt did.

Aleah, Curt and Kate

There were not as many sightings this morning, which was a bummer as we were told the early mornings were the best times. I did get Ellery back in the water once and immediately she saw the whale shark and took her out of the water saying “I see it, I see it!” She enjoyed it and went out with Jim another time as well. Curt, Bill and Jim were all on a mission to get the best video. I think the one I included here was pretty darn good. I think Curt took it, but I am not positive. Bill took turns filming. We were on the road back to the airport by 11:30am and home (after a much delayed flight) by 4pm. What a fast trip!

I would have never thought I would do something like this and I am doubtful I would have if Bill hadn’t invited us and reserved the rooms. So many people talk about how awesome it is, but until I did it, I wasn’t quite a believer! Now, we will definitely go back!