Travel: Close Encounter with the Butanding!

by Louie Ross B. Perez

I haven't heard of Donsol, Sorsogon until I researched the net for the things that I should do when I go to Bicol. While preparing my itinerary I encountered a blog mentioning the experience of swimming with the Butandings.I was so excited to know that it's really possible for a simple traveller like me to experience such things that I thought I cannot afford.



With my Girls, also with me in the boat

  The best time to go to Donsol is from February to May and you should do it early in the morning so that you will have a big chance to have sightings of the gentle giants. So when I woke up at 6am, I immediately went to the Butanding Visitors' Center for Donsol Tourism to pay  P100 as registration fee for locals. You also have to rent some snorkeling equipments, mask, snorkels and fins included for only P300.  A boat costs P3500 per boat and a maximum of 6 persons can be on board. I was alone that time so I was looking for some groups that needs additional tourists. It was a blessing that one foreign looking woman was shouting that they need one more for their group so i joined them.We didn't waste any time so we started the tour immediately.

Guidance Counselor from the US, and a British Army Officer.

 Each boat has a well trained Butanding Interaction Officer who will actually swim with you and be your guide while chasing the Butanding. Also on board is a spotter who will look for the creatures for you. He will be the one to give you a signal to dive into the water and swim. If you're not a swimmer, please make sure to wear a life jacket, because it is deep down there, like you cannot see the bottom. The first time he said jumped, I jumped immediately excited to see the creature.  But I was not successful. But the second time I jumped, the creature was swimming just below my feet. And it was an experience that until now gives me chills and pride at the same time. Butandings are effingly huge. The one that I saw was like 25 to 30 feet.  I was scared to death  but it was amazing. It's a shame that I didn't bring underwater camera to document. But I encountered the picture below and it was the same exact scene that I was into by that time.

(Picture from Yahoo)

This experience has been my source of pride for a long time. Not everyone has experienced this, so if you have not, please do so. For a small amount of money, you can have this experience and at the same time help Philippine Tourism.

Transportation - About P300
Snorkeling Equipments (Rental) - P300
Tour - P585
Room (Overnight) - P900
Food - P300
Total: P1,785 (not bad right?)