The crew was great and we saw dolphins at a distance. What wasn’t great, though, was that nobody told us December isn’t the right season to spot whale sharks. We discover the right season is March-April. Yes, we could have done more research, but given their commitment to wildlife protection, we assumed they’d be honest with us too. Unfortunately, we were wrong, which is a real shame. My recommendation to the whaleshark center is to be 100% transparent with visitors—we might still be willing to pay (maybe less?) and take our chances. They’ll probably just respond with a ‘thank you’ to this review because they don’t actually read them. :)

The tour information center is an official office for whale shark tour in Donsol. Php5000 per boat (3 hours) for six people. We had 4 people and we booked our own boat. It is not guarantee to meet the whale shark, may be just 50/50 as they do not feed the whale shark so it's your luck. Factors include weather, current, high / low tide, etc. If raining and no run lights then it's harder to find them. We went 3 days (raining on the first day) and we didn't meet them. I didn't blame anyone as they were trying their best to look for the whale shark. And as a service provider, they do want to show you what they are proud of in their town. So I feel like it's a gambling that you choose to involve. And I love this giant animal so I am happy they are trying to protect their sea to keep the whale shark. They only rely on human's eyes (stand on the top of the boat) to track the whale shark, the effectiveness can be improved by using more ways like Drone? They do not put gps tracker to the whale shark as they don't want to stress them. Donsol is a nice town, road and river are very clean (unexpected !) and people are generally doing okay. They seem to have a good waste management system. Besides, no beggers on the street. If they can manage the stray dogs numbers then it will be even better. The dogs are okay and they just sleep around like they are part of the neighborhood. There is a famous active volcano but we haven't gone to. I will come back another time to try my luck because I enjoy the time on the boat watching the sea and just focus on one thing. By the way, the firefly watching tour is impressive because their protection to the river does play an important role for firefly's growing. Must go.

Really enjoyed the experience. The organisers made sure that we had everything available and gave us snacks and drinks. Highly recommend. Unfortunately, did not see the Whale Sharks but it is what it is.

Just sharing our experiences with the whales, we were there last April 18 on our first attempt to interact with the whalesharks but mission failed 😔. So we opted to stay for another day, we planned to start later in the morning. And yes, the butandings were there! It was joyful for our family to watch, swim and play with the whalesharks! The tour was well organized with the help of B.I.O. (Butandings Interaction Officers). Butanding goals…checked!!

Loved my tour! Came solo around 8:30am and waited until around 10am for 4 others to make a group of 5 with. It's 5k pesos for the boat, so we paid 1k each plus marine fee (300 pesos for foreigner marine fee, I think cheaper for Filipinos). You can rent a mask and snorkel for 150 pesos and fins for 150 pesos also. I got fins only and they found a pair for my wide-ish size 41 feet. During the actual tour, the sky had just cleared up (it was raining when we watched the intro video) and it took an hour until we saw the 1st whale shark. This one was already quite deep when we got in the water, but we saw it swimming away. You gotta be ready at the front of the boat to jump in cuz the whale sharks are big and that means they're fast! It took maybe another hour to see another. And then on our ride back to shore with about 25 minutes left into our max 3 hours, they spotted another one and let us jump in again! The 2nd and 3rd ones we saw came a lot closer to us! The waiting room has air conditioning and bathrooms, and shower rooms are in the building behind. Good tshirt, magnet, and keychain selection at the souvenir store (other souvenirs also). You can also buy tampons there according to a sign.

The most amazing experience of my life 🫶🏼 Thanks to our amazing guides, we saw soo many whale sharks and had long encounters with them! I did two days of snorkelling with a group, one day this was with 6 people and the other day 4 people! Such good value for money at just £23 for 3 hour trip. Over the two days, I had 10 encounters with the whale sharks 🥹 An absolute dream come true, thanks to this amazing company for providing the best experience. I’m so happy I came to Donsol for the ethical experience instead of Oslob! The guides were knowledgable, friendly and helped me get some amazing views up close of the whale sharks. (Only recommendation would be to have more of a limit on how many boats can go around one shark because at one point it got really busy with people kicking each other. I would recommend having a limit of 2-3 boats per whale shark) At some encounters it was only our group with the shark, this was amazing 🫶🏼

Attractive, wildlife preserved activity for family, friends and diver who love to encounter with whale shark. You can rent fin, mask and snorkeling here. Be ready to be on spider boat in 3 hours, jump many times and swim a bit quick to spot whale shark. With no luck , sometime you may not see it.

We are sad to read that many people had mixed experiences with this dive shop because our experience was good! Many reviews are talking about the old equipment, but right now (December 2024) they are renewing their gear slowly. We did our open water course here and had brand new gear we could use. The course itself was really nice, the swimming pool where we did our first two days of training could have been better tho, with strangely enough zero visibility inside it. But once we went open water, wow! Majestic dive sites for a training. We saw turtles, beautiful reefs, sea horses, sea snakes and much more. Not bad for training dives. Also the food that you receive on the full day boat tours while diving is really great! The diving we did was on Ticao Island and that place is just magical. There were also advanced divers on our boat who also did the diving in Manta Bowl, even though they did not see them, they really loved the dive! Last but not least, the whale sharks. We did three whaleshark tours . No whalehsark in the end. They are definitely in the area though because we got a few close calls, but since they are wild animals (not like in Oslob) sightings are never guaranteed. Would definitely recommend the place and I hope you are more lucky than we were.

Staff at the office were super friendly and helpful. All dive staff on the boat equally as nice and knowledgeable. You are responsible for checking and selecting your dive kit. Some small air leaks in gauges and regs, but nothing too serious. Boat was very large and comfortable, food was great. Briefings very detailed. We saw no Mantas, but 5 whale sharks! Amazing day of diving at the Manta Bowl. The early dives are in a very strong current so would not recommend for inexperienced divers.

Greetings fellow travelers, I may be a bit late with this review, as my visit to Donsol was back in April 2022, but I simply couldn't resist sharing the memorable experience I had at this Dive Center. If you're a diving enthusiast, or even if you're just curious about taking the plunge, this place is worth every moment. My dive experience was entirely unexpected; I hadn't brought any gear with me. However, the dive center came to the rescue, providing everything I needed for an extraordinary underwater adventure. The entire day was nothing short of awesome, and it was made all the more enjoyable by the accommodating and professional dive masters who guided us every step of the way. But the real star of the show was the Manta Ray Bowl dive. It was beyond fantastic; it was a truly exhilarating experience to swim alongside these magnificent creatures. The Manta Rays gracefully gliding through the crystal-clear waters left an indelible mark on my memory. It's a sight and an experience that divers of all levels should have the privilege to witness. I must give a special shout-out to Russell Manzanilla, my dive master. He went above and beyond, personally looking after me throughout the dive. It had been three long years since I'd last dived, and he patiently provided a refresher to help me recall the basics. His expertise and guidance instilled confidence, making the entire dive experience not only memorable but also incredibly safe. In summary, if you find yourself in Donsol and have even the slightest inkling of curiosity about scuba diving, I highly recommend this Dive Center. The unexpected dive adventure, the exceptional dive masters, and the awe-inspiring Manta Ray Bowl dive all combine to create an experience that's nothing short of unforgettable. So, to all fellow adventurers and underwater enthusiasts, don't hesitate to explore the depths of Donsol and dive into a world of wonder. Safe diving and happy memories!

NO, NO AND NO. AVOID IT ! I, Erwan COZ, divemaster SSI, would like to declare many safety incidents during our dives. For my partner and I, SAFETY IS NOT AN OPTION. It will never be so. Scubadiving may be very dangerous, that’s why we are trained. On the 12th of March 2025, a small breafing occured before we left the office. We were told that on the second dive or the third dive, the divemaster might be different. So I ask for a dive computer, indeed how could he got the same parameters than ours ? The divemaster agreed with me and gave me a computer without telling me that I will need to pay for it. Which I didn’t do of course. How could I pay for a thing supposed to protect my wife and I from a dive accident ? Especially after 3 dives. On this very first day, nothing more happened. On the 13th of March 2025, on the first dive, the BCD of my partner inflates automatically and continuously at the very beginning of the dive with no way of stopping it. The divemaster saw us, we signalled to him the problem as we were at the surface, he waved his hand, turned back and continued the dive with the two others divers who didn’t understand why he didn’t go at the surface to help us and correct the problem. We went back to the boat and the crew changed the damaged BCD and told us to go back underwater and look for the divemaster. After more than 10 minutes we finally reached the group and the divemaster was very happy to see us again … Plus, very short dive for everyone (minus more than 10 minutes for the two of us). On the second dive, the « new BCD » of my wife, whose the high purge was broken, defleated continuously which it very dangerous as we were warned about the descending currents in Manta Bowl area. Moreover, a second group of divers, all beginners, dived with us at the same time. One of the three beginners got lost during the dive and joined our group. Moreover the two girls of this group got also lost, one stayed with her divemaster, the other joined an other divemaster who accompanied the two groups. The two girls reported to us that they didn’t see each other during the dive. Thus, the three beginners were separated each one with a different divemaster and different parameters. Was anyone aware of a lost diver procedure ? Hell no ! As a beginner, clearly not prepared for such a drift dive, the man, who was now part of our group, emptied his tank in 15 minutes. End of dive or everyone. The divemaster didn’t suggest to start the dive again after leaving the beginner diver on the boat, especially as he missed the dive site where we were supposed to be. Nothing special occured on the third dive. Yeahhhh. My partner exchanged her « new damaged BCD » with the divemaster’s one as he told her he knew how to fix the problem. This very day we dived less than 90 minutes for 6350 pesos each due to bad breafings, the lack of debriefing, misinformation, absence of communication, bad gear and so on. When we returned to the office at the end of the second day, I returned the computer and I was asked money for it. It’s a common scam on those countries to give you something and at the end to claim money for it without telling you at the first time. We explained the situations to the two women of the office. One of them asked me to write it down while still arguing for the paiement of the dive computer. It lasted about 30 minutes. We also asked for the refund of the second dive, but the women didn’t hear anything while still arguing. On the way home, we wrote to Mr. David Rabino, of the dive center to report the incidents and to claim the refund of the second dive. I join to this report the screenshots of the exchange that we had on WhatsApp. As you can see, he  "punished" his staff by not paying them. Moreover, he claimed that the equipment is subject to malfunction. We rented many pieces of gear for a high price to be said it is subject to malfunction. How could a dive center tell you that ? How do they provide safety for the divers ? How and when do they do the maintenance of the diving equipment ? AVOID IT !

The dive masters and boat crew gave us a 10/10 experience, and the admin tried very hard to get extra divers to make the boat hire cheaper. We weren't lucky with perfect weather and sightings but unfortunately they haven't bought a weather changing machine yet.

Pros : friendly staffs, boat is big and spacious. Mine equipment's are fine and working, surprisingly for remote place like donsol. Cons : No buddy system, no clear sharing which group follow which DM on boat, we(divers) also confuse ourselves. I out of sight almost for 30 secs at Mantabowl, and DM not even aware/check, only until other divers noticed. Scariest moment of my life. Please be aware and take care divers properly. Please improve and put safety to highest priority.

Had a great diving experience here, I did 3 dives and ended up seeing manta rays on 2 of them. The dive was over a few hours so they gave us a very good lunch, and had good snacks too. Overall a great experience.

The staff is very friendly and accomodating. Highly recommended Maam Girly as a tour guide. Thank you to Maam Jinever (not sure if im giving justice to her name) for chattung with us while we waited for our boat. It was worth the travel.

It was a different experience for my family especially with my children since its their first time to see fireflies. The tour was well organized thanks to Girlie for the assistance. The fireflies were amazing and same with stars as well.

Really great experience. Cruising along the river at night is a fantastic experience itself. But the real highlight is the fireflies! Ms Girlie and other tour guides are really friendly and very accommodating. This place is highly recommended!

This was an amazing experience, we saw a lot of fireflies!! The guide was very good and friendly. Besides a lot of information about the fireflies, she told us a lot about the stars and we saw some plankton lighting up. We could even hold a firefly in our hands. We would highly recommend this tour!

Awesome Tour - girlie is an extremely well informed guide and know so much about firefly’s and their life! Unforgettable experience ! we shared the boat with 3 other people so it wouldn’t be that expensive - so if you want to share just ask girlie if that’s possible :)

Location is near the town. We didn't prebook, just last minute walk-in, share boat with others, waiting time just 15minutes. Tour guide is very friendly, good in english and very knowledgeful about firefly and star constellation ! Alot fireflies, just like Christmas tree ! Also since no light pollution, we can see the stars clearly. Hidden gem, and highly recommend tour in donsol beside whale shark sightseeing.

Had a lovely evening surrounded by fireflies - felt so magical! The tour guides were very accomodating with our timings and extremely knowledgeable. Do recommend and worth visiting

This Seawall and Mangrove are perfect photo background for couple and watch the sunset here or morning time you can do here like jogging etc...

donsol is indeed a great desitination in the land of bicolandia

The beautiful sunset her in donsol

Magandang puntahan specially if you are looking for a spot that will invibe romance. Maganda for a date, picnic with ffamily o kaya naman a quick breather with your friends. Watch as the sunsets…

Best family Vacation with wifes parents...lol

Next to the whale shark interaction center Nice gardening, comfortable Room and nice people

Experience here the thrill of swimming with the giant fish called Butanding.

this place was the most magical experience! We saw so many fireflies! highly recommend👍🏼 Our guide was famous! We booked the tour through the tourism center in Donsol and followed a guide to the Ogod river where a boat was waiting us. I went with my husband, my son and his wife. and he and his wife have never seen a firefliy so they were so happy as well Love this place

So beautiful! Unlike whale sharks, fireflies don't have a season. Even if it's raining or if there's a typhoon, the fireflies are still there. The tour here costs Php1,250 per boat for an hour but you can extend if it's not a busy day. Agencies often charge as much as Php3,000 per boat. Our guide was well-equipped with answers. You can ask her anything about fireflies. We got there at 5:30pm and our tour started at 6pm. There were a few fireflies at first and then a few more came out until the tree was full of blinking lights. The guide shared that someone even propsed here. Also, there are so many mosquitos in the lake so come prepared.

The experience was magical. The kind that makes you think about your place in the universe. It was one of the best experiences I have had of Donsol. The tour guides are whale watcher tour guides working as firefly tour guides too. They would explain what fireflies are like, how the people in the community would work to make sure the experience remain as sustainable as it is. Even going on a cloudy night is magical! Stars are so bright and clear you'd begin to feel the magic and vastness of the universe. Such a simple experience yet one that would go down my memory bank.

Enjoyable tour. The guide did an excellent job. It was serene to watch a tree full of hundreds of fireflies pulse green in unison. Each tree was like a flashing lighthouse guiding the path as we meandered our way down the moonlit river. The only negative part is the boat motor is deafeningly loud, so if your ears are sensitive you should bring earplugs.

Loved the fireflies! It's really enchanting. You can advanced book a dinner cruise with them!

It is really nice. The river is dark in night. There are tall trees in both the sides of the river. And those huge trees are full of fireflies. the firefly looks like a timy bulb with a mild glow. The light emitting is very cold and there is a soothing atmosphere. It looks so fantastic that those who did not experience it will not be able to imagine. The boat ride in the dark is amazing. Only thing you can't experience it on your own. You have to go through travel agents/boat owners association.

Amazing tour and amazing guide! The fireflies were so pretty, and there was a lot of them. Very idyllic to be sailing down the river watching the stars and fireflies simultaneously🥰

Food was yummy! The fish was nicely grilled and super juicy. The owner was really friendly—and even gave us some rum on the house. Great vibes all around!

Highly recommend to any visitors to Donsol. Juliet is a fantastic host, the seafood is as fresh as can be and is cooked simply but to perfection. We ate here two nights in a row and ate our way through the menu. Thank you for having us, Juliet.

The restaurant is located directly at the beach. They serve fresh fish directly from the sea, which was absolutely delicious. The owner Juliette makes this experience even more special. Highly recommended!

A definite 5 out of 5! The freshest seafood you’ll ever taste, served by an amazing and charismatic hostess, in a relaxed, beachfront setting. We loved it so much, we went back every night of our stay in Donsol!

Baracuda is a delightful hidden gem in the coastal town of Donsol! Tucked away by the shore, this bohemian-like charming spot offers a serene seaside ambiance and mouthwatering dishes. Despite arriving late, the owner was still present, She insisted on showcasing her culinary mastery by serving us a melt-in-your-mouth calamari salad, standout pasta with white wine sauce, a flavorful potato salad with caramelized onions, and fresh, locally-sourced grilled jackfish. (You must also try her top-notch cocktails!) Juliet, the owner, is an exceptional host. She is never a dull moment and is the embodiment of coolness. She also has four friendly, cute, and big German shepherds who hang out at the place and greet everyone with wagging tails. As much as I want to be selfish and keep Baracuda to myself, I must say that this place is a must-visit for its exceptional cuisine and charming ambiance!

Must visit when you staying in resort. The place just like "probincya" home/vibes. The food is limited but freshly cooked so it takes a while wait because the owner is the chef(she is one woman army). She is friendly(if you treated her well, she will do same). My advice is to put mosquito repellent before you go there and flashlight

Barracuda in Donsol is a true gem! Juliette and her team made us feel so welcome with great hospitality and lots of laughs. The seafood was fresh and delicious we returned for two nights in a row! Highly recommend!

A beautiful place to swim in, but very unlikely to find it without guidance. Park at the school in this location, and ask the locals how to go. A kid from the last house on path showed me the way and did not even hint that he wants money or anything, he was just nice.

Priceless. After taking a hike through the provided path, We came to the falls, which is secluded and isolated from civilation. The water was fresh and clean. Great place for swimming.

Beautiful falls and very close to the highway, around 15-20 mins trek.

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Beautiful scenery

(Translated by Google) When I was in FB Shoppe and Lazada there was a scam as well as here it's also a scam it's only good in the pix then the road is not in order it's hard to find (Original) Kala ko sa fb shoppe at at lazada may scam pati pla dito scam din maganda lng sa pix tapos ang daan wla sa ayos hirap hanapin