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The butandings (Filipino name for whale sharks) regularly circulate in this area at the time of the year when plankton proliferates. They are nicknamed 'gentle giants' because, despite their immense size (average of 9-10 meters, can go up to 18 meters), they are the most gentle sharks in the world.
In Donsol, you can actually swim and do some snorkeling among the whale sharks. However, visual encounters can often be brief as they are timid animals.
Donsol is a migratory passage for whale sharks. Feeding whale sharks to lure them to tourists is totally prohibited and all tourist operations are managed by a WWF-mandated team to ensure the animals are respected.
Whale shark sightings in the wild in their natural environment is never guaranteed. The best months to see them are March and April.