Whale shark tourism in the Philippines has exploded in recent years, especially in Oslob where encounters are guaranteed by feeding the sharks. When I first started planning my trip, I was so tempted — I mean, how often do you get the chance to swim alongside a whale shark? But then I started hearing more about the ethics behind it, and I knew I wanted to dive deeper into the debate.
In this episode, I sit down with two incredible guests who love the ocean even more than I do:

Louise “Shark” Rascon – Sustainability designer & environmental scientist
Instagram: / louisekicclao
Her thesis: https://tinyurl.com/y5htseuh

Elle Hernandez – Marine biologist & TikTok creator
Instagram: / ellehernndz
TikTok: / ellehernndz

🌊 Together, we talk about:
-What’s really happening with whale shark feeding in Oslob and why it matters
-More ethical alternatives like Donsol’s community-led ecotourism program
-The real state of the Philippines’ coral reefs (and why “pretty” doesn’t always mean healthy)
-What I learned from Chris, a local dive master in El Nido, about tourism, climate change, and reef health
-How tourism can harm — but also help — coastal communities

Chapters
0:00 – Intro: Why whale sharks brought me to the Philippines
2:00 – The truth about whale shark feeding in Oslob
4:00 – Donsol: a sustainable alternative
7:00 – Coral reefs and the myth of “pretty = healthy”
9:00 – Local dive master insight from El Nido
10:30 – Climate change & community impacts
13:00 – How to practice responsible tourism
15:00 – Closing thoughts: travel curiously, travel responsibly

This episode is really close to my heart because it blends my love of scuba diving with the bigger question of how we, as travelers, can leave places better than we found them. If you’re planning a trip to the Philippines, I hope this inspires you to think a little differently about how you spend your time in the water.

📸 Follow the journey:
/ broadabroadpodcast
/ broadabroadpodcast

#Philippines #WhaleSharks #SustainableTravel #BroadAbroad #TravelCuriously

This podcast was recorded under a SAG-AFTRA Agreement.
Broad Abroad is a production of Gotham West Studios. All rights reserved.

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