Whale Sharks, Robbery!

Up at 2:30am we got ready to go see the whale sharks. We hopped in our taxi at 2:55am and zoomed off to Oslob. We joined the queue at 4am, received our group number at 5am and were in the boat at 6am.

The sun had just risen and we hopped into the water. The blue sea gave way to dark figures as they loomed below us. Occasionally they came up to investigate the boats and inhaled surface water.

The whale sharks were 15-20m long. We learned that technically they were more fish than shark and love to swim and float in shallower water.

We had a guide with a gopro taking photos is us. Each time a whale shark came close we had to dive down and attempt to pose under the water for the camera.

On our way back we stopped at an amazing waterfall for a shallow swim.

We got back at 11am and immediately went to bed. We woke up and went to grab some cash to get some food. The cash was gone. All of it. Philippine pesos and our USD.

Looking around we found one of our 10$ bills and nothing else. We ask the hostel to check cctv. At 3:02am a man climbed into our window and stole our money before climbing back out. We had left at 2:55am as the only people on the trip. We deduced that the person who stole from us must have known about the whale shark trip leaving before 3am and knew which room we were in.

When we left the security guard was asleep too!

After speaking to police they further suggested that we could have been watched. We asked the hostel for an ATM the day before since we were spending cash in moalboal on trips. From the ATM to the hostel is only 30-50meters. Police suggested he saw us take out money and go back to the hostel and booked onto the whale sharks. He they would’ve waited to see which room we were in.

Either way, the perpetrator knew the schedule for the hostel whale shark trip. Furthermore, nothing else was off in the room or taken. We have iPads, cameras, AirPods. Not taken.

Also, where we keep our cash is very particular and hidden. The cash is not even in a wallet but an alternative holding place. The robber seemed to know the exact bag and place of the cash, as if he had seen us pay for whale sharks or the hostel with the cash from it.

Anyway, after filing a police report we were moved to a sister location and into a nice room for the night. We have cctv to send to insurance as well as a police report so we can claim.

Hopefully we have a calmer day tomorrow.

-M