Donsol (whale sharks) & Ticao – Philippines
Donsol, on the southern tip of Luzon in Sorsogon, is known for seasonal whale shark (butanding) encounters. The activity is snorkel / swim only: scuba diving is not allowed in Donsol itself, and the interaction is regulated by the local tourism office with a visitor-center registration, a limit of six swimmers per boat and a trained Butanding Interaction Officer. Across the strait, Ticao Island in Masbate has the Manta Bowl sea mount and San Miguel macro sites, which are reached by boat and are scuba dives.