Bais Dolphin Watching

The Tañon Strait between Negros and Cebu is the largest marine protected area in the Philippines, a deep channel with strong upwelling that supports a resident and visiting population of cetaceans - spinner dolphins in large, acrobatic pods, bottlenose and Fraser's dolphins, and in some months pilot and melon-headed whales. Boats leave Bais early, run out into the strait and follow the pods when they find them, usually returning by way of the Manjuyod sandbar to make a full morning of it. Sightings are common but not certain, and they are wild animals: the boats keep their distance, there is no feeding or swimming with them, and how close a pod comes is the pod's decision. Bais itself is a sugar town with a wide bay, mangrove areas at Talabong worth a look, and the sort of provincial pace that makes an early start easy.

What you actually see

• The spinner pods - the acrobatic dolphins of the strait.
• The open channel - deep water between Negros and Cebu.
• The mangrove islands - Talabong on the way out.
• The sandbar stop - Manjuyod usually joined to the trip.

When to go

March to October generally, with the calmest seas in the earlier months. Boats leave at dawn - dolphins are most active in the first hours of daylight.

Honest expectations

Sightings are likely, not guaranteed, and pods keep their own distance. There is no swimming with dolphins here. Boats are shared or hired whole, so solo travellers pay more or wait for a group. The sea gets choppy by late morning.

Nearby

The Manjuyod sandbar is part of most trips; Dumaguete, Valencia and the Twin Lakes are south.