Isla Holbox, Mexico
Swimming with whale sharks is an underwater guide chances I’ve wanted to seek out for years. I in conclusion took the plunge, as well as swam with these gentle giants inwards Mexico!
I’ve swam with regular sharks before — the sort that occasionally dine on humans. But swimming with whale sharks is a totally unlike experience.
Whale sharks are the largest fish inwards the ocean, growing upward to xl feet long as well as weighing upward to 20,000 pounds. However yous don’t guide maintain to worry virtually them eating yous with their really tiny teeth.
Which is why yous should seek out swimming with them inwards Mexico!
Whale Sharks Won’t Eat You
Whale sharks are filter-feeders, sucking upward microscopic plankton as well as infant fish with their giant mouths. This makes them similar to whales, although technically they are from the shark family.
They can’t consume humans — which is why swimming with them has drib dead thus pop inwards places similar Mexico, the Philippines, as well as South Africa.
Whale sharks tin alive upward to seventy years old. They deed ho-hum plenty that nosotros tin proceed upward with them underwater, but barely. You guide maintain to swim actually fast with fins to remain beside one.
The solely existent danger is swimming nether one. After feeding they sometimes descend without warning… imagine beingness trapped nether a sinking dump truck!
Sailing The Gulf Of Mexico
My girl Anna (AnnaEverywhere.com) as well as I booked our whale shark tour with Willy’s Tours inwards Isla Holbox.
Setting off from the dock at 8am, nosotros sped over the Gulf of United Mexican States for the side past times side two hours. Stopping briefly for photos of a pod of playful dolphins!
The boat was covered, which was nice, because that tropical Mexican Sun is hot! Eventually nosotros saw other boats gathering inwards the distance… this was a goodness sign.
Waiting Our Turn
Unfortunately in that location was solely 1 whale shark that day. But that’s yet ameliorate than none, which sometimes happens early on or belatedly inwards the season. So a grouping of half-dozen boats took turns sending customers into the water.
We sat on the border with our snorkel gear on, waiting for the cry for to boundary in. Once you’re inwards the water, the goal is to boot difficult as well as fast to proceed upward with the shark. Because if yous hesitate, yous powerfulness miss it.
They swim effortlessly, but are much faster than they look.
You aren’t allowed to comport on the whale sharks because it stresses them out, as well as may campaign them to dive deep, ending the sense for everyone. Only two people drib dead into the H2O at a time, along with your guide.
Swimming With Whale Sharks
Swimming side past times side to a thirty pes long sea creature, the size of a pocket-sized bus, was a wild experience. It’s a fleck intimidating to live honest… they’re huge! It looks similar they could swallow yous whole…
But the world’s largest fish won’t seek out to consume you.
It’s only slurping upward tasty plankton as well as expelling excess seawater through its gills. The white-spotted shark kept her optic on us, but didn’t seem to heed our presence.
Normally whale sharks alive much deeper inwards the body of body of water — solely coming upward to consume virtually 46 pounds of those microscopic organisms each day.
How an animate beingness this large tin alive on something thus pocket-sized is a mystery to me…
Flamingos & Sea Turtles Too!
After swimming with the whale shark three times, for a few minutes each, it was fourth dimension to operate out it lonely as well as motor off to the side past times side business office of the trip.
Our guide prepared fresh ceviche every bit nosotros sped dorsum to Holbox, on our way to a reef. There nosotros snorkeled for virtually thirty minutes with sea turtles, manta rays, as well as a bunch of fish. Including a few barracudas!
We thus sailed into a protected aeroplane sanctuary to lookout adult man flamingos as well as other sea birds hanging out inwards the shallow water, earlier heading dorsum to the dock.
Sustainable Tourism
Is swimming with whale sharks ethical? Personally, I believe responsible as well as sustainable tourism tin assist these animals survive.
Sharks of all kinds are beingness wiped out past times overfishing. But conservation & awareness projects to salvage them are ofttimes funded past times tour permit fees. Without tours, these programs don’t larn much funding.
Yet nosotros also demand to live careful, as well as non wreck the animal’s habitat due to unchecked tourism either. There’s no tardily answer.
When To Visit
Whale Shark flavor on the Yucatan Peninsula is from June to September. This is when the sharks migrate to waters around Cancun, Isla Mujeres, Isla Contoy, as well as Isla Holbox to feed.
But the best months are July & August, when populations are highest.
Sunny days are ameliorate than cloudy days too, but non only because you’ll larn ameliorate photos. The plankton whale sharks feed on solely comes upward to the surface when the Sun is out, thus if it’s cloudy, they remain below.
Getting To Holbox
Most tourists base of operations themselves inwards Cancun. If yous desire to majority a whale shark tour from Cancun, click here. However, if yous guide maintain the time, I recommend visiting the beautiful sleepy isle of Isla Holbox. Voted a overstep move finish past times the New York Times.
To larn to Holbox, yous guide maintain a ferry from the angling town of Chiquila, which is a two hr drive from Cancun (3 hours from Playa del Carmen). Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 double-decker is also possible, but takes a lot longer with all the stops. Hiring a taxi/shuttle tin cost $60 – $100+ USD.
Best Places To Stay
I based myself from Mexico’s Isla Holbox to swim with the whale sharks, as well as had a wonderful trip. If you’re wondering where to remain on Holbox hither are my recommendations:
Los Arcos
Fun petty budget hotel for people trying to salvage some money. Great location, elementary build clean rooms, basic but gets the task done.
Check Prices / Read Reviews
Cielito Lindo
This is where nosotros stayed. Small hotel solely a brusque walk away from the beach as well as downtown Holbox. Excellent value for the price.
Check Prices / Read Reviews
I also savour using AirBnB from fourth dimension to time. Make certain to read my article virtually how to discovery inexpensive hotels too.
Swimming with whale sharks inwards United Mexican States was a pretty unique experience, every bit in that location are solely a few places inwards the globe where yous tin exercise this.
Witnessing these gentle giants upward unopen actually helps yous appreciate how pocket-sized humans are, as well as how various the body of body of water genuinely is. ★
Watch Video: Swimming With Whale Sharks
(Click to lookout adult man Swimming With Whale Sharks – United Mexican States on YouTube)
Packing Guide
Check out my travel gear guide to assist yous get-go packing for your trip. Pick upward a move backpack, photographic telly camera gear, as well as other useful move accessories.
Book Your Flight
Find inexpensive flights on Skyscanner. This is my favorite search engine to discovery deals on airlines. Also brand certain to read how I discovery the cheapest flights.
Rent Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Car
Discover Car Hire is a dandy site for comparison auto prices to discovery the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies.
Book Accommodation
Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent apartments from locals on Airbnb. Read to a greater extent than virtually how I majority inexpensive hotels online.
Protect Your Trip
Don’t forget move insurance! I’m a large fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read to a greater extent than virtually why yous should e'er send move insurance.
Recommended Guidebook: Lonely Planet Yucatan
Suggested Reading: The Maya: Ancient Peoples as well as Places
READ MORE FROM MEXICO
Rio Secreto: Exploring Mexico’s Underground Caves
Amazing Pink Lakes Of Las Coloradas
Mexico Travel Budget: How Much Does It Cost?
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Have whatsoever questions virtually swimming with whale sharks inwards Mexico? Would yous exercise it? Drop me a message inwards the comments below!
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