Swimming and snorkeling with whale sharks – a unique experience!
Whale sharks are the largest fish in the world and there are very few places where you’re guaranteed to see them.
Whale sharks annually gather off the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula to feed on the abundant plankton blooms of summer. The best time to see them is from early June to late September. This is when the water of the Caribbean Sea is the warmest, and we can observe some of the largest groups of whale sharks in the world.
Whale sharks are mysterious and usually solitary animals that follow plankton as it moves with the currents of the ocean. For reasons unknown, whale sharks gather in large numbers off the Yucatan Peninsula with groups of up to 300 animals.
This once-in-a-lifetime experience is perfect for divers and non-divers alike. Imagine the thrill of being in the water as these gentle giants feed at the surface and glide past. It’s an adventure to be enjoyed with family and friends!
Interesting whale shark facts
Although whale sharks belong to the family of sharks, they are absolutely harmless to humans. These sharks feed by filtering seawater through their 5 gills and also get their oxygen this way.
As with all sharks, the whale shark comes from the time of dinosaurs! Their history originates more than 450 million years ago.
Sharks and all species of rays have a cartilaginous skeleton in contrast to other fish species, which have a bony skeleton. An adult whale shark measures about 11m/35ft in length and weighs about 10 tons. The largest specimen ever seen measured approximately 12m/40ft. The entire top of the body is covered with white dots which are similar to our fingerprints. The arrangement of these markings is unique to each individual animal.
The biggest enemy of the whale shark is us human beings and these animals are now threatened with extinction. Diving with them is prohibited to avoid any significant stress on the animals. We are always at the surface when snorkeling with the whale sharks.
To protect the whale sharks as much as possible, we observe the following rules when snorkeling with them:
Including :
to bring :
Snorkeling with whale sharks details:
Our tour starts early in the morning. We pick you up in Playa del Carmen or anywhere in the entire Riviera Maya and drive to a private port in Cancun where we prepare for our boat trip. A maximum of 10 people is allowed onto the boat.
Our boats are equipped with all safety equipment. In addition to life jackets, snorkeling equipment, pure oxygen and a radio, there are cold soft drinks and some medicine on the boat.
After everyone boards the boat, we leave Cancun and head north. After passing Contoy island, we begin to look for the whale sharks.
Once we have found the perfect place to swim with this beautiful Animals, you head into the water together with the guide and a partner. This is where the fun begins for you! You can follow these Animals with ease as they glide majestically and slowly through the water. You swim with the whale sharks for a couple of minutes. Up to 3 Jumps are possible. Mantas, turtles, and dolphins also can be seen with a bit of luck.
After about 3 to 4 hours of enjoying the sharks, we make our way towards Isla Mujeres or Contoy island. There we have a short break to relax and enjoy cold drinks and a light lunch.
After the break, we make our way back to Cancun. The total excursion time is about 9 hours.