Swim With Whale Sharks. Cancun, Mexico.

Cancún, a glimmering jewel nestled on the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico identified for its breathtaking seashores, luxurious resorts, and pulsating nightlife scene that may depart you enchanted and wanting extra. While it could already look like the right vacation vacation spot, it nonetheless has one ace up its sleeve that continues to draw individuals all around the world: an opportunity to swim with whale sharks.

The metropolis’s blue waters play host to a grand spectacle of nature as lots of of those mild giants gracefully glide by means of throughout their annual migration, providing a once-in-a-lifetime alternative to witness and even swim alongside one up shut.

If that sounds just like the sort of expertise you’re searching for in your bucket record, be a part of us as we provide you with some fascinating information about whale sharks, the most effective excursions in Cancun, and a few helpful tricks to make this underwater encounter a narrative for the ages.

What You Need to Know About Swimming With Whale Sharks in Cancun, Mexico

What are Whale Sharks?

Whale sharks, the biggest fish species within the ocean, are mild giants that may develop as much as 40 toes in size. These magnificent creatures are identified for his or her broad, flat heads, huge mouths, and distinctive spots and stripes on their pores and skin.

Unlike their predatory family, whale sharks are a kind of carpet shark that feeds on plankton and small fish by filter-feeding (like blue whales.) They could be present in heat and tropical waters around the globe, aside from the Mediterranean Sea.

Are Whale Sharks Dangerous?

Now that we received to know them somewhat higher, the subsequent query is: are they harmful? Despite their large dimension and identify, whale sharks will not be harmful. In truth, they’re fairly pleasant and mild, and swimming alongside one is a very awe-inspiring expertise that may stick with you eternally.

Where to Snorkel & Swim with Whale Sharks in Cancun, Mexico

Whale sharks love deep waters, so it’s almost unattainable to see one near shore. Some of the most effective websites for snorkeling and swimming with these magnificent creatures embody Isla Mujeres, Isla Contoy, and Isla Holbox, that are all a few miles additional out into the ocean from Cancun. It often takes about an hour to achieve, however the effort is unquestionably value it when you witness these magnificent creatures of their pure habitat.

Best Whale Shark Tours in Cancun

Because of the annual migration of whale sharks within the space, Cancun has loads of whale shark tour operators able to take you on an unforgettable underwater expertise. Below are among the finest excursions you will discover:

Keep in thoughts that whereas there are many whale sharks throughout their annual migration, there are occasions you may not spot one in any respect. Some tour operators like Ocean Tours Mexico have a ‘Whale Shark Warranty’ the place you’ll get to do the tour once more on the off probability that it occurs.

When is Whale Shark Season in Cancun?

The Whale Shark Season in Cancun, Mexico is from late May/June to September, the place lots of of whale sharks collect within the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and Yucatan Peninsula to feed and presumably even breed.

While it’s the finest time to see these mild giants, it additionally signifies that there will probably be a lot of individuals coming in as properly, so maintain that in thoughts whereas planning your journey.

Tips for Snorkeling and Swimming with Whale Sharks

Like all wildlife encounters, there are a number of issues that we’d like to remember whereas snorkeling or swimming with the whale sharks. Like all wildlife encounters, there are a number of issues that we’d like to remember whereas snorkeling or swimming with the whale sharks.

• Bring an underwater digital camera or GoPro in case there isn’t a skilled photographer there to buy the sometimes overpriced images from after. (Many instances additionally, you will be capable of lease an underwater digital camera there). Turn your digital camera on earlier than you soar into the water—generally you’ll be to amazed by the whale sharks to fiddle along with your digital camera.
• Don’t make loud noises, particularly when coming into the water.
• Bring biodegradable sunscreen with you (like Reef Repairs SPF 50). It was a requirement after we have been there. Many locations could have it for buy there, however if you wish to be secure get it forward of time. 
• Keep a minimum of 3 meters (9 toes) of distance between you and the whale shark. Touching them can also be prohibited.
• Swimming beside them is ok. Never swim from the entrance or block their path.
• If one does come in direction of you, stay calm and slowly transfer out of the best way.
• Turn off your digital camera’s flash when taking footage.
• Never feed the whale sharks.
• Take your seasickness medicine on the proper time, realizing that the boat journey is 45 minutes lengthy.
• Be prepared when the captain says “go” as a result of he’s telling you on the good viewing time

With the following pointers in thoughts, we hope you’ll have a beautiful encounter with these unbelievable creatures. Happy swimming!

More than only a summer time vacation spot, the tropical paradise of Cancun is unquestionably the most effective locations to go to for a singular bucket record expertise, like a swim with whale sharks throughout their migration season.

While at first, it could be a terrifying expertise, as soon as we take the possibility and present our care and respect for creatures comparable to these mild giants of the ocean, we’ll absolutely get to take pleasure in extra breathtaking moments like this sooner or later.

For extra water adventures like this, you possibly can test these out:
Pig Beach: The Bahama’s Swimming Pigs of Exuma Island
A Guide to Swimming in Palau’s Freshwater Jellyfish Lake

PS: Cancun shouldn’t be the one place on this planet to swim with whale sharks. You may do it in Belize, Honduras, Mozambique and the Philippines.

I’m not an enormous fan of cilantro, uncooked tomatoes, spicy meals, tequila photographs or sporting sombreros, which is why touring to the touristy cities in Mexico is usually not excessive on my record. But, there was one thing in Cancun that I might eat a habanero pepper coated in tomato salsa whereas sporting a foolish hat for. Swimming with whale sharks.

The Story of My Experience

I had been intrigued by their massiveness on tv and examine their gentleness in magazines. It has been on my bucket record ever since and doubtlessly an important addition to my record of the high issues to do earlier than you die. Fortunately, Cancun was not solely the right layover on my method to a Blue Osa Yoga Retreat in Costa Rica, but it surely was shark season too. Lucky me.

The Whale Shark Daddy tour firm, whom I discovered on-line, picked us up from the resort on the early morning hour of 6:30. About fifteen minutes later we have been on the marina, having a briefing to be taught the dos and don’ts of swimming with whale sharks. 

Surprisingly, nobody requested if a whale shark may swallow you entire. But, that’s what was on my thoughts. These mild giants are the biggest fish on this planet, rising as much as 60 toes, that’s over ten instances the dimensions of me. Their mouths can lengthen 5 toes when open. That’s completely massive sufficient to unintentionally suck me in.

Whales sharks are discovered within the Cancun space from the months of May by means of September, however largely through the months of July and August. We have been there in a chief month.

After the informative speak, renting a moist go well with and buying a bottle of biodegradable sunscreen, our captain Irving took us on a forty five minute boat journey to the world the place whale sharks are sometimes seen within the season. Of course there may very well be no assure to what number of can be there, simply that there’d be a minimum of one. I hoped for a minimum of a dozen whale sharks. Greedy.

We knew we had arrived after we noticed an space within the ocean with a circle of boats. As we approached these vessels we noticed 10-14 whale sharks leisurely swimming about, unfazed by our presence.

Each of the eight of us on the boat have been going to get three alternatives to be inside toes of those large creatures. Peter and I have been up first.

The boat pulled as much as the entrance of one of many whale sharks and the captain yelled “go”. This is after I ought to have jumped into the water, however fearful hesitation triggered me to overlook the chance and the ginormous fish swam away. Why couldn’t you simply anticipate me Mr. Shark?

This expertise is true to its identify, it’s known as swimming with whale sharks, not whale sharks swimming with you. Again, the captain set the boat ready that was believed to be an ideal viewing angle. This time when he mentioned “go” I did.

One massive whale shark swam in entrance of me after which two extra got here by. Stunned for a second by their large tails swaying forwards and backwards I couldn’t flip my digital camera on quick sufficient, however a minimum of Peter had the GoPro prepared. We stayed within the water for about ten minutes then let the subsequent group have their flip.

After the primary swim, Peter was stricken with a extreme case of seasickness though he took medicine beforehand.

So, the second time I went solo, simply with my information Mosquito. As quickly as I jumped into the 70ish diploma water a whale shark was staring me within the face, only a foot away from my head. We performed a momentary sport of rooster. I misplaced.

I veered to the correct paddling alongside him, feeling the strain of the water from his shut proximity. I grabbed my digital camera, snapping images as shortly as attainable. And then he was gone.

There have been just a few others swimming by, feeder fish hooked up to their sides, however nothing in comparison with the one gigantic one who had the right alternative to take a style of me for lunch. Luckily it was extra thinking about consuming Plankton as a substitute of me.

After this second soar, with the swaying movement of the boat, my abdomen wasn’t feeling so properly both.  I’m sometimes not a movement illness sufferer, however the final of the whale shark viewing must be finished from above water.

After the primary journey, the captain stopped us in among the clearest blue water that was waist deep. Here we’d be having our guacamole and shrimp lunch with somewhat cerveza.

Swimming with these mild giants was an unbelievable expertise. So, take your Dramamine, chew your ginger tablets, stick in your patch and sniff an aromatherapy stick. If you aren’t totally protected against movement illness you won’t be able to take pleasure in this as soon as in a lifetime bucket record journey. 

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