Some travel companies offer a transfer by speedboat from Cancun and Playa del Carmen to Holbox. Roatan even hosts an annual fishing tournament every September. If you're wondering where to swim with whale sharks, Honduras could be it! The swims here are reportedly more ethical too, as the sharks aren't baited. Scuba with whale sharks is banned here, but your snorkelling experience will be epic. When to go: Whale sharks generally arrive between November and June, with sightings peaking from February to April.
With two long coastlines facing different oceans, people often wonder where to swim with whale sharks in Mexico. Your best chances of seeing them are in August and September. After sharing my video on my Facebook page, someone in Utila indicated that the first whale shark which has its caudal fin cut was famous and nicknamed "Old Tom". Endangerment of Whale Sharks. White coral sand and turquoise seas stretch out before your eyes. Koh Tao is famous for being one of the cheapest places in the world to get your open water; hence, it has become a scuba diving school island trendy among backpackers on the banana pancake trail. Whale sharks are record holders as they are the largest fish in the world. If you thought because it's Africa it would be cheap, you need to know safari tourism is a luxury thing all along the Eastern African Coast, prepare your dollars! We communicated, vibrations, energy, pictures – 30 minutes! After hundreds of dives all around the world, I thought I was cursed. There are also four types of turtles – green sea turtles, hawksbill, Pacific Ridley and Leatherbacks! It is very gentle and does not pose a threat to humans.
Roatan is particularly well known as a hotspot for diving with whale sharks. Alternatively, many other dive boats sail daily to the north side of the island, where most sharks are spotted. Each time they checked us out but swam deeper away after 10/15 seconds. Although the hunting of whale sharks is now forbidden in many places, they are still fished today due to the high profits. Whale Shark Season in Sodwana Bay. La Paz, Cabo San Lucas, and Cabo Pulmo National Park all offer sites where you'll have an elevated chance at diving with a whale shark. It seems whenever you see seagulls plunging and fish jumping at the surface, it means fish frenzy below which could mean whale sharks are in the area. The largest fish in the sea, whale sharks are incredible to see in the wild, and the only way to truly appreciate their size and beauty is to swim alongside one. Refunds: Your payment is fully refundable if you cancel your reservation at least 3 days before your tour. April is the best month when Whale shark spottings have been the highest. This discreet bay tucked neatly at the western end of the Gulf of Tadjoura, is one of the most dependable places in the world to swim with whale sharks. Let us know in the comments below, and share this with a buddy who needs to head on a whale shark trip with you!
The beautiful grace and gentle nature of these huge fish fascinated me. The waters of Ghoubbet al Kharab are especially rich in plankton, and the bay is closed, so it makes an ideal nursery ground for these baby giants. Blackish Point is a system of caverns and passages in the reef wall at around 20 meters, with encrusted overhangs to check out. Utila Open Water is the site most famous for spotting them – where a large bank leads into the ocean blue! Boat propellers can harm the sharks coming too close and you will see the scars on them. You can see whale sharks in Cenderawasih Bay year-round. We assume that whale sharks can become over 100 years old, but scientists are not entirely certain what their maximum age is. For experienced divers, the 36-hour liveaboard journey to remote Cocos Island is worth the wait. Tour operators in the area will be able to help you with this. During this great time to swim with whale sharks in Cancun, you can see 30 to 40 specimens in one excursion near Isla Mujeres or Isla Holbox. Even if you don't see a whale shark, you are likely to see one of the many sea turtles dwelling at these sites.
It's not uncommon for several of the giants to be cruising so close to shore that it's possible to snorkel out to see them. With stunning white beaches, crystal clear waters, and year round sunshine, the Maldives has plenty to offer everyone. You witness them in a comparatively natural environment compared with Oslob, Cebu. At the western end of the reef here, sightings of hawksbill and green turtles are common. One possible reason for the congregation of Whale Sharks around the islands is oceanography. Key statistics to swimming with whale sharks near Exmouth at the Ningaloo reef, Australia. After all these adventures, after all these emotions, can you imagine how happy, moved and thankful I was? In addition to this wonderful variety of marine life, scuba divers often encounter whale sharks in the region. Whale sharks can migrate thousands of miles. There are strict rules in place by the Department of Parks and Wildlife ensuring the conservation of this amazing species. Get that bucket list at the ready and a pen to tick it off with when you go diving with Whale sharks around the world. When the Whale sharks have gone all snorkelers/divers return to the boat immediately.
Also male sharks return regularly to certain places. When to go: operators in the area run weekly, year-round snorkelling trips to South Ari. The best tour guides: Some resorts professionally combine tours and accommodation. Overall, multiple diving schools are offering whale shark encounters. Operators: Ningaloo Whalesharks has its own spotter plane, upping your chances of spotting sharks and spending more time swimming with them than you would on other tours. In conclusion, sightings of the large marine animals are less frequent than in Oslob on the island of Cebu, for example. Do not feed: Feeding marine life can interfere with their migratory patterns. Before you sign up for a Whale shark tour or dive, check to make sure they are following the governmental regulations and are not harming the fish in any way. The first time I thought about swimming with whale sharks was in Roatan, Honduras, in 2016. Whale sharks are regulars at many tourist destinations, including Hurghada, Marsa Alam and El Quisier. The snorkel lasted a few minutes and he was gone. Liveaboards traverse the Deep South in January to March. If like me you badly want to see whale sharks, here are a few places to consider: - Galapagos, Equator: The best time is between June and December. They are one of only three species of sharks that are filter feeders.
They can be spotted around the Philippines from November to June, with sightings peaking around February and April. Our overwater bungalows include king-size bedding accommodations, Ixora Spa Bath products, and stunning views of the Caribbean. So: keep your distance and try to not touch them – like everything under water – and don't photograph with flashlight. Three ocean currents converge here, bringing many nutrients to shallow waters. How to swim responsibly with whale sharks. A particular highlight is Coral View, on Utila, where you can swim straight from the beach to the reef, among fish, barracudas, and maybe even sharks and a turtle or two. Although you could spend weeks just exploring the coral reefs, a wreck dive is a must-do experience. When to go: November to May. While it can get pretty touristy, the ocean life is incredible here, and some Thai liveaboards give you a great opportunity to explore the more remote islands.
We were fully ready. In the beginning, they had simple tools such as handwritten tags that were inefficient, but as they got more funds, mainly through the volunteers joining for a few months or the tourists joining one of their snorkelling tours, they got a better and better system to understand more what bring whale sharks all year-long around Utila. 4 – Gladden Spit, Belize. What to Bring: Comfortable clothing, Camera, sunscreen, swim wear, snorkel equipment.
In Indonesia, Liveaboards are one of the best ways to see the remote islands and a great way to get super interactions with whale sharks. Use the local Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme's Whale Shark Network Maldives app for up to date whale shark sightings. Either read the whole article from beginning to end or jump to your favorite section: Why Should I Trust This Guide to Swimming with Whale Sharks. The rules are strict to help the preservation of these magnificent sharks and you must follow these below. This is why it is so important to respect and protect whale sharks when we share the water with them. Sunbathing on a lounger, swinging in a hammock and jumping into the water from time to time – these are the main activities of most tourists on Holbox.
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