How To Swim With Whale Sharks In Mexico
Bucket List…
It’s not often that we use that word, but in this case it’s appropriate.
For a very, very long time we have dreamt of swimming side by side with the largest fish in the sea, and when the moment finally came it was as magical as we had imagined it would be.
When we first learned that swimming with whale sharks was a real-life possibility the knowledge that a creature this large, and this gentle can exist on our planet and we could have the opportunity to interact with it in its natural habitat, had our adventurous souls buzzing with excitement, but we had some questions.
Is this safe for the animals? Is this safe for us? Is this the right thing to be doing? The topic of ethics is always something we broach whenever we have the chance to participate in any activity that involves human and animal interactions. We stand firmly by the principal that just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should.
So strap on your flippers and take a deep breath because we’re going to take a deep dive into the world of whale sharks and how you can make this adventure happen for yourself.
Whale Shark Fast Facts:
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They are the largest fish in the sea reaching lengths of 40 feet (12 meters) and weighing up to 21.5 tons.
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It’s thought that less than 10% of whale sharks born survive to adulthood, but those that do may live to 150.
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They migrate thousands of miles to feeding grounds around the world, but only swim at an average speed of 3 mph.
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The spots on a whale shark are just like a human fingerprint. No two sharks have the same patterns, and they can be identified using these markings.
Swimming With The Sharks
The Where and The When:
Whale sharks are found in nearly all the tropical waters of the world. They migrate thousands of miles following the large schools of plankton they feed on to sustain their massive bodies. During certain months these plankton schools tend to aggregate in warm coastal waters, bringing the sharks close to shore where divers and snorkelers can enjoy their company.
It’s always a good thing to call ahead and confirm with your guide service that the sharks are still in the area before you book a flight. We really wanted to take a second dip with the big guys when we were road tripping the Baja Peninsula, but it turned out they had left a month and half earlier than usual.
There are several hotspots for these gatherings around the world, and if you’re planning on splashing, you’ll need to make sure you get the timing right. No plankton, no sharks. The whale sharks that migrate to Mexico come in opposing seasons, so depending on what side of the country you’re on this will affect when/ where you go!
The Baja Peninsula, Mexico: October to May
The Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico: June to September
How To Swim With Whale Sharks:
Whale Sharks are an endangered species. It’s important that no matter where in the world you choose to visit with them, that you use a certified guide service.
Our location of choice was the Yucatan Peninsula. We have a long love affair with the country of Mexico and we knew that when it came to the preservation and protection of important ecological resources we could trust a tour here. So we packed our masks, snorkels and fins and caught a flight to Cancun.
We booked our tour through Cancun Adventures (explore all tours here). Full transparency, we were so excited to be finally doing this, that we didn’t really know what to expect when the day came. To be honest it was everything we expected it to be and in other ways nothing at all like we thought.
The process of swimming with sharks was pretty straight forward, the captain would line the boat up with a shark and when we got the cue, we’d hop into the water and boom, there we were face to face with the largest fish in the sea. Our only job was to stay out of the big guys way (no touching here) and to soak in the moment.
We were limited to two “jumps” per group (2 people in a group), to minimize the impacts on the animals. To be completely honest, in the moment it didn’t really feel like enough. The shark’s movements are wildly unpredictable and your interactions with them can last minutes or just meer seconds, there’s no real way to predict it, and if it’s the later, you’re going to feel like you missed out a little, it’s easier to accept if you’re prepared for it! We were very fortunate and had almost two full minutes in the water with one shark who seemed to be as curious about us as we were about him. Magical doesn’t even begin to cover it.
Helpful Tips for Swimming With Whale Shark
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Keep a safe distance
16 ft or 5 meters is the recommended distance to maintain between you and the shark. Even though they are incredibly gentle creatures, an innocent swipe of the tail from a 21-ton animal could really ruin your vacation!
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Don’t wear sunscreen
Have you ever tasted soap? Wasn’t good, was it? While you’re enjoying the water and the view, the sharks are filter feeding plankton, and taking in huge gulps of water, when your sunscreen mixes with that water they accidently end up eating it too. Be kind, save the sunscreen for the pool.
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Look but don’t touch
I don’t know about you but I’m not really a fan of being petted mid meal. Maybe that’s your thing, no judgement here, but just a wild guess, it probably won’t be a whale sharks.
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Take a lot of pictures but turn off the flash
These sharks are used to a lot of attention from people, but that doesn’t mean they always like it. When we enter the water we enter their world, and we should always be respectful. We’re firm believers that no number of photos is too many, just make sure you snap them with the flash off!
Gear For Swimming with Whale Sharks:
Most outfitters and tour companies will provide you with everything you need to have a safe and amazing day on the water, but if you’re looking to bring your own gear along with you we’ve got you covered!
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Camera
Duh, am I right? For a bucket list adventure like this a good camera is everything. Our go-to camera for all adventures is a GoPro. Whatever you can dish out it can take! Combine your camera with a good sturdy floaty stick for extra confidence and control while underwater!
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Snorkel
Sharing snorkels with strangers. Yuk. Tusa Diving makes our absolute favorite lightweight snorkel for travel to watery destinations!
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Mask
Having a mask that is already sized to fit your face, that you know you won’t fog up or start leaking in the crucial moment that the whale shark appears is everything. Probably no surprise here, but Tusa Diving also makes our go to snorkeling mask.
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Fins
Tusa Diving also happens to makes our all-time favorite fins for travel. Are you surprised? Whether you snag a pair of these for yourself or have something else in mind, just make sure whatever you use you’ve tested out and dry fitted before splashing into the water for a bucket list adventure.
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Sun shirt