Swimming with whale sharks is a once in a lifetime experience! Whale sharks are the biggest fishes on Earth, and snorkeling with them is possible with us (seasonal). Admire whale sharks of over 15 meters long and amaze yourself watching how calm they are. This activity is totally safe and it requires no previous experience.
Once per year hundreds of Whale Sharks and Manta rays come to the coast of Isla Mujeres, which lies off the coast of Cancun, Mexico to feed on plankton brought together by the waters of the Caribbean sea and the Gulf of Mexico.
It is safe to say Isla Mujeres for 3 months per year is a Whale Shark hotspot with a 99% of chance to encounter one of these gentle giant in their natural habitat. Whale Sharks congregate by hundreds, forming one of the largest Whale Shark groups on the planet.
In order to protect the Whale Sharks and manta rays who migrate to these waters there are some restrictions. One of them is you are not allowed to scuba dive within the predefined zone where the Whale Sharks feed.
Swimming With Whale Shark
When the summer season arrives, Whale Sharks congregate by the hundreds, forming one of the largest Whale Shark groups on the planet.
The manta rays that join the hundreds of Whale Sharks only add to the breathtaking experience, as they all circle one another as they feast upon the fish eggs and plankton in the water. There’s nowhere else in the world where you can be in the water with so many mantas and Whale Sharks at the same time.
whale shark swimming
The best time to encounter Whale Sharks and Mantas is during the months of June through September. This is the time of year when the Whale Sharks will be making their way to the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula in order to feast in the warm waters.
The 2018 season starts on the first of June and the closing date of the season will be the 15th of September.
There is a clear set of rules, and one of them is that you are not allowed with scuba gear in the water.
Other rules are:
• You are not allowed to feed the Whale Sharks
• You are not allowed to touch the Whale Sharks
• There must be a minimum distance of 2 meters between you and the shark
• You must use biodegradable sunblocks and oil only
• You are not allowed to jump from the boat and make a big splash
• You are not allowed to use flash photography
• You must wear a live jacket (You don’t have to wear a life jacket if you are wearing a wetsuit)
Besides these “common sense” rules anyone who is comfortable swimming in deep waters can enjoy the experience that Whale Sharks offer.