Swimming with Whale Sharks in Mexico: All You Need to Know
I am a HUGE waterbug, so over the years I have gone snorkeling and swimming with more fish than I can count, stingrays, turtles, dolphins, and even sharks, but swimming with whale sharks was definitely my favorite.
Keep reading for my complete guide to swimming with whale sharks in Mexico so you can be prepared for this bucket list experience.
Where Can I Swim With Whale Sharks?
If you want to swim with a fish the size of a bus, then head to Mexico! Mexico is one of the best places in the world to see whale sharks. You can swim with whale sharks in the Sea of Cortez (east of the Baja Peninsula) and in the Mexican Caribbean (near Cancún).
Best Time of Year to Swim With Whale Sharks
You can actually find whale sharks in Mexico’s Sea of Cortez all year round, but your best chance of finding them is between the months of October through February.
Whale shark season in the Mexican Caribbean, on the other hand, sees a large congregation of whale sharks congregate along the Yucatán Peninsula from mid-May to mid-September.
Swim with Whale Sharks in La Paz
Just two hours north of Cabo San Lucas, La Paz is the capital of the state of Baja California Sur. It even has its own small airport.
Since 2018, La Paz Bay has been a protected refuge for whale sharks, making this one of the most accessible and well-regulated places to swim with whale sharks. All interactions are carefully monitored in the refuge. Boats have to radio in and out of whale shark zones and take turns to insure no overcrowding. Plus, only boats with certified operators are allowed to enter. No private vessels are permitted.
You are almost guaranteed to see whale sharks here between October – February. When I was in Cabo San Lucas, I was supposed to go swimming with whale sharks in La Paz, but it was early March and end of season, so the weather unfortunately had other plans. I am hoping to return one day and see them in this habitat.
Swim With Whale Sharks in Islas Mujeres
Whale sharks are frequently seen in the plankton-rich waters of the Mexican Caribbean between May and September. The legal season for swimming with whale sharks is June 15 – September 15. You best chance for seeing whale sharks in the Mexican Caribbean is between mid-June and August.
Most whale shark tours depart from Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, or elsewhere along the Riviera Maya and head towards Isla Mujeres.
Although I was pleased overall with my experience because I did get to swim with 2 whale sharks, I would suggest doing your research before booking a whale shark tour in this area to make sure you are booking with an ethical company that adheres to regulations.
Luckily, my boat had a few cancellations, so my whale shark tour only had 5 other people on the boat, and most of them never got in the water so I was fortunate to have more turns than normal. Typically, two people plus a guide are allowed to snorkel with a whale shark, so you take turns with people on your boat since there is usually only one guide.
However, we saw many other boats out there that day, and most of them were not doing this. These boats would let all 20 people in at the same time, and it was utter chaos. It was clear that most of these people were not good swimmers, and there was a lot of thrashing, kicking, and smacking other people accidentally. There would be dozens of people in the water all at once crowding over just one whale shark and fighting for the best vantage point.
The way that whale shark excursions are handled in the Mexican Caribbean did not seem very ethical to me, so it is not something I will do again. That is why I was looking forward to seeing them in La Paz where it was monitored and regulated much more closely.
What do I Wear to Swim with Whale Sharks?
Please only wear reef safe sunscreen or cover yourself with clothing instead.
Most companies will provide you with goggles, a snorkel and some fins. You will need the fins because whale sharks are faster than they look.
You are required to wear a life jacker or a wetsuit without a weight belt. This insures that you stay on the surface of the water. Whale sharks have sensitive bellies, and they don’t like bubbles below them. They will swim away if they notice them. Whale sharks can also submerge very quickly, so it’s safer to be above them than below.
Lastly, I recommend bringing sunglasses, a hat, and some snacks. The ride from Cancún was over an hour in direct sunlight. It was very choppy, too, so bring medication or motion-sickness aids.
What to Expect
The tour that I went on left from Cancún. I was on a small boat with 5 other guests, the captain, and a guide/photographer. The boat ride there and back was long because you have to go pretty far out to find the whale sharks. You might find whale sharks right away or it could take an hour.
The various boat captains would radio one another whenever they spotted a whale shark, and we would rush right over there. Sometimes the whale shark will be gone by the time you get there or there might be too many other boats around so you leave in search of a new one. Everyone on the boat keeps an eye out for the big fin protruding from the water – that’s how you find them.
Our tour also briefly stopped in front of Isla Mujeres on the way back. We were able to get out and enjoy the beautiful waters.
How big is a whale shark?
Whale sharks are the biggest fish in the sea. Notice I said fish, so they’re still smaller than some whales, since those are considered mammals, not fish. Whale sharks are usually between 18 and 32 feet long, but the largest one on record was measured at almost 62 feet and weighed about 20 tons.
Is Swimming with Whale Sharks Safe?
Yes! Don’t worry, whale sharks don’t have a taste for humans. Even though their mouths can open up to five feet wide, only the tinest of fish (like plankton and krill) can pass through because their throats are smaller than your fist. They have even been known to spit out foods that are not part of their natural diet, even food as small as grains of rice. So you are totally safe!
They will completely ignore you swimming around them as long as you follow the rules. These rules include staying on the sides of the shark. Whale sharks swim faster than humans, so you’ll be able to keep up with it for a bit before it glides away in search of more plankton.
You should also keep your distance. The shark could get spooked and dash away quickly, and it could accidentally swat you with its tail if you’re too close. DO NOT TOUCH the whale sharks. You could cut yourself and get an infection and so could the shark.
Unfortunately, humans and boats are much more dangerous to the whale sharks than they are to us.
Can I Scuba Dive with Whale Sharks in Mexico?
Most whale shark tours in Mexico offer snorkeling with whale sharks. Although not as common, it is possible to scuba dive with whale sharks. You are advised to adhere to the same rules as snorkeling – don’t touch them, and don’t swim directly underneath them because they don’t like the air bubbles.
One place to scuba dive with whale sharks in Mexico is Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park in Baja California Sur.
Where Else in the World Can I Swim with Whale Sharks?
Another spot along the Mexican Caribbean to swim with whale sharks is Isla Holbox. It’s just a little harder to get to.
Then if you really want to enter a scuba diver’s paradise, you’ll have to travel 240 miles southwest of Cabo San Lucas to Socorro Island. Nicknamed as “Mexico’s Little Galapagos”, you can find whale sharks here along with manta rays and some of the best scuba diving in the world.
Outside of Mexico, you can go snorkeling or diving with whale sharks all over the world. Here are some of the best places to see whale sharks around the world:
- Cocos Island, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
- Gladden Spit, Punta Gorda, Belize
- Mafia Island, Zanzibar, Tanzania
- Mahi Island, the Seychelles
- Ningaloo Reef, Australia
- Oslob, the Philippines
- South Ari Atoll, the Maldives
- Tofo Beach, Mozambique
- Wolf and Darwin Islands, Galapagos, Ecuador
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[…] appearance have made them well-known. You can see these magnificent creatures off the coast of Mexico. This is especially true in places like Isla Holbox and Isla […]