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Been watching this thread and have a question....Are the whale shark trips exclusively snorkel only or can you dive with a tank as well? If you can dive, who offers it?
Wow - that was fast! Why? They don't like the bubbles?From what I have gathered the Mexican government does not allow you to DIVE with these whale sharks that come to this area around Holbox (and vicinity). It is strictly snorkeling.
Many years ago the dive centers used to do a two day trip to avoid a 330 am pickup to get to holbox. I have to say it was a great way to go as holbox is beautiful but this did not go over well with visitors who were here for 5 or 7 day holidays. Now all dive centers run their trips out of cancun so it is a 6 30 am to 4 pm trip and it does not impede any other vacation time.
That said i have the scoop on the flights to holbox.
Cost 560 usd plus 10% tax for the plane...each passenger also has to pay 50 usd a head for airport taxes....
Time 7 am leaving time but 11 am return time.
Flight duration is 40 mintues.
Now the challenges...anyone doing this will not return from their whaleshark trip until 12 30 or 1 pm so there will be a cost for the extra wait time. maximum amount of passengers is 5 people. This also does not cover the cost for the whaleshark tour which would have to be paid directly to the person boat in holbox. Additionally you still have to make the boat trip out to the whalesharks...
It was said to day that 4 have been spotted in the gulf so tour companies are gearing up to start the tours by the end of the month....
if you have any further questions or if i forgot anything let me know....happy to continue feeding information as it is easy for me...
and diving is not allowed...snorkeling only....that i know i am right on....
I don't have the link to the thread. But, I read somewhere that the powers that be ban diving because they feel the air bubbles from tanks will scare off the whale sharks. They just want to keep it low key. And only two people at a time from each boat get to go in the water to snorkel. You have to take turns to swim with the whale sharks. People get about 2-3 turns each to get in the water.Wow - that was fast! Why? They don't like the bubbles?