Whale Sharks from Cozumel?

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guyharrisonphoto

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We are thinking about a trip to Coz in July (first time there). We would like to do 2 days with the whale sharks. Are there ops on Coz that do this trip or do we have to go to Cancun? If there are ops on Coz we would like some recommendations. We want high-quality time with the sharks, not two or three 10 minute swims. Any recommendations for an op that can do this type of serious trip would be welcome.


Thanks!
 
We are thinking about a trip to Coz in July (first time there). We would like to do 2 days with the whale sharks. Are there ops on Coz that do this trip or do we have to go to Cancun? If there are ops on Coz we would like some recommendations. We want high-quality time with the sharks, not two or three 10 minute swims. Any recommendations for an op that can do this type of serious trip would be welcome.


Thanks!




Unless you are renting a private tour then you will be stuck with a time limit in the water due to other paying customers on the boat. The boats generally hold up to 10 passengers and only 1 guide is allowed in the water with 2 swimmers. We do trips daily and are located in Cozumel but the whale sharks are up near Isla Contoy. It is an all day trip from 6am ferry from Cozumel and then back on the 5 pm ferry.

Blue H2o Cozumel Watersports |Cozumel diving, Whale Shark Tours Mexico
 
If you want to do two days with the whale sharks, which I think is better than a day trip - plan to check out of hotel on Coz, relocate to the mainland and a new hotel up north close to the boarding dock or on Ilsa M.

Then plan to fly out of Cancun. A good bit of logistics to work out, but start with plane: To Cozumel, return from Cancun.
 
Or fly into Cancun - do whales from there. Then the next day take the ADO (bus) to Playa del Carmen, catch the ferry to Coz for the balance of your trip.
 
You can do a day trip from Cozumel to do the Whale Shark tour, but is a long, exhausting day. I've done it. Definitely worthwhile, but really exhausting. You can make it slightly shorter by traveling by air from Cozumel to Cancun - I've never done that, not certain exactly how it works (do you fly into Cancun Airport, take van to puerto north of Cancun? Can small airplanes fly into Isla Mujeres or Holbox? What does it add to the cost?), but others on this Board have. I'd suggest you plan to stay a day or two on Isla Mujeres, do the Whale Shark tours from there, then transfer to Cozumel. Or Cozumel first, and last night or two on Isla Mujeres - your choice.
 
Well, they are not whales... :eek:rca:
Or fly into Cancun - do whales from there. Then the next day take the ADO (bus) to Playa del Carmen, catch the ferry to Coz for the balance of your trip.
But that might be a better approach. Start with an Easyway car rental if staying on mainland with good insurance package and free drop in PDC, or I have a quick contact for a low cost van company - after wasting a lot of money hiring a taxi on the spot this trip. Do 3 nights up north on the peninsula or or IJ, 2 days of swimming with Dominoes, then relocate to Cozumel. Ado buses are nice, convenient, frequent, dependable, etc. if you don't want to map & drive or hire a van.

Getting to the Coz airport at the end of a trip is so easy. Overpriced but easy.

I don't know what kind of shape you two are in or how fast & long you swim, but these big, beautiful fish keep moving. The length of your swims generally depends on how long you can keep up, and how many times you swim probably depends on how many times you can suit up after the others give out.

Wear snorkel vests or neoprene suits so they won't require cumbersome life vests.
 
I don't know what kind of shape you two are in or how fast & long you swim, but these big, beautiful fish keep moving. The length of your swims generally depends on how long you can keep up, and how many times you swim probably depends on how many times you can suit up after the others give out.

.

We were lucky. Chase one a bit, gets some photos. Wait. Chase another. It was like grand central. Not like sometimes with less WS and 50 people chasing one WS or such.
 
We were lucky. Chase one a bit, gets some photos. Wait. Chase another. It was like grand central. Not like sometimes with less WS and 50 people chasing one WS or such.
Oh yeah, it was one boat per fish when we went. We tipped the captain well the first day so the second day we were the only ones who got to swim with the Manta. :cool:
 
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