Belize trip this July... any chance of whale sharks?

[boastud]

We are taking a trip to belize july 20th for 5 days, and everything i read we are well off season for whale sharks. Are there random straglers, or do they all head out? Very excited about the trip, and anyone whose been there, please post.

 

[NCBabs]

the best time for whale sharks are Apr, May and June around the full moon

 

[Hank49]

Just after the full moon is best in Mar thru June or so. After that, the pack (pod?...herd?...school?) that migrates through here every year seems to have moved on.

 

[Damselfish]

from what I understand, the reason the sharks are there is to feed on the spawn of certain fish that do their thing there during the mentioned times. Once the buffet is gone, no reason to hang around anymore.

 

[boastud]

Thanks for the info.

 

[peterbj7]

Where will you be visiting? Your best chance of seeing whale sharks is in the south of Belize.

 

[Redondoscubadude]

From my understanding your chances of seeing whale sharks in Belize anywhere but Gladden
Spit during the right time are slim to none. More info can be found here - Whale Shark Diving in Placencia Belize at Gladden Split

 

[peterbj7]

Slim yes, none no. We see whale sharks up here from time to time, at any time of the month. But to have any degree of certainty yes, you need to be at Gladden Spit within a few days of the full moon in one of the spring/early summer months. You also need to be with a very good guide, to give you the best chance of seeing and staying with a whale shark if there's one there.