Diving with Whale Sharks?

[diverdowndh]

Is it my imagination or is diving with whale sharks discouraged? I'm thinking about a trip to Holbox Island off the Yucatan, and it appears as though diving is discouraged. I've been looking around and it never really gets spelled out. Why would this be or is it just my very active imagination?
D

 

[Bill Fisher]

Diverdownh,

I have never experienced a Whale shark encounter. But my friends who have been to Holbox say that they are almost always at the surface and it's easier to snorkel. Also, I've been told that they aren't too fond of bubbles, like Hammerheads.

There are encounters at Galapagos where you would be on scuba, but I do believe that there is a snorkel only policy in Holbox. I would call the operator and ask...

Have fun!
Bill

 

[OceanObsessed]

Is it my imagination or is diving with whale sharks discouraged? I'm thinking about a trip to Holbox Island off the Yucatan, and it appears as though diving is discouraged. I've been looking around and it never really gets spelled out. Why would this be or is it just my very active imagination?
D

There will always be people who are against diving with them. Whale sharks occur in nature and so do people so I don't see what the big deal is with the two interacting peacefully. They are capable of moving pretty quickly through the water and I would feel slow and less manueverable with a tank on my back. You might want to take a look over at http://wetpixel.com ... you will find more whaleshark divers over there.

 

[diverdowndh]

Thanks, I just signed up for a whale shark encounter on Holbox island, just to the north of Cancun. 3 days of diving on Cozumel, a Cenote dive day, and then whale sharks.... too good to pass up. The owner of the LDS (and trip organizer) explained to me last night that, like Bill explained, they are on the surface a lot because of the shallower water around the Yucatan tip. Also, if they move it is much easier to get everyone on the boat to go with them. Made sense. I just wondered why... never heard about them being afraid of the bubbles though, good point.

 

[ben@scorpiodivers.com]

just snorkeling in this part of the world, all the food is on the surface, the only time the sharks will dive under is when they re been harrased!! the bottom of holbox and contoy is around 70ft where the sharks roam, viz is not great though, expect only 15ft -25ft viz, strong green water due to the presence of plankton, surface has the best viz too with the sunlight and yes, the bubbles tend to scare the sharks.
plan for 15.25ft viz, hope for 100+, it happens, last sept we found 35 together in deep blue clear water!! we re running the sharks too, a little closer from cancun www.mayanaquadive.com/whalesharks.
enjoy, it ll be and awesome season, im going again tomorrow he he

 

[Code Monkey]

I couldn't keep up with them when I was finning at my hardest wearing just a wetsuit, mask, snorkle, and fins. And they were just moving along at a leisurly pace. There's no way that a BC and tanks would have improved that situtation.

 

[diverdowndh]

Ben, that is awesome information, as is the rest. I really didn't think about it but if they feed on plankton, well the plankton ought to be fairly high wherever they are. Good info to know ahead of time. I hope your diving is awesome!
My DM said the same thing about keeping up with them Wade (Code Monkey), it'll be interesting to see how it ends up!