Have you participated in "Utila Whale Shark Research" w/ Deep Blue Utila?

[alashas]

I am exploring an April trip, either to the Bay Islands, or Belize Atolls. Most of the dive shops that have whale shark excursions, either snorkel or scuba, state that the best time is try to see a whale shark is a day or two before the full moon, up to a week after the full moon.

The full moon in April is April 9, so the best dates are April 6 - 16.
Deep Blue Dive Center on Utila http://www.deepblueutila.com/ has a lot of helpful info, including this link: www.utilawhalesharkresearch.com/ However, Deep Blue is hosting "Whale Shark Research Week" in April from the 18th to the 25th. They are bringing in whale shark experts from various places around the world who will be lecturing at night. Their rates increase several hundred dollars that week. Here is the link on their forum that describes the week and the pertinent info from this link below: http://www.deepblueutila.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=9&sid=a41cf9fbab97d0195c9f71bad7a622c1

"This is a very special time for Deep Blue, the main difference between these 4 weeks and the rest of the Whale Shark high season is that during the four weeks of the research period we will be having Whale Shark specialists who work in other parts of the world come to assist us and to give talks to our customers in the evenings about Whale Shark research not only here in Utila but other places in the world.

In this period we will also only accommodate a maximum of 12 people.

It is a very exciting time and an experience of a lifetime to see these majestic creatures and swim with them here in Utila.

The Dates are:

March 14 to March 21 2009
March 21 to March 28 2009
March 28 to April 4 2009
April 18 to April 25 2009

This is a chance of a lifetime to see the Whale Sharks and help with our research and to hear about the experiences of other specialists from around the world."

So, I'd like to hear from others who have participated in one of these weeks at Deep Blue, and, am interesting in hearing about your whale shark experiences. Also, since Deep Blue has scheduled several of these weeks that do not coincide with the full moon, does that imply a diver/snorkeler has a reasonable chance of seeing a whale shark at other times, at least from Utila dive shops? Further, I can imagine it would be fascinating to see a whale shark, but I'd be happy to see other things, too! If you have participated in one of these weeks at Deep Blue, what other diving opportunities other than whale shark excursions are available?

Finally, I noticed that one of the dive shops on Belize states they do their whale shark excursions around midnight, a few days on either side of the full moon. Is that a better time to see them that during the day? I enjoy night dives, but do no think I am interesting in doing very many at midnight....

Appreciate your insights, alashas http://honeymoon2.smugmug.com/

 

[scubamork]

I was in Utila 3 years ago 1st week of May and got lucky the last day of diving and got to snorkel with one. It almost swallowed me. I had been diving earlier in the week with some divers from Denmark that had been there for the Research week and never saw one. I'm going back in May this year.

 

[DeepBlueResort]

Hi

Just to let you know the full moon has nothing to do with the whale sharks in Utila, it does in most places in the world but if you look at the research done here, there is no correlation between the two.

You mention that Deep Blue is hosting the research weeks that is because Utila Whale Shark Research was started by the owner of Deep Blue Resort ( me ) LOL

We work with people from all over the world but especially Belize, Mexico and the USA to track the whale sharks that visit here, This yeas some of the experts will be people from the Gulf Research Center who are investigating very large groups seen in the Gulf, People that run the Domino project ( the whale shark project in Mexico) And a Genetics expert from the Shark Research Institute and is the Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Illinois, so some very exciting guests this year.

We are also great supporters of Ecocean.org and work very closely with them, if you have any questions feel free to email me, and yes we do charge extra for these weeks as we fly in these specialist and all profit earned in that 4 weeks goes towards whale shark research.

 

[alashas]

Hi Steve,

Thanks for your prompt reply, and I am impressed by the work you and others do on behalf of whale sharks, as well as other marine life. Congratulations on initiating a very significant program that I hope is very successful in identifying and tracking these magnficent animals. If I were to come during one of these weeks, what would the daily dive schedule, as well as the rest of the day, look like? Also, I am not yet certain of my travel dates. Is it possible to overlap part of one of these weeks, rather than being tied into the Sat. to Sat. schedule listed on your website?

Finally, I have not been to Utila and am still trying to get an idea of how the dive shops operate. Is it possible to stay in accommodations elsewhere on the island but schedule my dives with you?

Thanks, alashas

 

[DeepBlueResort]

Hi

The dive schedule at the resort runs as normal, the dives a day 2 in the morning and 1 in the afternoon, the boat leaves at 8am on the way to your first dive site you will look for whale sharks in between the 2 dives you will look and after as well, at the same time while you are diving I will be out in a separate boat looking to maximize your chances of seeing them.

At that time of the year we do ask people to come in Saturday to Saturday, also it is much easier for you to get here as there are not flights into the island every day, if you are just diving at a dive shop in town you can dive with whoever you like but at the resort I promise my customers that there will only be 12 people on the boat and normally all places are sold, if you would liek me to send you an information sheet etc on ourselves just email me at Steve@DeepBlueUtila.com and I will happily help you.

 

[alashas]

Hello again, Steve,

Thanks again for your helpful info, I just sent you an email. Perhaps we can work something out.

all the best, alashas

 

[parrotman]

I am going to be at Deep blue the last week of March. My first trip to Utila was 4 years ago and I was there the 3rd week. I went hoping to see whale sharks and was not dissappointed. I had a great week of diving and was also able to be in the water with 5 different Sharks. This will be my 6th trip back to the island in 4 years ( all of them staying at Deep Blue). Of course there is no guarentee that you will see them but this is a good time of year.
I went to AKR on one of my trips last year (Deep Blue was booked full that week) and in my opinion the rates for Whale Shark week at Deep Blue are a better value than a regular week at AKR>

J