Isla Mujeres Whale Sharks May 15 - Sept 15, does it matter when you go?

[qwimjim]

Isla Mujeres seems to be the best spot on earth to easily see guaranteed whale sharks, and from what I can tell the season is from mid may to mid sept, does it matter when one goes during that period? Is there one part of the 4 month season, like a certain month or two that has more whale sharks, or bigger whale sharks, or better visibility, etc?

Also, are the whale sharks full size at Isla Mujeres, are they the same size as the ones one might encounter in the Maldives or Galapogos? I know with Manta's there can be a huge difference in size depending on what part of the world you're in.

Thanks!!

 

[qwimjim]

Isla Mujeres seems to be the best spot on earth to easily see guaranteed whale sharks, and from what I can tell the season is from mid may to mid sept, does it matter when one goes during that period? Is there one part of the 4 month season, like a certain month or two that has more whale sharks, or bigger whale sharks, or better visibility, etc?

Also, are the whale sharks full size at Isla Mujeres, are they the same size as the ones one might encounter in the Maldives or Galapogos? I know with Manta's there can be a huge difference in size depending on what part of the world you're in.

Thanks!!

Nothing? I find it strange how little discussion there is about the Whale Shark snorkeling in Isla Mujeres where there can be dozens of whale sharks and it's a cheap 2 hour flight from the US.. but there's endless threads about where to dive with whale sharks in super remote expensive places where it's a complete crapshoot if you'll even run into -one-. Is there something about the Isla Mujeres thing that is a turn off for people that I'm not clueing in on?

 

[BrewingDiver]

Sorry I can't say firsthand, but I've heard that August to early Sept is best, having more present during that time.

 

[qwimjim]

Thanks, I find it strange there's so little info on this when you would think it would be something on everyone's list to do! $125 for guaranteed whale sharks, that sure beats a $10,000 trip to the Galapogos

 

[mmmbelows]

Isla Mujeres seems to be the best spot on earth to easily see guaranteed whale sharks, and from what I can tell the season is from mid may to mid sept, does it matter when one goes during that period? Is there one part of the 4 month season, like a certain month or two that has more whale sharks, or bigger whale sharks, or better visibility, etc?

Also, are the whale sharks full size at Isla Mujeres, are they the same size as the ones one might encounter in the Maldives or Galapogos? I know with Manta's there can be a huge difference in size depending on what part of the world you're in.

Thanks!!

Keep in mind it's an aggregation. So there are a lot of factors that attribute to aggregations, most of which can vary from year to year (aggregation to aggregation) not month to month. There is a gradual building up of the whale sharks as they aggregate to the location and a gradual dwindling down as they leave the aggregation to continue or return to where they came from. Keep in mind they are feeding, that's why they are there so when they feel they've had enough of the food starts to lessen or the weather begins to change they decide to start leaving...

Best thing to do if you're looking at maximum numbers is to follow trip reports or query specific operators during the season and you'll get a good idea at the numbers.

BUT, the biggest factor on what you will see on the day you are there is the weather patterns. Just because you go at the time when the most whale sharks are in the area doesn't mean your experience will reflect it. They are on the surface when they are feeding on the surface, when they aren't feeding they aren't on the surface, if you have stormy weather what they feed on gets dispersed and it could be two, three, four days before their food again concentrates enough for them to start feeding (ie swimming on the surface where you can see them) in numbers again. If you're going on a whale shark snorkel after bad weather even though there may be 200 or 300 in the area, you might only see 1 on your trip, a few days later you might see 40, then later 100.

Yes they are full sized, we've seen some 'trucks' out there they are so big and we've seen what looked like mothers with a babies also.

Visibility depends on which location you go to. If you go to the Holbox typically location expect green water low visibility, if you go to the Isla Mujeres location typically expect blue water, relatively clearer visibility. Holbox is where it all started, now the hot spot is from Isla Mujeres. Any pictures or videos you see where they are in blue water is Isla Mujeres.

 

[qwimjim]

Keep in mind it's an aggregation. So there are a lot of factors that attribute to aggregations, most of which can vary from year to year (aggregation to aggregation) not month to month. There is a gradual building up of the whale sharks as they aggregate to the location and a gradual dwindling down as they leave the aggregation to continue or return to where they came from. Keep in mind they are feeding, that's why they are there so when they feel they've had enough of the food starts to lessen or the weather begins to change they decide to start leaving...

Best thing to do if you're looking at maximum numbers is to follow trip reports or query specific operators during the season and you'll get a good idea at the numbers.

BUT, the biggest factor on what you will see on the day you are there is the weather patterns. Just because you go at the time when the most whale sharks are in the area doesn't mean your experience will reflect it. They are on the surface when they are feeding on the surface, when they aren't feeding they aren't on the surface, if you have stormy weather what they feed on gets dispersed and it could be two, three, four days before their food again concentrates enough for them to start feeding (ie swimming on the surface where you can see them) in numbers again. If you're going on a whale shark snorkel after bad weather even though there may be 200 or 300 in the area, you might only see 1 on your trip, a few days later you might see 40, then later 100.

Yes they are full sized, we've seen some 'trucks' out there they are so big and we've seen what looked like mothers with a babies also.

Visibility depends on which location you go to. If you go to the Holbox typically location expect green water low visibility, if you go to the Isla Mujeres location typically expect blue water, relatively clearer visibility. Holbox is where it all started, now the hot spot is from Isla Mujeres. Any pictures or videos you see where they are in blue water is Isla Mujeres.

Thanks