Poll: Whale Sharks or Cenotes? Cancun in June

[Racer_X]

All, I need your help! I find myself on the horns of a dilemma.

I'm heading to Cancun in late June, after the whale shark "season" starts. I did my research, and found diving in the cenotes fascinating. I looked at snorkeling with the whale sharks off Holbox as interesting, but a very long/tough day.

Original decision: 2 days of cenote diving culminating with the Pit. Then I made the mistake of stopping by my LDS. The owner had been whale shark diving and showed me his pictures and talked about how cool it was. I'd be missing something incredible if I passed, he said.

So, to do BOTH would be three days of my vacation meeting the rest of my family (who make me take vacation so they hang out with "vacation dad") after my diving is done. Plus a wee bit expensive ("poing!") considering the horse trading I had to do for 2 days off.

If I do one day whale sharks and one day cenotes, I miss my shot at the Pit. Otherwise, I miss my shot at the whale sharks. I might get back there one of these years, but you never know when your number is up and you'll end up kicking yourself.

Oh august and learned ones - what do you recommend?

 

[Bratface]

I did both and would have regretted missing either one.

The trip to Holbox starts early with a long van ride then a briefing, a boat ride and they they are!!! What a thrill it was to swim next to a 40 foot whale shark. He looked at me too as we swam along. Whale sharks are some of the most magnificent animals in the world. They take a long time to mature and mate. They are still being killed for their fins. Go now before there are none left.

Cenotes--a sacred place to the Mayans and the dwelling place of their gods and entrance to their underworld. My guide was of Mayan ancestry. He was proud to show them to us, and his grandmother taught him how to dive. I did my 300th dive in Choc Mool in 2008. I dove 3 cenotes in two days finishing with Taj Mahal.

I can't tell you how incredibly cool both experiences were and how happy I was and still am when I talk to others about it. Talk to your family about it. Show them pictures and let them know this is an event of a lifetime.

---------- Post added May 7th, 2012 at 06:49 PM ----------

Thinking more about this, why not invite your family along to see the whale sharks? If they don't want to snorkel and swim with them, they can enjoy watching from the boat. It would be a great trip for the whole family.

 

[luckydays]

I did the whale shark snorkel last year when in Cancun and the cenotes on the same trip. I would have regretted if I did not do both, just as bratface stated. I only did 2 cenotes but enjoyed myself so much. The pics I have from the whale shark snorkel are awesome and something I will never, ever forget.

Chac Mool (not the best pic but the only one I could find fast)

Whale Shark Snorkel. So large, amazingly majestic.


Do both. Your family will have to understand, and they can see you once you get back from the day.

 

[TSandM]

I'm not sure why you are set on the Pit -- there are better cavern dives. But a day of cenotes and a day of whale sharks sounds like a great plan to me!

 

[DSR-3]

Like the others, I vote for both.
A whaleshark day is a full one, and a 3 cenote day is very do-able. Like TS&M, The Pit would not be one of my short list choices.

My wife who only does a couple snorkel's per vacation (no diving) had a great time on the WS trip. I was impressed when she jumped right in front of one! After the WS's- Reef snorkeling, fresh cevice, and beers helped us all have more fun!

 

[Scoober]

Isn't it possible to do the whale sharks out of cancun these days? In nice clear water?

 

[Tigerman]

Lets just say that if I go back to cancun or cozumel, the whalesharks and the cenotes are the two things that I WONT MISS.
And I absolutely agree with taking your family with you on the boat for the whalesharks regardless of wether theill be snorkling or not

 

[DSR-3]

Isn't it possible to do the whale sharks out of cancun these days? In nice clear water?

The boat we took departed from just North of Cancun, then about an hour ride north to Isla Contoy.
The whale sharks and giant mantas come for the "unclear" (plankton rich) water. You could maybe see head to tail on the big ones. The (very nice) pic. above looks to be on a really clear day, though.

 

[Tigerman]

When I was there I could see pretty much half a whaleshark at the time. That being said it was a 12m long one

 

[ibj40]

I have to agree, you won't regret doing both, and while the Pit was fun, if you have to give up something, I'd sacrifice the second day of cenotes for the whale sharks in a heartbeat.