Way too many Whalesharks!

[alohagal]

There were so many whale sharks in the water today...they kept bumping into our boat. It made it difficult to figure out which side of boat to jump off of and which whale shark to follow and photograph.

All the people in our boat were trying to estimate just how many of the critters there were. It was well over the hundreds. UNBELIEVABLE!!

If they were lionfish we would have been crying...that is how many there were!!

No need to go to Holbox! One hour north of Isla Mujeras and the water is literally teeming with them. No joke! It was the most surreal thing I have ever witnessed.

Don't need to spend $4000.00 to go to Galapagos to see whale sharks.

Mary

 

[kathydee]

Wow sounds awesome! Did you get to dive/swim with them? When is the season!

 

[alohagal]

The season officially starts May 15. But to see them the way we did today...it is best to go July and August.

Used to be you had to go to Holbox. But three years ago they started official trips off of Isla Mujeras. Sometimes the water where we were can be rough and they cannot always make it out there in the early season. Today it was gorgeous. The whale sharks were all on the surface...all around the boats. There were 16 boats, each boat is only allowed to carry 10 people.

It was shocking how many whale sharks were out there!!

Mary

 

[alohagal]

Also, no diving allowed. ONLY snorkel...but it was just fine! The whale sharks stay right on the surface.

They make you wear a life vest. So, I put my diving skin on OVER the vest. It reduced the drag and I could keep up really well.

Mary

 

[Missdirected]

There were so many whale sharks in the water today...they kept bumping into our boat. It made it difficult to figure out which side of boat to jump off of and which whale shark to follow and photograph.

Mary

:thumbs-up

 

[BigHarryDiver]

There were so many whale sharks in the water today...they kept bumping into our boat. It made it difficult to figure out which side of boat to jump off of and which whale shark to follow and photograph.

All the people in our boat were trying to estimate just how many of the critters there were. It was well over the hundreds. UNBELIEVABLE!!

If they were lionfish we would have been crying...that is how many there were!!

No need to go to Holbox! One hour north of Isla Mujeras and the water is literally teeming with them. No joke! It was the most surreal thing I have ever witnessed.

Don't need to spend $4000.00 to go to Galapagos to see whale sharks.

Mary

--------------------

WOW - Sounds awesome. We swam with them out of Holbox in August last year and was amazed at having 5 different ones to swim with. Good to hear you don't need to make the 3 hour bumpy ride just to catch a boat to Holbox (we were with Dive Adventuras in Puerto Adventuras). Will have to check it out next trip south.

Be safe
Harry http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/images/smilies/Standard Smiles/04.gif

 

[Prop Joe]

Great to hear Mary!
Glad your finger is OK now.
We'll be at Isla Mujeres in 10 days. Hope the weather is as good for our trip as it was for yours.
Watch your step

 

[scubawife]

Great to hear Mary!
Glad your finger is OK now.
We'll be at Isla Mujeres in 10 days. Hope the weather is as good for our trip as it was for yours.
Watch your step

Lucky you! Welcome to Whale Shark Festival 2009| Isla Mujeres, Mexico

 

[Gen San Chris]

If as you say that there are too many then maybe someone will say that they are eating too much and putting the pankton in danger and start to slaughter the whale sharks as they do the lion fish in that area! Thats a pun by the way!

 

[alohagal]

No worries. The plankton blooms were so prevalent it was the only thing obscuring visibility. Also, came up out of the water with tons of fish eggs all over my body and dive skin.. I believe they said they were some kind of Jack eggs.

I kid you not about the amount of whale sharks. I still can't get over it.

Mary