Whale shark report 2013

[Ralph Capeling]

Today, May 28 all three Splash boats to Gladden Spit saw whale sharks. One dive boat saw one at the surface. The second dive boat saw two underwater. The snorkelers did the best as they swam with a whale shark for most of their time in the zone. Dolphins and sharks were spotted and yes, Hank, there were lots of snapper.
Regards
Ralph

 

[peterbj7]

On May 27th I went out with Splash (thanks!) and we saw whale sharks on both dives, the first quite deep, the second well within sight by snorkellers.

It's worth reminding divers of the rules of whale shark viewing at Gladden Spit. There is an absolute depth limit of 80ft and no diver must go below that. Believe it or not there ARE scuba police out there. If you're seen to transgress the limit on the first dive you'll be banned from doing the second dive. I don't know what would happen if you went too deep on the second dive. But remember that it's the delinquent diver who gets penalised, not the "boat" or crew. So keep an eye on your depth gauge, and if you have doubts as to its accuracy, on the other divers.

 

[Ralph Capeling]

Today May 29 Splash had three boats in the whale shark zone. The first boat saw one whale shark on surface when they arrived in the zone but it went deep right away and the divers didn't see another whale shark until the second dive. This one came to them from above rather than the more traditional rise from the deep. The 25 to 30 foot whale shark swam right through the group at a depth of around 30 feet! A great encounter!!!
The second dive boat went into the whale shark zone a little later and the divers did not see any whale sharks. The snapper were there but deep.
On the third boat the snorkelers got a close up look at a 25 feet male whale shark (the one with the broken tail fin). Please do not ask me to explain how it was determined that this whale shark is male.
Regards
Ralph

 

[Downing]

Look between the legs? :blinking:

 

[Ralph Capeling]

Today May 31 Splash had one boat in the whale shark zone and our happy guests were treated with two whale sharks on surface. They saw one when they first entered to zone but it went deep before they had a chance to gret into the water. At the end of the dive, a twenty footer came to them on surface and they had about 5 minutes of close encounter - like about five feet from the divers. The whale shark came right through the group of divers apparently going for the bubbles.
Regards
Ralph

---------- Post added June 1st, 2013 at 04:18 PM ----------

Today June 1 we had one boat in the whale shark zone and on the first "dive" they didn't get time to gear up before a 20 foot whale shark appeared on surface - so it was jump overboard with mask, fins and snorkel for a swim with a whale shark! On the second dive a 25 foot whale shark came to check out the divers on surface and stayed around for about 15 minutes - a great encounter. A 35+ foot whale shark showed up near the end of the dive and then quickly disappeared into the deep. This has been a good season for whale sharks coming to the surface.
Regards
Ralph

 

[Ralph Capeling]

Patty put some really neat whale shark photos taken by Bill McGreer on her Facebook page Splash Dive Shop by Patty Ramirez.
Regards
Ralph

---------- Post added June 2nd, 2013 at 04:09 PM ----------

YES! YES! YES! FIVE WHALE SHARKS TODAY JUNE 2ND! Splash had the only boat out today and they spotted 5 whale sharks (one of them twice for a total of 6 sightings) so were able to spend extra time in the whale shark zone. The first one was the 40 footer with the piece missing from his tail - he showed up again a little later in the dive. The second and third ones were 15 foot adolescents and the others were in the 25 foot range. They also saw a 12 foot manta ray and 2 reef sharks. Time very well wasted!!!!!!
Regards
Ralph

 

[Ralph Capeling]

Today, June 3rd, Splash had the only dive boat out in the whale shark zone but no sightings (other than by the fishermen who saw one on surface at about 07:00 am. So today was the last whale shark dive for the May full moon. While we don't promote whale shark diving at the June full moon, people are booking whale shark dives for that time (June 23rd to July 2nd). There have been good whale shark sightings in June over the years, but June can be too windy to take divers to the whale shark zone. While our boats can handle the weather, it can be a rough ride for the divers and a bit of a challenge to get back on the boat.
Regards
Ralph

 

[Ralph Capeling]

Today June 27, Splash had one of the two boats in the whale shark zone. We don't recommend June as the best time to see whale sharks because while there have been good sightings in June, June can be a windy month. Our boats can handle the waves but it is a bit hard on the divers. Anyway, one whale shark was spotted on surface after the dives - and while in the whale shark zone, a little away from where they are usually encountered. The dive crew saw the birds circling in the distance and headed for the "baitfish boil" where the tuna hang out and sometimes you see a whale shark and sure enough, there was one on the surface feeding on bait fish.

That reminds me of a time a couple of years ago when I was out fishing and ran into a similar situation. I wrote a blog about it on our webiste "We left Placencia (Southern Belize) to fish for wahoo and dorado outside the Belize barrier reef when we spotted birds circling and diving in the distance - a sure sign of tuna and other predator fish feeding on bait fish. We pulled our lines, switched to tuna lures and headed for the "bait fish boil" - and it very much as though the water was boilig with so many bait fish scrambling to escape from the tuna. Then, right next to our boat, a whale shark surfaced in an almost vertical position, leaning slightly backwards, with his mouth wide open. Bait fish divied into the open mouth of the whale shark to escape the tuna - not a good career choice!The Belize barrier reef is such an amazing place to visit whether you are diving, snorkeling, fishing, sailing or just relaxing on one of the outer cayes. You never know what you find!"

Regards
Ralph

---------- Post added June 28th, 2013 at 04:13 PM ----------

Wow! Today, June 28 was very unusual! A forty foot and a twenty foot whale shark on surface feeding on bait fish - same scenario as yesterday where the birds showed the way. That was great and seeing two reef sharks was also great - but the highlight was a very unusual visit by as many as 100 spinner dauphins with as many as thirty at one time trying to surf the bow wave of our 46 foot Newton.

 

[Ralph Capeling]

Another great day for the Splash boat - the only dive boat in the whale shark zone again today! Three more whale sharks including our old friend with a broken fin. All on the surface found by chasing the birds chasing the bait fish. The first one was found early and the last one was fairly late and less a feeding frenzy as the tuna must have had their fill but a 30 foot whale shark came for a look. Four bull sharks and a coupe of reef sharks spotted too!

Hey, and at Splash this was a bonus day. LobsterFest is on and that includes a Lion Fish Derby. The Splash Boat (which was filled with newly trained Splash DMs as the experienced ones were out with guests and some guests) won "Largest Lion Fish" and "Smallest Lion Fish". This is a good way to make a living!
Regards
Ralph

---------- Post added June 30th, 2013 at 04:26 PM ----------

Today June 30th, just one whale shark spotted and it was a cute little one about 10 feet long. It was on surface for the second "dive" which was snorkeled as the first dive was mostly swimming in the blue - although reef sharks were sighted.
Regards
Ralph
PS Guests promised to post photos and video on Patty's FaceBook Page s Splash Dive Center Belize by Patty Ramirez.

 

[Ralph Capeling]

Today, July 1 Splash was the only boat out looking for whale sharks and we had a great day off Gladden Spit. Three whale sharks spotted on surface by chasing the birds who see the bait fish. Saw 2 that were 25 - 30 footers and a 35 footer. Found a bull shark and, of course also saw lots of tuna. June has been a very good month for sightings.

On another note, the team of lion fish researchers from TIDE that we supported by providing the boat, fuel, dive gear, etc completed a lion fish count in the same area where the Splash team hunted yesterday in the lion fish derby. They had also done a lion fish count in that same area the day before the tournament. The TIDE researchers should provide a paper on their findings later this month.
Regards
Ralph