WHALE SHARK REPORTS 2017

[Ralph Capeling]

Splash Dive Center made its first whale shark tour for 2017 today, April 11. We had two boats in the whale shark zone and divers in both boats saw a 25 to 30 foot whale shark on the second dive. The whale shark came within 20 feet of the divers chasing the diver's bubbles thinking the bubbles were the culbera snapper spawn. The three snorkelers on the tour missed seeing the whale shark even though it came close to surface as they did participate in the second foray into the whale shark zone due feeling a bit sea sick. On the first dive jacks were observed but no snapper.

Splash did not do any whale shark tours during the March full moon whale shark season as success rates during March are low.

 

[Ralph Capeling]

April 12 - we had three boats out. No whale shark sightings.

 

[Ralph Capeling]

April 13 - we had two boats out. No whale shark sighting but a great day anyway!
On the first dive saw a bull shark, a sailfish and lots of jacks along with a loggerhead turtle at surface.
On the second dive we had a prolonged visit by dauphins who stayed about 20 minutes circling the divers, diving deep to feed on the snapper and then back to the divers again and again. They really put on a show!
During the surface interval/lunch break, inside the barrier reef, another loggerhead turtle hung out with everyone taking the opportunity to snorkel and seemed to want to be part of our group.
While no whale shark sightings, it was time well wasted!

 

[Downing]

Ralph wasn't able to post this photo, taken by one of the divers last week, Pascal Defuns.

Nice head on photo op.

Thumbnail_Pascal Defun Whale Shark Photo 11 April 2017

• Downing
• Apr 14, 2017
• 1

Whale Shark spotted off the coast of Placencia, Belize.

 

[Ralph Capeling]

April 14 - three boats out and only a glimpse of a whale shark on surface as it was departing. The divers missed seeing it.
Lots of snapper observed but fairly deep, daulphins were there putting on a show but not as good a one as yesterday. Saw bull sharks. Guests had a great time notwithstanding not seeing whale sharks.

 

[staggsSevin]

Thanks for posting this, what kinda water temps are you seeing right now?

 

[Ralph Capeling]

82 degrees F at surface

 

[Ralph Capeling]

April 15 - two boats out but no whale sharks. Saw some other marine life but the snapper were deep. As the whale shark moon matures we expect the snapper to start to move to shallower depths so should whale sharks should also start to move to shallower depths and so more likely to spot diver's bubbles.

 

[Ralph Capeling]

April 16 - one boat out today to the whale shark zone. Captain saw a whale shark about 30 feet in front of the boat but the divers in the water did not see it. Also looked for them today in the whale shark zone but following the birds circling the bait fish boils which usually works but the sightings are not as spectacular as when the whale sharks come to the bubbles like on day one. Snapper are still deep. The good news is that some of the divers who had been going out to look for whale sharks decided to go on our Silk Cayes tour which is in the same Marine Reserve and they saw a whale shark! It is clear that whale sharks are around but so far, other than day 1, they are avoiding us.

 

[mcdougal]

Hi Ralph, We are going to Blackbird April 13-20. Can you direct the whale sharks that way please?