Whale sharks 2023

[Ralph Capeling]

Every year I post whale shark sightings at Gladden Spit. There has not been a lot to post in recent years. This is the script I use to reply to whale shark inquiries. We are scheduling whale shark tours April 2 to April 12, May 2 to May 12 and June 1 to June 10 in 2023 but I need to caution you. In 2022, we did one whale shark tour in April and two in May (saw lots of bull sharks but no whale sharks). In 2021 we did three whale shark tours and saw a whale shark on one of them. In 2020 we did not do any whale shark tours due covid-19, although there were sightings by fishermen at Gladden Spit. For the first time ever, in 2019 there were no whale shark sightings. In 2018 we saw whale sharks on less than 1/2 the days we went out. We are reluctant to take bookings for whale sharks until our monitoring indicates that they have arrived. We have lots of great diving and snorkeling on the Belize Barrier Reef and Glover’s Reef Atoll has pristine conditions due to its remoteness. I suggest you consider booking trips other than whale sharks with the option of switching to whale shark tours if they show up.

 

[dlofting]

Your honesty is refreshing, Ralph. One of the reasons I never hesitate to recommend Splash Dive.

 

[JFS]

We have had decline in numbers of whale sharks in the Cancun area as well since 2016. The large numbers are just not occurring anymore.

 

[Ralph Capeling]

I tried to do some online research on whale sharks. Would appreciate comments and feedback on the attached.

 

[JFS]

I tried to do some online research on whale sharks. Would appreciate comments and feedback on the attached.

Interesting. I was talking to some fishermen last year here in the Yucatan. The majority of Tuny fish they were catching were males so less eggs in the water for the sharks to feed on. June was dismal here even on full moon week, normally a lot of sharks around that time. last June 1 - 2 sharks in the area! Biologists who study mantas were pulling nets to see how much food was in there, very little. Years ago 2010-2014 there were 500 plus whale sharks in the Isla Mujares area. My theory was that the oil rig that blew up in the gulf had something to do with the huge numbers around here. There was a lot of chemical dispersants put into the water and I think it drove lots of filter feeders down to the Yucatan cause it was unbelievable numbers. Over 420 sharks in one aerial photo! I think the over fishing of their food supply is causing the current problems here. After 2016, we have seen year after year declines. Now they do arials surveys and maybe 80 spotted in the holbox to isla Contoy area so thats down atleast 75 percent over record years. Ive been doing whale shark tours for 13 years here in the Cancun area.

 

[virginiaallen]

Every year I post whale shark sightings at Gladden Spit. There has not been a lot to post in recent years. This is the script I use to reply to whale shark inquiries. We are scheduling whale shark tours April 2 to April 12, May 2 to May 12 and June 1 to June 10 in 2023 but I need to caution you. In 2022, we did one whale shark tour in April and two in May (saw lots of bull sharks but no whale sharks). In 2021 we did three whale shark tours and saw a whale shark on one of them. In 2020 we did not do any whale shark tours due covid-19, although there were sightings by fishermen at Gladden Spit. For the first time ever, in 2019 there were no whale shark sightings. In 2018 we saw whale sharks on less than 1/2 the days we went out. We are reluctant to take bookings for whale sharks until our monitoring indicates that they have arrived. We have lots of great diving and snorkeling on the Belize Barrier Reef and Glover’s Reef Atoll has pristine conditions due to its remoteness. I suggest you consider booking trips other than whale sharks with the option of switching to whale shark tours if they show up.

Thank you so much for the update

 

[Ralph Capeling]

No whale shark sightings April 2nd or 3rd.

 

[Ralph Capeling]

No whale shark sightings April 4th or 5th. We had a fully booked whale shark tour for today but had to cancel due weather. We will be trying again tomorrow.

 

[Ralph Capeling]

No whale shark sightings - had to cancel due weather. Looks like we can go tomorrow.

 

[Ralph Capeling]

One whale shark sighted yesterday.