Whale Sharks 2026

[Ralph Capeling]

Over the years I have watched with dismay as whale shark numbers seemed to be decreasing on a world wide basis. A couple of years ago, I put this on our website at Splash Dive Center. Would be interested in any comments anyone on ScubaBoard may have about whale shark numbers and protection.

Whale Sharks – An Endangered Species – Splash Dive Center

splashbelize.com

 

[wwguy]

I did not say you were or were not anything, I said IF.

Nowhere in your previous posts did you identify what shop you are and you're not a household name for me. I did search and found shops advertising whale shark trips which is what led to my post. But since I did not know if they were associated with you, I used the word IF.

It's absolutely up to me to have my own opinion on the appropriateness of anything and my right to express it.

Good grief. Your insinuations challenging the motivations and professional ethics of the OP are obvious to anyone reading this thread.

IF you'd taken a few seconds to simply look at the OP's ScubaBoard profile before publicly challenging his post, and his reasons for doing so, you'd have easily and quite quickly seen his occupation and associated dive operation.

And IF you'd taken a few more seconds and clicked through to his website, you'd have easily seen that he's quite honest and open about how his operation markets their Whale Shark Tours at Gladden Spit.

No, I am not searching the posting history of someone before replying to a post they make.

That's fairly obvious to anyone reading your comments.

 

[Blackcrusader]

Over the years I have watched with dismay as whale shark numbers seemed to be decreasing on a world wide basis. A couple of years ago, I put this on our website at Splash Dive Center. Would be interested in any comments anyone on ScubaBoard may have about whale shark numbers and protection.

Whale Sharks – An Endangered Species – Splash Dive Center

splashbelize.com

I looked at your website and found your comments to be very honest. Also the depth limit to take divers to and the 90 minute boat ride to the site. In May I was diving in Fuvamulah Maldives. On my first day and first dive the guides said if we get lucky we might see a whale shark during my 12 days of 36 dives.
They were right. We saw the largest whale shark I had ever seen on my first dive but it was cruising at a depth of 45m.

I got video of it my good friend and dive buddy missed it. It was the only time during that dive vacation I we saw a whale shark. We also saw some hammerheads and threshers but the main reason was for the Tiger Sharks which there are a lot of. I think the threshers and whale sharks are not fans of being around the Tiger sharks. However I have seen a whale shark every dive trip I have made to the Philippines in the last 5 years in Moalboal and Panglao Bohol Cebu. The dive shops just tell me I am lucky as they get customers who never see them. I've also seen them in Belongas Bay Lombok Indonesia

I share some photos with you hope you like them. That's me in the last photo.

 

[JFS]

Over the years I have watched with dismay as whale shark numbers seemed to be decreasing on a world wide basis. A couple of years ago, I put this on our website at Splash Dive Center. Would be interested in any comments anyone on ScubaBoard may have about whale shark numbers and protection.

Whale Sharks – An Endangered Species – Splash Dive Center

splashbelize.com

Around Isla Mujeres we have had a pretty good summer with the whale sharks. The numbers have been consistent with sightings every day. The only time no sharks were seen was the last week of June where 6 out of 7 days no sharks. August has been upwards of atleast 20 sharks a day. From our records it has been an increase over last year. Lots of fish eggs in the water.

 

[Ralph Capeling]

Around Isla Mujeres we have had a pretty good summer with the whale sharks. The numbers have been consistent with sightings every day. The only time no sharks were seen was the last week of June where 6 out of 7 days no sharks. August has been upwards of atleast 20 sharks a day. From our records it has been an increase over last year. Lots of fish eggs in the water.

Thank you for responding! How does the number of whale sharks now compare to 10 years ago?

I looked at your website and found your comments to be very honest. Also the depth limit to take divers to and the 90 minute boat ride to the site. In May I was diving in Fuvamulah Maldives. On my first day and first dive the guides said if we get lucky we might see a whale shark during my 12 days of 36 dives.
They were right. We saw the largest whale shark I had ever seen on my first dive but it was cruising at a depth of 45m.

I got video of it my good friend and dive buddy missed it. It was the only time during that dive vacation I we saw a whale shark. We also saw some hammerheads and threshers but the main reason was for the Tiger Sharks which there are a lot of. I think the threshers and whale sharks are not fans of being around the Tiger sharks. However I have seen a whale shark every dive trip I have made to the Philippines in the last 5 years in Moalboal and Panglao Bohol Cebu. The dive shops just tell me I am lucky as they get customers who never see them. I've also seen them in Belongas Bay Lombok Indonesia

I share some photos with you hope you like them. That's me in the last photo.

View attachment 914039View attachment 914040View attachment 914041

View attachment 914042View attachment 914043

 

[Ralph Capeling]

Thank you for responding! How does the number of whale sharks now compare to 10 years ago?

BlackCrusader Thank you for your comments. Great photos.

 

[JFS]

Thank you for responding! How does the number of whale sharks now compare to 10 years ago?

I would say the big drop was around 2015. Between 2010 and 2013 was a lot of sharks and mantas. Somewhere between 400 - 600 in the summer. After 2015 dropped to around 80 - 100. I think it had to do with that Deep Horizon Rig though because lots of chemical dispersants and oil in the water drove many filter feeders down. My friend here in Cozumel found a tracking buoy that was put in the water where the rig was to see where it ended up. It was found 8 months later about 10 miles north of Cozumel. The tracking device was returned and reward paid for it.... We are seeing fairly similar numbers year after year since 2015.