Whale sharks - honeymoon Feb 2009 - where can we go???

[escher123]

Hi guys!

My finace and I are avid marine wildlife lovers, while I'm just a beginner at scuba, he's got an advanced certification. For our honeymoon in late january to early february 2009 we want to go some place where we can swim with the whale sharks. Ningaloo was the option until we found out the whale sharks are there only from April to July! Do you think we can still spot them in early February?? Anyone has any other suggestions? Anywhere across the globe is fine - as long as its warm, has whale sharks, and is not over the top on $$s!

Thanks a ton for your help!

Cheers,
Myra

 

[alcina]

Yup, you'll be far too early for reliable sightings here on the Ningaloo, unfortunately

Here's some quickie details on Donsol

Donsol starting sometime during the months of October and November, and peaks in the months of February to May

 

[robint]

Hi guys!

My finace and I are avid marine wildlife lovers, while I'm just a beginner at scuba, he's got an advanced certification. For our honeymoon in late january to early february 2009 we want to go some place where we can swim with the whale sharks. Ningaloo was the option until we found out the whale sharks are there only from April to July! Do you think we can still spot them in early February?? Anyone has any other suggestions? Anywhere across the globe is fine - as long as its warm, has whale sharks, and is not over the top on $$s!

Thanks a ton for your help!

Cheers,
Myra

Whale sharks are very large pelagic fish and do not stay in one place predictably. Some places have large groups show up during certain times of year (mating aggregations?) but no place is guaranteed at a certain time. People do see them in Galapagos, Utila Honduras, Ningaloo Australia, LaPaz Mexico, and Holbox Mexico. In Mexico you can see them in July/August but no scuba, only snorkeling. Utila is the same only they groups tend to show up there in March-April. I have head about sightings in Galapagos in fall I think but don't know the exact months.

So what I am trying to tell you is - yes, getting to scuba dive with whale sharks would be really cool, but it is a bit of a lottery on when and where.

 

[alcina]

Snorkelling with whale sharks is the way to go, btw, at least in many locations - including Donsol, Mexico and on the Ningaloo Reef. They are right near or on the surface and snorkelling is the easiest way (and the only way here except for the random sighting while we're on a dive!)

 

[Justin and Nicole]

There was a quick article in the August edition of Scuba Diving magazine that mentioned the Aquarium in Atlanta, Georgia has a "Swim With Gentle Giants" program that will allow you to swim with their whale sharks. I think it is expensive at about $290 a diver, but it is a guaruntee that you will see the whale sharks. There was another article (sorry, I looked and couldn't find it) in a recent issue that listed a place in Galvaston, TX and one in Louisiana that have whale shark trips in the gulf. The website for the aquarium is georgiaaquarium.org. Good luck.

 

[diversteve]

There was another article (sorry, I looked and couldn't find it) in a recent issue that listed a place in Galvaston, TX and one in Louisiana that have whale shark trips in the gulf.

Flower Gardens - but not in Jan-Feb. More like late summer from what I've read. http://www.gulf-diving.com/info.html

 

[DandyDon]

So what I am trying to tell you is - yes, getting to scuba dive with whale sharks would be really cool, but it is a bit of a lottery on when and where.

Oh wow, not from my experiences earlier this month. Keeping up with them is challenging enough with snorkel gear; I'd hate to try that dragging a tank and BC in the water. And next time I need to train first. Endurance running should help.

Tried shooting some videos of the experience both days; quite amateurish as my work always is but fun: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/sealife/248313-shot-some-videos-mexico-last-week.html#post3770053 The third one include a Manta encounter.

Here are some vid caps from the two Whale Shark dives. I may have been closer than the 10 ft required :blush: as it's hard to judge swimming hard and if you get far enough away to see the whole fish - you lose him in the murk. I did get my face brushed gently by a biggggg caudal fin when the first one pulled away from me. The Manta was swimming upside down below me, then rolled over to swim ahead. By the time he was upright, he had pulled out of range....

 

[del_mo]

Oh wow, not from my experiences earlier this month. Keeping up with them is challenging enough with snorkel gear; I'd hate to try that dragging a tank and BC in the water. And next time I need to train first. Endurance running should help.

What DD says! It's not "swimming" with the whale sharks, it's SPRINTING! Some sharks do swim slowly enough that you can linger with them for a few moments, but a slow idle for them is high speed for a snorkeler!

 

[Doc]

Anyone has any other suggestions?

Bombay? Oky doky, head South: Maldives. Even in February. Ari Atoll. But you had to know that, yes?

All well and good, the insatiable lust for the holy grail of all divers... in your first outing.

Maybe take your pursuit a bit slower, learn to dive, become an expert snorkeler.

So many newer divers begin by insisting for the biggest, rarest, most beautiful ______ (fill in the blank). Take your time, learn to dive, learn to be at ease.

SCUBA Diving and Whalesharks do not mix- the finny giants seem to not like bubbles. A net-bag full of frozen Shrimp in your pockets is an entirely different story. I'm not joking.

All things will come in time.

 

[escher123]

Thanks all for the information!
RoatanMan - Any suggestions for a good resort in Ari Atoll? I'm actually heading to Maldives next week for my first scuba experience! This time we're staying at Rannalhi ehich is in Kaafu Atoll.