Whale Sharks in Belize

[diversteve]

Any and all information about whale shark dive experiences would be welcome to me.
Has anyone done it? Where is the best and closest place to Rhode Island?

Technically the closest place is probably off Cancun/Cozumel. There's also Whale Sharks right now off Utila - Bay Islands, Honduras. There was a late sighting in a recent posting somewhere here that said they were there 4 days ago. There's also sightings off Belize regularly - actually the question at the start of this thread.

One of the best Shark experiences close to the US - not counting the Great White cage dives off San Diego - is probably the Soccorro Islands off Cabo San Lucas(Baja) MX. There's schools of Hammerheads, Silkys, Grays, some Tigers, Galapagos and Whale Sharks. 20' wide Mantas, Humpback Whales and their calves in the winter also.

One of the few ways to get there is the Solmar V liveaboard out of Cabo San Lucas, MX. Downside is that the currents are really swift so the trip is for experienced divers only. http://www.solmar.com/solmarv.cfm or http://www.diveglobal.com/consulting/monthly_trip/april2003.asp

You've seen this right? http://www.ecocean.org/index.html
It's about protection of whale sharks at Ningaloo.

 

[DocVikingo]

.... at Isla Holbox and you also can stay on the island itself.

The details on doing this can be found at----> http://www.undercurrent.org/UCnow/UC200410_issue.shtml, the Oct '04 Undercurrent cover story.

Best regards.

DocVikingo

 

[Doc]

http://www.BLUNDERcurrent.org[/url], the Oct '04 Undercurrent cover story. DocVikingo

Umm, no it can't be found there. The only thing there is a come-on to spend money for the info. C'mon, Doc, open up the purse strings and spill with some free copy and paste information.

Enough with the spam.

 

[diversteve]

Cocos Islands - Costa Rica.

 

[Hank49]

Has anyone done it? Where is the best and closest place to Rhode Island? Would I be better served going to Australia (since that is what I heard)? And if so, alcina, should I come see you? Wouldn't it be great to have someone I already talked to bring me on the dive...indeed.

I've been out to Gladden Spit a few times. Went with my friend who charters his sailboats to Friends of Nature so they can schmooze millionaires and get donations to "save the whale sharks". It's hit or miss. I didn't see any sharks under water but there were 5 swimming around the boat when we surfaced. We did see the huge school of mutton snapper spawning, which is what the sharks come to feed on. The month before my friend got some great video footage of 4 sharks swimming right up to people. One looked like it was trying to grab his son's fin. It's about a twenty mile ride from Placencia and they say the park closes at 5 now. We didn't even get in the water until 5:20. All the action starts at sunset. Idon't know. I hear Utilla is better. ?? Hank

 

[peterbj7]

I've heard reports of the odd sighting off Ambergris Caye now, though I'm not so lucky.

Incidentally, if they've been posted yet you'll find marvellous photos of a whale shark at www.millionfish.com. Taken in the Maldives a few months ago.

 

[DYK]

I did some dives with BICD on Utila, they do have this day, called "sunday funday", that includes two "normal dives" and a long search for whalesharks during the surface interval. if they find a whaleshark (or maybe two) there is no timelimit to snorkel with them, i guess this is a good opportunity if you dont want to do a liveaboard trip. they are also quite busy with a whaleshark research program. so, just check their website www.dive-utila.com.
...hope you will find your whalesharks,
DYK

 

[Hank49]

I've heard reports of the odd sighting off Ambergris Caye now, though I'm not so lucky.

Incidentally, if they've been posted yet you'll find marvellous photos of a whale shark at www.millionfish.com. Taken in the Maldives a few months ago.

I saw one about four years agp coming back from Bacalar Chico ?/ (I forget the name of the place just before Rocky Point where NOVA's hatchery is...) I was outside the reef on a calm day looking down because the water was so clear...and there it was right next to my boat. I could have touched it. But only a baby....25 feet long or so.