Whale Sharks

[pointsurfbaja]

I started spear fishing and snorkeling with a friend of mine that is really skilled. I am just beginning. We were out in some deep blue clear warm water and had a chance to swim with some whale sharks. How common is this? They actually stopped and let us hold onto their fins and go for a short ride.

 

[Ed Palma]

Around December to May, in the bay of Donsol in the Philippines, lots of whale sharks can be seen. Local laws prevent snorkellers from latching onto fins because these activities might eventually scare the fish away - which are a big tourist draw in an otherwise sleepy town. Even scuba is prohibited around them, for the same reason I believe.
The boatmen in the area are adept at finding them and letting you jump alongside them. It is indeed a great sight to see something the size of a bus heading your way. After several encounters with them however, I would caution against getting too close to their tails - they are after all capable of whipping back and forth (they are fish after all...) and if you get hit, well, too bad.
Welcome to the board!

 

[pointsurfbaja]

Hey thanks for the welcome.

I actually had a hold of the tail. Fortunately behemoth wasn't going too fast and we just strolled along for a few seconds just barely below the surface. This was 50 miles into the pacific just off of the coast of Baja California Sur. Have you ever dove those areas.

 

[Ed Palma]

Hey thanks for the welcome.

... Have you ever dove those areas.

As much as I would've liked to vary my diving locations, I've got to be true to myself: I'm an avowed warm tropical water wuss

this is a great board. Take the time to post an introduction in the introductions and greets area, and try checking out the regional forums for other divers from your area, and the activities that they've got planned.

 

[Venus]

No, no, no :no

I doubt it stopped and 'let us hold onto their fins and go for a short ride'

This is a living breathing creature which is not not not a toy for you to play with

Please don't do it again

They actually stopped and let us hold onto their fins and go for a short ride.

 

[Sam Miller III]

Have dove all over Baja--but not 50 miles off shore.

In 1948 the great diver Dr Hans Hass thrilled the world with his B&W movie "Under the red sea." In one portion of the movie he swam the lenght of the whale shark underwater, looked into the eye of the animal and surfaced--That was diverdoms first encounter with a whale shark. Since that time it has become very common, especially in Baja.

Good luck and be careful with your Baja travels.

sdm

 

[holdingmybreath]

No, no, no :no

I doubt it stopped and 'let us hold onto their fins and go for a short ride'

This is a living breathing creature which is not not not a toy for you to play with

Please don't do it again

ahh geezz.... go tell that to cat and dog owners too.. gimme a break.

 

[Rich (UTAH)]

We were out in some deep blue clear warm water and had a chance to swim with some whale sharks. How common is this? They actually stopped and let us hold onto their fins and go for a short ride.

Hey Pointsurfbaja,

What an fantastic experience! I've read about lots of encounters of other divers and whale sharks all over world. So coming across whale sharks isn't that rare, but it is awesome and something divers will never experience unless they dive in areas frequented by whale sharks.

I had my own experiences snorkeling with whale sharks in the open ocean near Utila Island in Honduras. We came across several different sharks that day both large and small.

I will second the advise to be careful of the tails. While snorkeling, one large whale shark (longer than our 35' boat) was gently swimming toward me with a mouth that looked as wide as I am tall. It was an awesome sight. He turned right and down just feet before he reached me and my mind quickly did the math that I needed to move or be hit by tail. I kicked away as quick as I could but didn't get away before that very large tail brushed me. No harm done and a memory to last a lifetime.

It is awesome experiences like you had that keeps divers of all types coming back.
Make sure you jot that one down so you can share it with the family down the road.

 

[dutchpickle]

Maybe a bigger problem is nicking the shark's fins or tail with the prop.

The ones around Donsol are sometimes found to have damaged dorsal fins and tails.

 

[dpbishop]

When I did a whale shark trip out of La Paz, They were very explicit in saying not to touch the Whale Sharks, as it might spook them & cause them to absquatulate. Of course, this was a situation where 6 swimmers are surrounding the shark. I must say the WS didn't seem to have the same concern about not touching the divers.

In a situation such as you describe, I doubt that it amounts to serious harassment of the WS. They have the speed to dust you off they don't like your company.