Whale or Shark, that is the question?
Growing up, I was fascinated with the ocean, and on trips to the library, I would check out a plethora of books on oceans and marine biology. While flipping through the pages, I remember seeing an image of a diver swimming on the back of a huge whale. As I read more, I realized that it was not a whale, but instead a shark. As a wide-eyed 3rd grader, I thought that was the coolest thing in the world, and swore to myself that would be me one day.
Fast-forward 15 years, I was on a small boat out to the middle of the ocean to fulfill that dream. Although I have swam with other sharks before (Check out It is un-Belize-able! The Belize Barrier Reef), the experience of swimming with whale sharks was a different and awe-inspiring experience.
One of the best places to swim with these giants is in Mexico. In fact, scuba divers and snorkelers voyage to Mexico for this experience every year. With the rise of ecotourism in Mexico, you can find great ethical opportunities to swim with whale sharks.
This is not a sponsored post.
The Big Fish
What is a whale shark? Despite its name, the whale shark is not a whale, but a shark. These are the biggest fish in the world, and can grow to 40 feet (or 12 meters) long. If those numbers do not mean anything to you, then each whale shark is roughly the size of a bus.
If you find that intimidating, understand that these sharks are gentle giants and are not a threat to humans. In fact, the sharks feed on plankton. Because of their diet, the whale sharks are more likely to surface on sunny days to feast on the plankton.
One of our friends was terrified to join us to swim with the whale sharks. He had a fear of accidentally swimming into the mouth of one of these big fish. Trust me, these whale sharks want you in their mouth as much as you want to be in their mouth. They don’t.
The Cost
Based off of reviews and competitive pricing, I booked the tour with Mexico Whale Shark. For the Whale Shark Tour from Cancun, the early bird price was $150 per person. If you book during the season, it is $160 per person.
The tour is roughly 7 to 8 hours long and transportation back and forth from your resort or hotel.
The Experience
After being picked up from our resort, we were transported to the dock for a small breakfast before boarding the boat. On our way out to open water, the tour guide and captain educated the group on the whale sharks and the process for us to swim with them.
The tour guide was strict on adhering to the conservation rules and standards. That meant no sunscreen for the day since most are created with harmful chemicals and strong smells that would bother the whale sharks and other marine life. Also, touching the whale sharks was prohibited.
After traveling for roughly two hours, the captain started the search for the whale sharks. Since we were getting to the end of the season and it was a cloudy day, it was a hunt to find the whale sharks. In the height of the season, you can easily spot hundreds of them in one spot.
To not overwhelm the sharks, we went out in pairs for a few minutes of swimming with the tour guide. It may seem like a short amount of time, but swimming after the whale sharks will tire you easily. Despite their size, they swim very fast.
When it was time for us to jump in, we sat on the edge of the boat with our tour guide. When the captain got in position and told us to jump, YOU JUMP. Do not hesitate, or you may miss your chance. We dove right in and began kicking to catch up to these beautiful giants.
It was BREATHTAKING! Being transported into the peace and quiet of the ocean, you are in awe of the sheer size of the whale sharks. Decorated with beautiful markings and an astonishing size, it is difficult not to be mesmerized with their movements and beauty.
Kicking as fast as I could, while remaining a respectful distance away, we watched the whale sharks dive and surface from the dark depths of the ocean. While climbing back onto the boat, I had the biggest smile on my face and an overwhelming sense of calm coursing through my body.
Once we cycled through all the couples on the boat, we got the opportunity to swim again. Since we had 10 people on our boat, the wait time went by fast. Also, it was fun talking to the passengers after their experience and watching others jump in.
On our second jump in the water, we were greeted by a large mouth heading straight towards us. However, it was not a whale shark. It was a huge Manta Ray! Heading right towards us, my heart skipped a beat as we quickly swam out of its trajectory. Yet, another one was right behind him and getting curious with us. A Manta Ray can get up to 23 feet (or 7 meters) across, but the average size is 15 feet (or 4.5 meters). Another gorgeous sight as it drifted between the whale sharks.
By appreciating the animals in their natural habitat, it felt like we were a part of their world. Once we had a few rounds of swimming with the sharks, we made the trek back towards Mexico.
We made a stop at Isla Mujeres to enjoy the beach while the crew got our lunch ready. After swimming in the crystal clear water and stepping on the softest sand I have ever experienced—seriously, it felt like powder—we had a delicious lunch of fresh ceviche and jalapeno chips.
On the way from Isla Mujeres to Cancun, we stopped at a reef for a 20-30 minute snorkel. Jumping at the chance to get back into the ocean and snorkel, I was pleasantly surprised by this extra stop.
It was an experience of a lifetime! If you have the change to swim with these gentle giants, take the dive.
Things to Know
Between May and September, is the best time to spot Whale Sharks, since they migrate to the sunny Caribbean to feast on plankton.
If you burn easily, consider wearing a wet suit.
Wear a life vest. It will help you keep up with the whale sharks, and also keep you safe.
