| During the summer months, mid May to mid | | | | by licence. It's generally an early start (7am) returning |
| September, the Whale Shark is a welcome visitor to | | | | early afternoon (2pm). During your trip soft drinks and |
| the waters surrounding Cancun Mexico and provides a | | | | a light lunch is provided, and many offer an open bar |
| fantastic opportunity to be at one with nature as you | | | | on the return journey. |
| swim and snorkel alongside these majestic underwater | | | | The whale sharks are usually easily located and once |
| giants. | | | | they are found clients enter the water two at a time |
| The Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) is the largest fish | | | | to swim and snorkel alongside them. This ensures that |
| in the ocean measuring up to 40 feet in length with the | | | | the animals are not spooked and also provides |
| largest individuals weighing over 75,000 lbs. Despite its | | | | maximum opportunity for some great unobstructed |
| name and size the Whale Shark is not a Whale at all, it | | | | underwater photography. Whale Sharks swim at a |
| is a filter feeding shark which consumes algae and | | | | speed of just 3mph so it is not difficult to keep up with |
| plankton. In fact, it is the migrating plankton it feeds | | | | them. Each session lasts around 10-15 minutes per |
| upon that brings this magnificent creature to the | | | | couple, and during the tour there will be 3 or 4 |
| beautiful blue waters of the Mexican Caribbean. | | | | opportunities for a total swim time of up to an hour per |
| In the Yucatan Peninsula area of Mexico, Whale | | | | person. All participants must wear lifejackets and no |
| Sharks gather off the coast of Isla Mujeres, Isla | | | | feeding or touching of the whale sharks is permitted. |
| Contoy and Isla Holbox and provide an excellent day | | | | Non eco-friendly sunscreen is also prohibited. |
| trip diversion for those vacationing in Cancun and the | | | | Most whale shark tour operators, including the ones |
| Riviera Maya. | | | | below, also include a second stop to snorkel at a |
| The boats that take you to see the Whale Sharks are | | | | nearby reef to enjoy the colorful and varied |
| small craft with capacity for around 10 persons plus | | | | underwater flora and fauna that this area of the |
| crew, and the numbers of boats are strictly controlled | | | | Caribbean is famous for. |