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Annual Whale Shark Migration Season |
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Imagine snorkeling or scuba diving in the beautiful waters off nearby Cancun and you become mesmerized by the beauty of the sand, fish and so many wonderful sights. It is so relaxing, but then suddenly a large, dark shadow passes over you! You immediately start hearing the theme music from "JAWS" play in your head! As you heart rate begins to rise, you look up and see the largest "shark" you could imagine! Just as total panic has almost set in, you realize this enormous creature seems to be "feeding", but there doesn't seem to be any sharp teeth. Actually it seems to be very docile and is slowly swimming along. If this occurs around June 1st to September 15th, you have now become one (1) of the fortunate individuals to have just experienced the annual migration of the whale shark (Tiburon Ballena). So calm down, relax and enjoy this incredible, once-in-a-life experience!
Whale sharks are the world's largest "fish" and can exceed forty (40) feet and weigh more than ten (10) tons which not only makes it the largest fish in the ocean, but the largest fish that ever existed. So are they really a fish or shark? Well the whale shark is a shark as it has cartilage instead of bone (all sharks have this feature), which makes it a shark, but as sharks are fish, it's also a fish, so it is technically both a shark and fish. It has a massive mouth (about double the size of a manhole cover) and they are vegetarians that follow the plankton blooms across the ocean. The plankton blooms occur during these summer months off the pristine coastal waters of Isla Holbox. While whale sharks may look large and fierce, they are very friendly and "toothless" (much like the humpback or gray whales).
The annual migration has occurred for years, but it was only when local fisherman noticed how friendly these amazing creatures were that the whale shark excursions and tours started. Each year they grow larger and large as more people want to come and experience these gentle giants up close and personal. Many of Cozumel visitors are flocking to Isla Holbox to swim with these large, spotted whale sharks as it is a very short ferry ride (or now you can even take a scenic 20 minute flight) to join a whale shark tour.
So if you happen to be in Cozumel in June, July, August through mid-September, you can participate in this exciting experience of swimming/snorkeling up close with whale sharks. Simply fill out the online booking form here for a guided tour Take Me to Snorkel with Whale Sharks!
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