As a human being there are not many situations in life when you realize how small you are in comparison, not only to Mother Earth, but to some of the creatures that share this planet with us. One of the most spectacular experiences I have ever lived, albeit feeling really small, has been to swim with whale sharks.
You may have heard this story a million times. They are the biggest fish in the ocean, they are amazing gentle giants, they feed on plankton and well, yes, all these things are true. But what I really want you to know is that when you are swimming with these enormous beasts, side by side, the way you feel is: small. The first time I ever jumped in the water with these beautiful sea creatures I found myself in front of a huge open mouth lapping up plankton. I knew it wasn’t going to eat me, I knew it only fed on plankton, but I also felt one of the most intense adrenaline rushes I have ever felt as a fish the size of a bus swam past.
Swimming with whale sharks is an amazing, relaxing and exciting adventure, all rolled into one. The downside is you cannot enjoy it all year long. Whale Shark season lasts from mid-May to mid-September and during this time hundreds of them gather in the northern waters of the Mexican Caribbean to feed.
Whale sharks are protected by Mexican law and several years ago, the Federal government declared part of their feeding grounds a protected area. If you want to swim with these gentle giants you have to take an eco trip on an authorized boat.
One thing that often concerns our visitors is that from May to September it may rain a bit. No need to worry; our most recent reports indicate that yesterday —a somewhat rainy day— up to 30 whale sharks were spotted and some boats even spotted a few manta rays.
If you are coming down to Cancun or the Riviera Maya this summer, call your Thomas More Travel agent and book a trip to see these marvelous animals. Don’t miss the chance!
If you like to book this tour or any other during your vacation in Cancun and Riviera Maya, visit www.thomasmoretravel.com and get furher information.
Have you ever swam with whale sharks? Share in the comments!
