Whale Sharks!

If you go in autumn to spring to the California Bajah peninsula you can have a chance to swim with the genital giants of the sea, whale sharks! In this area there are juveniles that grow to be between 16-20 feet, the adults being in Cancun that can grow to be 40 feet long. Their mouths open at a gaping length of 4 feet, but they do not have teeth what they have instead is baleen that works like a large filtration device. The fibers of the baleen trap the whales diet with in. Eating small fish, shrimp, plankton, krill, and fish eggs. Since their gullet is no bigger then a fist you don't have to worry about them trying to come after your limbs. The fact that these animals are so big (as big as whales) and their eating habits are like a whale as well, is where the name whale shark comes from. Unlike whales and more like sharks they have cartilage instead of bone, and when they swim their tails go side to side unlike whales that go up and down.

We booked our whale shark experience with Cabo Adventures about a month before going. Originally we were gonna go as a group of four and we got our tickets at 30% off! The original price of this trip was $249 apiece and with the discount it ended up being $174. This discount is on their website and was not because we had so many people going. 11 days before leaving two members of our group decided they couldn't go anymore. We called to cancel their tickets and my mom spoke with the corporate side of the business they told her that there was a long wait for refunds since there was alot of canceling due to Covid. That it would take up to 6-8 weeks for a refund. When we got to the main building to leave for our tour the lady at the desk said there was no record that she called and canceled. So after we got home my mom had to call and argue with the company to get their money back for them.

Once we got onto the tour bus we were given a light breakfast of a sandwich and juice, then we got a run down on what to expect when we were out there. Our guide told us that they take the safety of the whales very seriously, the area that the whale sharks frequent aren't aloud to have any ships inside that are not licensed. Each day the tours have to check in and get in-line to have a turn to go and see the whale sharks. They only allow so many in the area at a time and each one has a time frame that they are aloud to be out there. Whale sharks' have a blunt snout above their mouths and a flattened head. Short barbels, or catfish like sensory organs that look like whiskers protrude from the whale sharks nostrils. As well as their sensitive white bellies that dolphins like to go under and nudge them tell they flip over trying to get away. Because of this they only allow groups to swim on the side of the whale, keeping about 6 feet back from the fins to avoid the pull they create while swimming. If you do fall behind and end up by their tails you want to give them a 10 foot distance so you don't get caught up in the current of the very large tail. Its also required to swim with a flotation device of some kind, either a life vest or we got away with using a wet suit.

When we got off the bus we went straight to the boats to go and check in to be inline to go out and see the whale sharks. After this we went back to shore and got fitted into our wet suits, and then waited around tell it was our turn to go! It took a couple hours until we could go out, my mom and I talked with the couple that was going out with us and we all had some drinks. The restaurant there had a requirement of $15 or more to use a card so we ended up with 5 margaritas between my mom and me. After we had our drinks and had some food it was finally our turns to go out. Once we got out to the protected area where the whale sharks were the searching began, our guide told us being one of the last tours to go out was good when it came to spotting where the sharks were. Because you could fallow all the other boats and see where they were all were swarming to see the whales. Once one was close by it was really easy to see it a dark shadow would appear close to the surface.

When one got close we would sit on the side of the boat and jump in while still in front of them, our captain would get us right next to these amazing animals! Swimming next to them they recommend with a group of 4 people 2 being on each side so that you can still easily stay close to the animals and still see them with out being swiped away. Our first jump in the cold water caught us all by surprise, I tried to swim close to the whale but it ended up going under the boat and underneath me. As I was trying to stay out of its way it ended up hitting me with its tail right on the back of my leg! Right where I was planning on getting a whale shark tattoo as well! As amazing as this was I felt really bad I couldn't get out of the way because they do not want anyone touching the whale sharks for their safety. You never know what harmful things you could have on your skin, such as oils, or sunscreen (though we got the coral safe kind) ect.

If you happen to get a chance to swim up on the left side of the magnificent animal try and get a picture. Each whale sharks left side has a unique pattern of spots like a fingerprint. If you get a picture you can upload it a database and help track the animal that you got to swim with! Wildbook for Whale Sharks www.whaleshark.org

You also have the opportunity to adopt the shark that you swam with by using the page.

In our group every one was having issues with their snorkeling gear, trying to snorkel out in the oceans weaves proved to be difficult. We were constantly getting water down the mouth pieces of the snorkel, so none of us were really able to swim with the sharks but we kept getting in the water next to them tell they swam away from us. Shark species including whale sharks have a sixth sense given to them by a specialized nerve cell in their head region (in whale sharks its shown with the white lines on their heads) this is called the Ampullae of Lorenzini nerve. Being sensitive to electromagnetic fields these nerves can sense when these are transmitted by other animals such as from a heart beat. So they could sense that we were next to them.

It was so amazing to share the ocean with these amazing animals even for the short couple hours we were out there! They were the only reason we went to Cabo and made the short trip there defiantly worth it! Next time we go to Cancun we plan on going out again with the whale sharks but next time we hope to see more adults and be able to actually swim with them for some time.