Things To Keep in Mind During Whale Watching in Cancun

Posted by Yachts Riviera Maya
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Apr 19, 2017
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Have you ever considered swimming with whale sharks or whale watching in Cancun? Each year, from June to September, Cancun and the Riviera Maya play host to one of the most spectacular tours you’ll ever experience: the Cancun whale shark adventure! It is a must see activity while vacationing in Cancun or the Riviera Maya. 

WHALE SHARK SWIMMING

Whale sharks are commonly spotted between Isla Holbox and Isla Contoy. You can swim along with them while they feed on the surface's plankton during your romantic outing in Riviera Maya on board your own private yacht charter.

WHALE SHARK FACTS

• Whale Sharks Are Actually Sharks Not Whales: Whales or sharks? Both are used as denominations in their name. But, due to their huge size, many people consider them as whales even though they aren't whales at all. Instead, they're sharks. Moreover, in spite of their thousands of teeth, they cause no threat to humans.

• Despite Their Enormous Size, Their Diet Is Very Minimal: Irrespective they are the biggest fish on the planet, you will be amazed to learn more about their eating habits. Whale sharks feed on plankton and krill, which are very very small.

• Whale Sharks Aren't Dangerous: Despite their enormous mouths and hundreds of teeth, whale sharks pose no risk to humans. With a diet limited to tiny micro-organisms, you’re definitely not on the menu. Plus, they are already accustomed to swimming alongside humans, these gentle giants are very docile creatures. In other words, swimming or whale watching in Cancun is perfectly safe!

• Least Understood and Researched Sea Creature: Whale sharks measure up to 65 feet in length and weigh around 12 tons. You would think that something so big would be well-studied, with much known about their migrations, reproduction, and behavior. But it’s just the opposite. For instance, the whale shark migratory patterns are still widely unknown, and researchers have not seen them giving birth or mating.

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND DURING WHALE WATCHING IN CANCUN

• The Best Area To Watch or Swim – As the ocean constantly changes, so does the pattern of the whale sharks’ migration. In the recent past, Caribbean Sea near Isla Mujeres and Isla Contoy have become the best spot to experience whale watching in Cancun. They are known to have some of the densest populations of whale sharks. For a romantic outing in the Riviera Maya hop on a private yacht charter where it is common to spot 30 to 40 gathered in one place.

• Be Flexible – The condition of the sea is directly proportional to the chances of interaction with the whale sharks. If the ocean is choppy, not only is sea sickness can be a factor, but it is much more difficult to find whale shark groups; and if it has recently rained, the whale sharks will not feed on the surface of the water and prefer to stay submerged below. Hence, prior to starting your tour, try to remain flexible and check with the operator on the conditions of the ocean and whether or not they are ideal. 

• Plan Ahead of Time – Due to heavy congestion in the past few years which has resulted in injuries to the whale sharks, the Mexican Conservation Authorities have decided to drastically limit the number of authorized whale shark boats. Thus it resulted in a drastic decline in the boats available. That is why it is highly recommended to use alternative hours and get to the whale shark area with reservations ahead of time. 

• Abide By The Rules, If Planning A Swim – Kindly remember, at any given point of time only two people are allowed to swim with the whale shark, and you need to strictly abide by this rule. If the traveler is interested in spending more swimming time with these amazing creatures, then a private luxury yacht is a perfect way to achieve this. Other important rules to remember include no jet skis, no diving, no touching the whale sharks and be at least 3 ft away from the whale shark’s body.

Whale watching in Cancun is the perfect activity to delve into while on a romantic outing in Riviera Maya with your beloved. For the opportunity to swim with the whale sharks of Mexico, pre-book your whale shark tour ahead of time to guarantee a memorable experience.
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