Last year my husband, myself, and some friends began planning a trip to Holbox, Mexico to go swimming with whale sharks. “What were we thinking”…I jokingly (and half seriously) thought. These giant creatures of the sea can reach 50 feet in length and weigh 10 tons. Sure, these particular sharks eat plankton and krill, but their mouths are large enough to swallow a human.
I kept asking myself, “Why would I willingly go swimming with sharks?” I’m not a thrill-seeker. I don't like heights, roller coasters, being in tight places. I prefer luxury trips and being pampered at the Four Seasons. But, I am also not afraid of a challenge. I enjoy “expanding my horizons” as they say, and I decided to give this new adventure a try.
We flew into Cozumel, Mexico, took two ferries, a private taxi, and a golf cart to our hotel in Holbox, which is about six hours from Cozumel.
Shark Time
Two days later it was whale shark time. By 7:45 a.m. I was climbing into the 25 foot “lancha” – meaning boat. After the 90-minute boat ride into open water, the captain began to instruct us on snorkeling protocol with the sharks. Two skin divers at a time would enter the water after the dive master. When the dive master said, “jump,” we were to immediately jump into the water and swim quickly towards the dive master, which would also be towards the whale shark!
The captain slowed the boat, pointed, and yelled, "Shark." He stopped the engine and the boat slowly floated towards the whale shark. His giant dorsal fin shot out of the water six feet. He gently moved toward the boat and lifted his head out of the water three feet from boat. His mouth opened and closed as if saying, "Come play with me." My adrenaline was flowing. I saw the actual size of this monster.....30 feet long! I looked at my husband and asked, "What have you gotten us into?"
The captain asked me and my husband to gear up and sit on the edge of the boat. Within five minutes we saw another whale shark. The dive master jumped into the water and yelled, "Jump!"
My mind railed for what seemed like an eternity, even though it was only a second or two. I thought; why are you jumping into the water with a 25 foot shark; stay on board and watch where it's safe. I struggled with the idea of jumping but before I knew it I had plunged into the cool, murky water. Unlike Cozumel’s clear water this water is alive with krill and plankton and the visibility is poor, 15 - 20 feet.
The dive master yelled, "Swim fast. Hurry!" My legs moved rapidly propelling me through the water towards the dive master. I was winded from the exertion. My heart pounded from the sheer panic and anticipation. Then like a phantom the giant whale shark appeared before me. He swam directly towards me and then dove beneath me. I moved to the side of the great fish to avoid his dorsal and tale fin. His size was unbelievable. First his head passed then body, fins, and tail. It was a like a Chinese dragon in a parade that just kept rolling out. His gray body and white spots were distinctly beautiful, his tail as tall as a man, his width over six feet. I tried to swim with the shark but he easily out-swam me, even at his leisure pace. I would have another crack at a great fish later in the day.
Other Creatures of the Sea
Riding back to shore we encountered playful dolphins, which we were told were mating. I saw a giant sea turtle, four feet in diameter that swam by the boat, and many flying fish. There are Manta Rays in the area, although I didn't see any.
Would I do it again? Yes! Would I recommend it? Yes, if you like snorkeling or scuba diving. This is a safe and wonderful way to connect with nature.
If you're interested in seeing these sharks, Google “whale shark excursions” and several options will pop up including, Belize and Honduras.
