Whale Shark - Manta Ray Snorkel
Whale Shark & Manta Expedition
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Snorkeling/freediving with Whale Sharks Rhincodon typus
Snorkeling/freediving with giant Manya Ray Manta birostris
I searched the world over for years to find the ultimate whale shark adventure....and boy did I find it. Flat calm ocean, tropical waters, surrounded by friendly whale sharks. Hard to imagine...but it's a real place....I've fallen hook line and sinker for these beautiful and curious gentle animals. And to sweeten the deal the giant Manta Ray are friendly too.
No it's not a whale.....it's a shark....like baleen whales these huge sharks are plankton eaters..... they do not have teeth.....To swim next to one of these awesome beings from the deep ocean is an incredible experience......
Come and snorkel in the warm Mexican Caribbean with whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) the largest fish in the ocean. We get really close encounters that far exceed even my expectations, and that's a pretty tall order. We often see wild dolphins or manta rays.... and the mantas can be pretty friendly too. Manta Ray (Manta birostris) can grow up to 6.7 metres and weigh over 2 tonnes.
Whale shark facts
Whale sharks are the largest fish on earth. They attain a length of 18m (60ft) or more and weigh up to 34 tones (in comparison, a big elephant weighs up to 6 tones). They have a very distinctive coloration with the dorsal surface covered with white spots and stripes.Whale sharks are filter feeders, feeding on zooplankton, small fish and squid. Their large mouths (2-3m/6-9ft wide) engulf huge volumes of water which is filtered by a sieve-like structure inside the five pairs of gill slits on the sides of the head. Large numbers of whale sharks gather at various places at specific times each year, to feed on rich plankton concentrations, attended by their pilot fish and remoras.
Manta Rays
As if snorkeling and freediving with whale sharks was not enough…. we usually get plenty of opportunities to snorkel with manta rays too…as they hang around with the whale sharks, especially at this time of the year.
Of course as we are on such a beautiful island we can do a snorkel tour to see a little reef and tropical fish one afternoon …. maybe a little beachcombing…. and lets not forget the all important hammock snoozing contest…. there are hammocks all over the beautifully landscaped hotel grounds and the beach…. love it !
An idyllic tropical island setting
Our tiny island off the Yucatan Peninsula is a protected site of the Yum Balam ecological reserve. It’s an ideal location for seafood lovers, nature seekers, swimmers and fishermen alike. It offers an excellent choice of activities, such as sailing and windsurfing, or kayaking. Horse riding and kite surfing are also available on the beach.The fishing around the island is also excellent….so anyone who likes to play at being an island castaway and wants to catch fresh fish for dinner is in for a treat
Besides the whale sharks and manta rays we see dolphins, turtles, pelicans and pink flamingos. At night we can gaze at the stars as we swing in a hammock under a breezy palm tree.
On this five night trip scuba diving is available one day if pre-booked (conditions permitting). This is for experienced divers only .... on a ship wreck and a deep sea pinnacle that rises to the surface. This amazing mountain peak is frequented by schooling giant manta rays.
Anyone who wishes to stay on before or after in the Yucatan area can do so. I have been to this area before, and I have explored extensively. I can recommend lots of fun and amazing places to visit. Sightseeing ancient Mayan pyramids, scuba diving fantastic reefs at Palencar, or the famous cenotes (caves) inland, oh and at Xel Ha near Tulum the snorkeling is fantastic. Just ask me I can give you more info if you need it, it’s a lovely area, and a great time of the year to visit.
So if you are interested in this one…let me know soon….. These trips fill up very fast……
For this adventure we are land based on a tiny picturesque tropical island …staying in a beautiful and very colorful oceanfront hotel on a white sandy beach…
Cancun is easily reached in just over an hours flight from Miami. There are also reasonably priced flights direct to Cancun (CUN) airport from other US cities and Europe.
If you book your flight with American Airlines you will receive an extra 5% discount off flights on lowest internet fare available when you enter my discount code at www.AA.com (I will send you this code when you book your adventure). Many other airlines fly to Cancun, including some of the budget priced carriers like Spirit.
We have the best and most experienced captain on the island, and the head whale shark guide. Our two whale shark boats are private, just for our group with a maximum of 6 in one boat, and 8 people in the othe. We stay far away from the crowded local tourist day trip boats, we get the absolute best encounters no question about that.
We will go out to swim with the whale sharks from around 7am until about 3pm daily. Water, soft drinks, sandwiches, fruit and snacks will be provided on the boat each day.
This is a wildlife expedition so there is never any guarantee, and times and lengths of whale shark encounters are up to the whale sharks. That's why we go out for three full days in the areas with the most whale sharks and manta, so we get the most encounters possible. We have had amazing success every trip so far.
Late afternoons and evenings will be at leisure, relaxing and swimming at the beach or snorkeling around the island…or just chilling out in a local restaurant. I have arranged for our picnic brunch to be included on the boat but I have not included dinner …as I think everyone likes it much better when they can explore and try out the local eateries in such a beautiful location and there are some great restaurants to try. Dinner is very inexpensive.
Private round trip transfers from Cancun airport or hotelI have arranged for us to have private a/c taxi transfers from Cancun airport or your Cancun hotel to our little island hide away. This is a 3 hour journey...by private a/c taxi van (with rest stops), then ferry boat ride to the island followed by a short island taxi to the hotel …. The return journey by private transfer is also included.
We are limited to just 6-8 persons on a boat…which is fantastic for close up and very personal encounters with the whale sharks. In fact only 2 people at a time can enter the water with each whale shark...it's a good rule so we don't crowd them.
What's included ?
Private round trip a/c taxi transfer from Cancun airport or your Cancun hotel to the port on day 1 and back on last day - duration 2 hours each way (with rest stops).
Ferry transfers to and from island. duration 30-45min each way.
Round trip Island taxi transfers from Island port to our beautiful hotel on arrival and departure. Duration 10-15 min each way.
Beach front hotel accommodation (for 5 nights) in picturesque rooms in the best hotel on the island. The hotel itself is an amazing work of art, perfectly designed to blend with the tropical environment. Cell phones will work if your phone is set up to work in Mexico. Wi-Fi included if you bring your lap top.
Private adventures exclusively for our group of just 6-8 people plus guide to snorkel and freedive with the Whale Sharks and Manta Rays. We have our own private boat, and the best and most experienced captain on the island.
Every day we have our own private whale shark guide....also the best and most experienced on the island. Our guide is very informative and you can tell he loves the whale sharks very much. He can answer any questions we have and he also gives us a good education about the area and all the other interesting creatures that live there. Turtles nest here and we often see them too. Our guide is with us at all times in and out of the water....and he is great at guiding us into the right position in water to get the absolute best encounters possible.
Whale shark permit fees are also included and go toward the ongoing protection of the area.
Picnic brunch with sandwiches, fruit, snacks cold water and soft drinks is included on boat daily. Vegitarian option on request.
Wet suits are provided for those who do not have one. The water temperature is very warm...they just like us to wear wet suits for extra buoyancy if we get tired when swimming.
Tax's included.
What's not Included ?
Flights to and from Cancun
Meals when on land (dinner)
Scuba option
