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Trip Report
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Holbox Island, MX, Whale Shark Expedition
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Date:
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August 22-26, 2005
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Location:
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Holbox Island, Mexico
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Objective:
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Photograph and observe whale sharks, and manta rays
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Weather:
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We had hot days and warm nights, surface conditions were flat calm in the mornings, but maybe 1 foot chop in the afternoons
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Dive Conditions:
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Vis averaged 30-80 feet, with water temp averaging 85 degrees. 1/2 mil wetsuit recommended
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| Type of Dive: |
Natural Encounter.
(Nothing was used to attract sharks)
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Trip Highlights:
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12 different whale sharks; including a 16-17 foot manta ray . We also witnessed two breaches by manta rays
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Notes from A Shark Junkies Journal
By Eli Martinez
Every year between the months of late June to early September, huge groups of migrating whale sharks come in to feed on the plankton rich waters off Holbox Island, Mexico. Unfortunately due to hurricane Emily, we missed our window to observe the huge migrations of feeding sharks. The hurricane hit the island in July, which is peak whale shark season. So we rescheduled our adventure for the tail end of August, which is toward the end of the season. Most of the sharks had already left the area and migrated on to greener waters. The good thing is, the end of the Holbox whale shark season is still some of the best big animal action in the world! So despite the decline in whale shark activity, we still managed to have long unforgettable encounters with these beautiful animals. And once we found the sharks, the fun was non-stop all day long...
Our first day in the water, we spent it swimming among five different whale sharks, and one manta ray. We also had the rare privilege of witnessing a manta ray breach. It's an amazing sight to see these huge stealth fighter shaped animals jump completely out of the water. Scientists have no idea why they do it. Some speculate, it's to rid themselves of parasites, others say they're ram feeding. Till one theory or another is proved, I believe it's because they can.
When we got to the whale shark grounds that first day, it didn't take long for us to spot a whale shark. When we found it, we swam with it all day...well sort of? We were each in our group taking turns swimming with our shark. However, our shark crossed paths with another whale shark, than we swam off with that one. Then that shark crossed paths with a third shark, and we followed it. Then that shark crossed paths with a manta ray, and we swam off with the ray! By the end of the day we were yet again swimming along with the shark we started our day with. We climbed out of the water exhausted, our legs were screaming with pain, we were hungry, our backs were sun burned, and we all had huge smiles on our faces. We left the area with plenty of images, and HOURS of logged snorkeling time with whale sharks in 85 degree water. Not bad for day one!
Day two, found us swimming with more whale sharks, three manta rays, (one with a 16-foot wingspan), and another breaching manta ray. Our last day was spent swimming with two different whale sharks and more manta rays. But on this day, we spent very little time with the mantas; we turned them down to seek out more whale sharks. Can you believe that? Imagine a dive trip, where you see a fish boil with a wake behind it, you motor your boat on over to it, see a 12 foot manta ray skimming along the surface and say to your boat captain, "Nah, keep going, find me a whale shark." It was sick! Most people fly to the other side of the world to encounter a manta ray, and there we were, turning down five or six manta rays in search of that bigger fish. That's when you know your adventure is beyond belief. That's when you know the diving is 'off the charts'. If you can say "no thanks" to swimming with manta rays, you know your adventure has been beyond amazing...
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For Additional Scrapebook pics from our trip, read issue # 11.
To learn more about traveling with Shark Diver Magazine to Holbox Island , Mexico to dive with Whale Sharks and Manta Rays. Click Here |
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