Notes from a Shark Junkies Journal,
July 26, 2006 - Day 9
I was sitting in the boat at the whale shark grounds at Holbox Island, Mexico watching some of our guests climb in after a very long session with three whale sharks. And I got to thinking, how am I going to tell this story? Who would believe me? And I can’t write about it in our magazine because we've already published two stories about
whale sharks in Holbox. So a third story would just put everyone to sleep. But our adventure had been so wild, and so amazing that it has to be shared. And since I can't share it with you all in the magazine, I am going to share it with you here. Well, at least the highlights of our six days in the water…
Day 1. Glassy seas. Our first day in the water and we spend it swimming with many whale sharks. Our group is totally blown away by how many sharks are spotted. Total number of sharks spotted today; 20, with two breaching manta rays.
Day 2. Glassy seas. Day 2 is even more amazing, we again spot and swim with over 20 different whale sharks, with a few mantas as well.
Day 3. the seas are a bit rougher, but not much. Clouds roll in for an afternoon shower. The sharks have dropped down a bit and not as many are spotted today. Four sharks were swimming closely by the boat, circling the snorkeler. A 12 foot manta ray swam through the middle of the sharks, it was a great day at sea. Total count 15 sharks, 4 mantas.
Day 4. The seas are plenty rough today and the sharks are very hard to find, as they are all swimming below the surface. But after about an hour the seas die down and the sharks start popping up to feed. Total number for the day, 10 sharks.
Day 5. Seas are still a bit choppy but it dies down pretty quick . We run into a current line that is thick with plankton, we decide to stay on it all day. Not as many sharks but the sharks are either swimming very slow, or they are not swimming at all. We had one shark stop swimming for almost an hour. It just stayed in place gulping in tiny shrimp. The images we got were just amazing. Plenty of breaching mantas as well. Total shark count; 5 sharks, 8 manta ray breaches, and a hand full of swimming mantas. A shark accidentally bumped the boat. It surfaced too soon and hit our panga. Talk about in your face action. Our best day yet!
Day 6. After yesterday, we figured it could not get any better...we were wrong. The current line was even stronger today and the sharks were all out in full force. We had so many sharks that we lost count after 30. The action was completely insane. In fact I will go on record stating that everyone on our boat is going to have a hard time trying to top the dive they experienced today. A lifetime could be spent trying, but hey, it will have been a very good life.
Total number of whale sharks spotted in six days...100 SHARKS!
Time in the water is what shark diving is all about. How much time are you willing to spend out there? This question will determine the kind of adventures you have, and the stories you will tell. ... It's your life, live it well!
