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Diving With Whale Sharks

 

Diving With Whale Sharks

Whale Sharks, Rhyncodon typus, are the largest cartilaginous fish in the world today. The largest ever recorded was just over 41ft long, but rumors by fishermen say that they may grow over 46ft in length which makes whale sharks the

second largest cartilaginous fish ever to exist and places them only second in length next to the Megalodon shark that existed some 20 million years ago and as recently as 1.6 million years ago. Only true mammalian whales are greater in length than whale sharks, with the blue whale being the largest creature by mass to ever exist on this planet. Like some species of whales, the whale shark has been able to achieve it’s great size by eating the smallest food source; plankton. They also eat krill, small fish, jellyfish, and squid. Whale sharks are one of only three types of sharks that through convergent evolution some 60 to 30 years ago became plankton feeders. The other two plankton feeders are both lamnoid sharks and include the megamouth shark and the basking shark. These two sharks have more in common with great whites than they do with whale sharks.

Whale sharks belong to the order Orectolobiformes and are related closer to carpet sharks such as wobbegongs and nurse sharks. Whale sharks have a distinct checkerboard pattern of lines and dots on their top/dorsal side that would be useful for a shark that tended to lay hidden in plain sight on the substrate, but whale sharks are constant movers, so why exactly they retain their bottom dweller camouflage pattern after millions of years is not quite clear. Perhaps the pattern helps diffuse radiation on their skin as they glide so close to the surface. Perhaps it helps distinguish others of their kind from predator sharks such as the now extinct Megalodon sharks and current Great White sharks.

Besides their length and disruptive color patterns, there are several other features that make whale sharks unique. To start with, they swim by not only moving their tail from side to side, but by moving two thirds of their body length from side to side. Only the head region remains relatively stationary as they thrust forward in the water forcing huge volumes of water to flow into their forward facing over one meter (3.3 feet) wide mouth. The seawater is expelled out though their five pairs of gills similar to how giant mantas feed, but on a scale as great as 6,000 liters of water per hour. Any plankton in the water over 1millimeter in size becomes trapped by thousands of 10cm long bristles that make up the gill-rakers and is eventually swallowed and passed down a relatively small digestive tract.

Only modern hammerheads sharks move their entire bodies from side to side as they hunt using the electrical receptors in their head to locate buried fish in the sand like a metal detector passing back and forth for greater coverage. Unlike other plankton feeders, whale sharks can also thrust their jaw forward and suck up plankton or small fish. Inside their mouth are some 300 rows containing over 3000 small slightly hooked Velcro like teeth. These small teeth may be used as a rough raspy surface to make it more difficult for small slippery jellyfish and slick squids to escape their ultimate fate, but little other purpose for these tiny teeth has yet to be documented. We do know that Mother Nature does not like to waste energy, and therefore a species will lose what it doesn’t use. For instance, after a brief 10,000 years living in perpetually dark caves, fish will lose their eyesight and become blind. Over millions of years ancestors of whales that returned to the sea, lost their back legs in addition to other bodily changes. Zygorhiza, a primitive 6m/24ft whale had hand sized back legs, while modern whales show no outward sign of ever having back legs except for possible small internal vestigial remnants of back leg bones.

As for their life span, we believe that they may mature after 30 years and live for over 100 years. One female can carry some 300 encased embryos. Offspring are born live: ovoviviparous. The smallest whale shark ever found was less than .5m/15inches in length. Juveniles have been found in the stomachs of blue sharks and blue marlin to name a few. In Taiwan they are called the tofu shark because of their taste and texture. They are currently determined to be vulnerable as a species, but as more divers and snorklers alike get the opportunity to swim with these gentle giants more may be done to assure their ultimate survival.

 

Now once you know how whale sharks live and what they feed on it is easier to find them in the wild. They live in tropical and warm-temperate waters around the world including the Gulf of Mexico, the Yucatan, Belize, Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Israel, Jordan, Africa, Yap, and anywhere else near the equator or where the water temp is between 70-86 degrees Fahrenheit (21-30ºC). They will also migrate in many other destinations at certain times of the year such as the Galapagos Islands, Andaman Sea, Honduras, Myanmar, Thailand, Sumatra and Indian Ocean. Much of their habitat overlays the habitat of mantas and other plankton feeders. However, whale sharks are not only found on the surface near bays, reefs, or inside lagoons, but they are known to dive down to 1,286m/4,219ft.

Guides off Isla Mujeres, Mexico to Ningaloo Reef, Australia look for signs of sea birds flocking over the water or tuna jumping in the water. Chances are, the birds and tuna are there to get the fish that have been attracted to the high concentrations of plankton. It won’t take long for one or more whale sharks to join in on the planktonic festivities. Some whale sharks such as a few off of Yap Island, Utila Honduras, and Indonesia like to reside there year round, while others migrate great distances to their preferred feeding destinations. Three days before or after a full moon when corals and reef fish spawn, whale sharks will congregate near these designated areas. In 2011 some 400 whale sharks congregated off the Yucatan coast of Mexico to feast on the aggregate release of cubera, mutton, and dog snapper larvae.

Now you might encounter a whale shark while diving off of Tampa, Florida, an oil rig in the gulf, or off of Costa Rica, but the most popular sites don’t even let you scuba dive with these fish. At certain locations masks and snorkels are permitted only, no flash photography, and keep a distance of 3.3m/10ft away from the fish. Belize is one of the few exceptions, as you may have to scuba dive down to 33m/100ft to view the whale sharks here. The point is that they want the tourists to enjoy the viewing without scaring or harassing the fish. Even a hand on a fin will remove a thin layer of gel that keeps bacteria away from the whale shark’s body, and locals will do anything to protect the tourist equivalent of an aquatic cash cow; if you will.

So when is the best time to see these massive creatures? The locations and time periods vary but here are a few. In Mozambique the best time is November to February, in the Yucatan mid-July to August, at Ningaloo Reef mid March to mid-August, for Belize April to May, Galapagos Islands June to November and in the Philippines December to May with the most whale sharks congregating February to April, but the waters are the calmest April to November. Yeah, sounds a little complicated, and in addition to all this, as famous formidable fish, whale sharks ultimately migrate when they wish.

 

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Destination Spotlight: Cozumel, Mexico

Crystal clear waters, delicious (and we mean delicious) food, friendly locals, rich history and of course drift diving, which is a must for experienced divers, and so much more.

We’re going to try the best we can to fit all of the best of Cozumel Mexico into one awesome post.

Ready?

Here’s your next stop in our virtual destination tours: Cozumel, Mexico.

Diving Cozumel  

Divers from across the globe travel to this beautiful island to enjoy Mexico’s unique reefs, marine life, and dive conditions.

Diving in Cozumel takes place in the Meso-American Barrier Reef at the National Marine Park, which has been protecting the area for over 15 years. Depending on the season, currents vary from nonexistent to about 2 knots or so. And at times, you may be able to experience the Cozumel Drift, which allows you to partake in spectacular diving with little to no effort.

What can you expect to see at the largest reef in the Western Hemisphere?

Over 500 species of fish, 350 of mollusks and 26 classes of coral (100 types) inhabit this area as well as sponges, sea turtles, crustaceans, stingrays and more. You can also see nurse sharks, small black tips, barracudas, and grouper year round. The undersea life is abundant and vibrant.

Must-Do-Dives 

The must-dos are in the Palancar reef area. It consists of over 6 miles of reefs, caves, drop offs, and tunnels. This reef alone contains 25 sites which are divided into different areas known as Horse Shoe, Caves, Bricks, and Palancar Shallow – just to name a few.

Some other famous dive sites include: Columbia y Columbia shallows, Punta Sur and Santa Rosa.

Cozumel also offers a series of smaller reefs that are extremely fun and have tons of marine life: Tormentos, Yucab, and Chancanaab.

Cozumel offers many popular accommodation types to stay that are extremely diver-friendly from small hotels to large all inclusive resorts. Most are located on the waterfront and dive operators are either on property or will pick you up from the properties dock.

There is no hype, no pretensions and the atmosphere is laid back.

That’s why divers find their way here. The destination seems to be designed and built for and by divers.

If you’re looking to up your dive skills, the dive operators all offer specialty courses and certifications for higher diving levels.

The diving experiences are unique to every dive. But there are many other pursuits and attractions that this destination offers when you are out of the water.

Got your fins perked again, huh?

Topside

No doubt, Mexico’s FULL of rich history and culture, some of which are noted as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. But there are some wonders you can experience right in Cozumel.

San Miguel: Cozumel’s main town is just a short walk away from many hotels. The pueblito is known for its numerous family restaurants, bars, shopping, and much more.

For a more authentic Mexican vibe you can go to El Mercado (the Market), which is open daily from 6am – 1pm. There you can meet locals and shop for some Mexican food and wares.

Visit El Museo (the Museum) located right on the waterfront where you can enjoy local artist works and an exhibit on Cozumel’s history and heritage.

The ‘Other Side’: Looking for a different experience in Cozumel? Rent a car and head to the quiet mostly uninhibited other side of Cozumel. There you’ll find beautiful beaches, snorkeling, bars serving fresh fish, and you can even visit the small Mayan ruins of San Gervasio.

Want a little more adventure?

If you’ve got more time you can visit nearby attractions such as:

Chichen Itza: Said to be one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, and let us tell you, it IS. This site is a little further away but definitely worth the effort, as it is known as one of the most important civic and religious centers of the Mayans.

X-Caret Park: One of the most noted things about Mexico other than its ruins are its cenotes, which are openings (small or large) or a lagoon to underground fresh water rivers, caverns and caves. X-Caret Park offers a magnificent archeological experience of Riviera Maya. Enjoy snorkeling in underground rivers, wild life, vibrant Mexican culture and exhibitions, beach and much more.

There is much that Cozumel offers so don’t hesitate to go but be warned that once you do you’ll want to return!

 

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