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You are here: Home / Travel / International / Swimming with Whale Sharks in Mexico – Don’t Get Out of the Water!

Swimming with Whale Sharks in Mexico – Don’t Get Out of the Water!

April 1, 2015 by Kathryn 46 Comments

It’s so easy to fly off to an exotic country like Mexico and spend the entire trip lounging on the beach or sipping cocktails by the pool. While I’m certainly a fan of that relaxing atmosphere myself, there’s a lot to be said for getting away from the hotel or resort and taking part in some of the unique activities the country has to offer. And for a true once-in-a-lifetime experience, there’s simply nothing better than swimming with whale sharks.

kathryn lavallee swimming with whale shark
Yup, that’s me with the largest fish in the world!

Thanks to Viator, a company that specializes in helping travellers book the best and most original tours and excursions when travelling, I had the chance to take part in a whale shark diving experience with a group of bloggers from around the world, and I couldn’t have been more excited. The idea of actually swimming beside the largest fish in the world out in the open ocean seemed completely magical to me. But I couldn’t help being a little nervous too, especially when our guide started explaining the precautions we needed to take.

kathryn lavallee and alex whale sharks
Ready to jump into the water with Alex!

Our group was put into pairs and I teamed up with Alex of Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler for the event. Each pair would jump into the water with a guide in shifts and start swimming with whale sharks for as long as possible. Generally, the pairs swim between two to three times and when the swimming is over, it’s not because time has run out. It’s because the swimmers are exhausted!

Alex and I were the very first to jump in the water and we messed up badly. We swam in the wrong direction, caught just a flash of a whale shark’s tail and then floundered blindly trying to figure out where to go. We climbed out of the water feeling discouraged, but eager to try again. Spending some time watching the others jump into the water and seeing how the whale sharks glided along helped us see what we needed to do the next time it was our turn to try.

kathryn swimming whale shark
Taking some video while swimming beside this gentle giant!

Sure enough, our second swim was absolutely spectacular. By jumping in the direction the whale shark was heading instead of the exact spot it was at the time, we were able to snorkel right beside the sharks with a perfect view. It’s impossible to describe the feeling of swimming beside such a magnificent and peaceful creature as it moved through the water, but the video that the tour company created for Alex and I does a pretty good job of capturing the experience!

Most pairs only swim three times at most on a whale shark trip, but since Alex and I had messed up our first jump so badly, we insisted on going once more at the end to make up for it. Snorkelling beside these massive creatures was something that I wished I could do all day, but we soon hopped back on the boat and headed to Isla Mujeres for a swim in the crystal clear water and a delicious ceviche lunch.

swimming kathryn isla mujeres
Swimming in the gorgeous water of Isla Mujeres!

Then it was time to head back to our apartment and leave the whale sharks behind. But the memories are ones that will last forever! Whale shark season in Mexico runs from late May to late September, so if you’re planning a trip this spring or summer, make sure to visit Viator online and see about booking this experience. The minimum age for children is five years, so it even makes a great family activity as long as your children can swim well and ideally have tried snorkelling before. And swimming with whale sharks is sure to be an event that you’ll remember for the rest of your life!

Looking for other adventure experiences in Mexico? Check out this article from Ruth about Rio Secreto, a stunning cenote and underground river that offers guided tours to visitors!

Filed Under: International, Travel Tagged With: adventure, adventure travel, cancun, cancun excursion, cancun travel, family, family travel, isla contoy, mexico, mexico excursion, mexico travel, mexico vacation, mexico whale shark, shark, snorkelling, swimming, swimming with whale sharks, travel, vacation, viator, viator experiences, viator tours, viator whale shark, whale, whale shark swim, whale shark swimming, whale sharks

Comments

  1. Soozle says

    April 2, 2015 at 4:40 am

    Wow! You are certainly braver than I am 🙂 It looks like an amazing adventure though – and one of those maybe once in a lifetime experiences

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      April 7, 2015 at 10:13 am

      Lol it was a surprisingly peaceful experience but thinking about the fact that these were wild animals in the open ocean had my heart fluttering once or twice! SO worth a little nervousness though; it was definitely amazing!

      Reply
  2. Cheryl says

    April 7, 2015 at 11:10 am

    Wow that’s super cool! Looks kinda scary but probably such an exhilarating experience

    Reply
  3. Florence C says

    April 7, 2015 at 11:28 am

    Wow!! Sounds like a chance in a lifetime experience. I would not have the nerve to even attempt it.

    Reply
  4. Gizele says

    April 7, 2015 at 11:57 am

    Great pictures. Seems exciting!

    Reply
  5. kristen visser says

    April 7, 2015 at 1:49 pm

    that is too cool. i would never do it just cuz 1. terrified of being surrounded by water and 2. terrified of being close to creatures that size! but pretty to look at from a distance 🙂

    Reply
  6. jamie hall says

    April 7, 2015 at 2:24 pm

    looks amazing though i am nervous in the water

    Reply
  7. Lynda Cook says

    April 7, 2015 at 4:34 pm

    Wow what an experience, it looks kinda scary too but fun at the same time, glad you got to enjoy the swim!!

    Reply
  8. Matthew Tully says

    April 7, 2015 at 4:46 pm

    That looks absolutely amazing and something we will definitely look into trying on our next trip (Whenever that may be) to Mexico. What a crazy unforgettable experience.

    Reply
  9. Angela Stevens says

    April 7, 2015 at 5:00 pm

    Just the photos alone make my heart skip a beat I snorkel in Cancun off La Islae Majeures if I ever saw a shark in the water with me I would die of fear.

    Reply
  10. Michelle says

    April 7, 2015 at 6:01 pm

    WOW! What an adventure!

    Reply
  11. Cher says

    April 7, 2015 at 10:01 pm

    You’re quite adventurous to swim with whale sharks. I don’t think I could… but I would love to relax in that beautiful, clear water at Isla Mujeres. Reminds me of Nylon Pool in Tobago.

    Reply
  12. Dana Matthews says

    April 7, 2015 at 10:25 pm

    That looks like so much fun! What a way to spend a vacation day.

    Reply
  13. Helen Kempster says

    April 7, 2015 at 11:41 pm

    What an incredible experience!! I am not that brave have a phobia of deep water. I am assuming that was very deep water?!! I have always wanted to swim with Manatee though. (more shallow water)

    Reply
  14. Doris Calvert says

    April 8, 2015 at 4:48 am

    That is freaking amazing! I love it, wow what an experience, it excites me just watching it and I want to jump in…adding it to my list, we swam with Stingrays and that was amazing too but after what happened to the Croc hunter it’s scary, the shark is a once in a life time opportunity!

    Reply
  15. donna snugglebuns dufresne says

    April 8, 2015 at 6:44 am

    some day i will travel and like you i wish to swim with dolphins soo beautiiful

    Reply
  16. nicolthepickle says

    April 8, 2015 at 7:17 am

    Wow, that looks amazing and terrifying. I would love to swim with sharks.

    Reply
  17. Gord says

    April 8, 2015 at 7:25 am

    Definitely something I would love to try!

    Reply
  18. kathy downey says

    April 8, 2015 at 7:41 am

    Its not for me but Wow what an experience it must have been.

    Reply
  19. Dana Miller says

    April 8, 2015 at 1:14 pm

    Isnt the ocean absolutely amazing? I long to swim in the warm water.

    Reply
  20. Holly Wright says

    April 8, 2015 at 1:28 pm

    What an amazing experience that would be, I think I would be too much of a wussy!

    Reply
  21. Wanda Tracey says

    April 8, 2015 at 2:10 pm

    Wow! That is one amazing experience to have under your belt.I felt like I was right there with you because your review and pictures are so great! Thank you for posting this.

    Reply
  22. Karla Sceviour says

    April 8, 2015 at 3:19 pm

    wow,how awesome is that!!!

    Reply
  23. loucheryl says

    April 8, 2015 at 3:39 pm

    I would LOVE to do this. It would be an adventure I would always remember.

    Reply
  24. Ashley Costanzo says

    April 8, 2015 at 4:53 pm

    This looks like an awesome experience. I would love to try it.

    Reply
  25. Angela SC says

    April 9, 2015 at 1:14 am

    Oh that looks like so much fun! I’m quite envious what a wonderful life experience 🙂

    Reply
  26. Amy Lovell says

    April 9, 2015 at 4:11 am

    WOW! What a adventure! Bet it was excilerating!

    Reply
  27. Judy Cowan says

    April 9, 2015 at 9:03 am

    Wow, what an experience! Something you will definitely always remember. Not sure I would be brave enough but if given the chance who knows 🙂

    Reply
  28. Susan Stirling says

    April 9, 2015 at 12:32 pm

    What memories you are creating! Sometimes holiday beaches kinda meld into one in your head, but this is something you are guaranteed to remember always!

    Reply
  29. Elizabeth Matthiesen says

    April 9, 2015 at 8:09 pm

    What an exciting experience. That will be something to tell your grandkids about one day. 🙂

    Reply
  30. ellen chevarie says

    April 9, 2015 at 9:34 pm

    fabulous experience.hoping one day to experience the same.good for you/lovely pics

    Reply
  31. Kat says

    April 10, 2015 at 10:52 am

    Looks gorgeous but you are definitely braver than I am! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  32. tammy ta says

    April 10, 2015 at 10:54 am

    Wow this looks crazy and amazing!

    Reply
  33. Susan Patterson says

    April 10, 2015 at 4:28 pm

    You are amazing to try this – I would be too frighten – way to go!

    Reply
  34. Debbie S. says

    April 10, 2015 at 10:20 pm

    I would love to do this. I would probably be scared but it would be amazing to do. Absolutely amazing post. I will add this to my bucket list of things I want to do.

    Reply
  35. Stephanie LaPlante says

    April 11, 2015 at 11:44 am

    How awesome is that!!!! I’d be to scared. lol

    Reply
  36. Treen Goodwin says

    April 11, 2015 at 1:27 pm

    wow what a great experience , i love the ocean i swam in it all the time as a kid 🙂

    Reply
  37. Aliya D says

    April 12, 2015 at 9:39 pm

    Wow, that is so awesomely, cool! I am jealous, but so thrilled you got to experience it!

    Reply
  38. Janet P. says

    April 18, 2015 at 2:11 pm

    I’m not sure I could do this but I give thumbs up to you for being brave and having an awesome experience!

    Reply
  39. Elva Roberts says

    April 20, 2015 at 4:21 pm

    Wow; I think this would be the adventure of a lifetime. I know it would be a glorious experience and one not easily replicated. Kudos to you.

    Reply
  40. JaimeeM says

    April 24, 2015 at 6:52 am

    Omgosh, what an amazing adventure!

    Reply
  41. Debbie W says

    April 29, 2015 at 5:49 am

    Looks awesome, but I don’t think I would be that brave.

    Reply
  42. Jeannie says

    April 29, 2015 at 10:09 pm

    What an amazing experience!

    Reply
  43. Anne Taylor says

    April 30, 2015 at 12:27 pm

    Omgosh that looks like a one of a kind adventure! A tad scary for me lol

    Reply
  44. Carol M says

    April 30, 2015 at 12:43 pm

    Wow, once in a life time experience.

    Reply
  45. kathy downey says

    July 22, 2019 at 1:58 pm

    What a adventure,so happy you enjoyed it!

    Reply

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