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Swim With the Whale Shark in Cozumel

whale shark

The largest shark in the world can be a great companion for adventure. And by big you must understand more than ten meters in length, a shark the size of a bus! The whale shark, in fact, is the largest fish on the planet. This peaceful animal feeds on small organisms in tropical waters (such as Isla Mujeres and Cozumel in the Mexican Caribbean) and is a docile companion for visitors who venture to swim alongside it.

The islands of the Riviera Maya offer very diverse activities, there are sophisticated services and peaceful surroundings, as well as unique and amazing natural wonders. Whale shark offers one of the most amazing experiences you can include in a comfortable and memorable excursion. The waters of the Caribbean have different places where you can approach these amazing fish by small boats, observe them and even swim with them!

Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is very different from other shark species. Unlike others such as the white shark or hammerhead fish, this marine creature feeds on tiny organisms that seep through its mouth, so that it has no sharp teeth or stalking like its hunter relatives. That is why the movements of the docile whale shark are slow and slow, so swimming in their proximity is a safe activity.

Their long dark loins show white spots that stand out when they swim near the surface, enlivened by the reflections of the sun. The largest are twelve meters and weigh more than twenty tons, which dwarfs by far the largest predatory sharks, a maximum of six meters and two tons. The mouth of a whale shark can measure one meter and a half wide, which opens to the maximum when fed, so that it passes hundreds of liters through its gills in which it filters the plankton from which it feeds. The head of the whale sharks ends at a flat and straight edge, just above the mouth, and although everything is huge in them, the dorsal fin seems smaller than that of other sharks. These animals are usually solitary, but in the vicinity of the Yucatan Peninsula groups of up to one hundred and forty fish have been sighted.

The whale shark searches the Caribbean for the large concentrations of plankton that emerge in the tropical seas. In this region, clear waters also allow for spectacular and safe sightings. The guides know the most common routes to observe whale sharks and also the basic safety measures. They, too, can recognize their usual movements, the way they prowl only a few feet beneath the surface, with the characteristic white specks of their loins, swimming slowly between the bluish reflections of the waters. With your advice, and with the help of a snorkel, you can swim as close to them as you would not have imagined.

All visitors take spectacular photos of Isla Mujeres and Cozumel, however, very few can compare to the photos (or videos) in which you accompany in his majestic swimming to a whale shark. A memory worthy of a shocking experience.