👋🏼 Hey there! here is a quick briefing for an unforgettable experience. Thank you for being here! Your participation supports 🌍 marine conservation in Isla Mujeres and beyond. 🌊💙
💚 Conservation Efforts
Whale sharks face serious threats, including illegal 🏴☠️ fin fishing, with fins fetching up to 💵 $400 USD/kg on the black market. Thanks to conservation initiatives and eco-conscious visitors 🌱 like you, we are reducing these atrocities. 🙏🏼
⏳ Tour Duration & Encounters 🐾🐬
The whole journey lasts about 6 hours and the boat ride to the whale sharks area takes about 1 hr. On the way, we may encounter 🐬 dolphins, rays, and 🐢 turtles. The tour ends once everyone has completed their two swims.
📜 Tour Rules
To ensure a safe and respectful encounter with Whale sharks, please follow these simple rules:
- 🚫 Do not touch or ride the Whale sharks.
- ↔️ Maintain a 2m distance from the shark's body.
- 🚷 Stay 3m away from the tail fin.
- 🙅🏼 Avoid blocking their path.
- 🤫 Enter the water quietly.
- 🦺 Always wear a life jacket.
- 👫 Swim in pairs.
- 📷 Avoid using cameras with long attachments and flash
⚖️ Government Regulations & Safety
- ⏱️ Each person swims twice for about 10 minutes.
- 👯 Only two people in the water at a time.
- 👥 Minimum group size to make the trip: 5 people.
- 🗓️ 95% success rate in July-August; 75% in June/September.
- 🚫 No departures if the Coast Guard issues a 🚩 14-knot wind advisory.
- 💊 Not recommended for people prone to seasickness.
- ❌ Not permitted for severe physical conditions, ❤️ heart issues, 🤰 pregnancy, or those under 🍺/💊 influence.
- 👶 Minimum age for group tours: 12.
- 🦺 Life jackets are mandatory. Wetsuits are no longer allowed as a primary floating device.
🧭 Why Do Whale Sharks Visit Isla Mujeres?
Every year, Whale sharks travel thousands of kilometers to Isla Mujeres due to a natural phenomenon. Nutrient-rich 🌪️ sands from the Sahara Desert are carried by ocean 🌊 currents to the Caribbean, promoting 🌱 phytoplankton growth and therefore zooplancton, sardines and the Atlantic little Tuny.
🌅 At dawn, 🐟 tuna release millions of floating eggs that attract Whale sharks. This triggers a 🥂 feeding frenzy alongside Caribbean Manta rays.
Whale sharks can grow up to 18m, making them the world’s 🏆 largest fish. Despite their size, they are filter feeders, consuming 🌊 plankton and tiny fish 🐠.
Their spot-and-stripe pattern is unique to each individual. Whale sharks are usually solitary, diving up to 1000m deep and living between 70 and 135 years.
🗓️ Best Time for Whale Shark Sightings
Whale sharks are most commonly seen in massive aggregations during July and August, with research aircraft reporting sightings of up to 400 individuals. These months also coincide with the best time for snorkeling at Isla Mujeres, thanks to excellent weather, warm temperatures, and stunning sunsets. Sightings are also possible in May and June, with a 75% chance of encountering these majestic creatures.
🌞 Important: Use of Biodegradable Sunscreen
Only allowed at the beginning of the trip. 🚫 Do not apply right before swimming.
📣 Final Reminder
We cannot guarantee a whale shark encounter. Poor weather and unpredictable feeding patterns may reduce chances. 😢 But we’ll do our best to find them. 🙌
