Snorkeling with Whale Sharks

World-class whale shark snorkeling in deep offshore waters.

Boat Access
5m Avg Depth
150m Max Depth

About this dive site

This dive site, located off the coast of Cancun in a deep offshore area, is renowned globally for its spectacular seasonal gatherings of whale sharks. As the largest fish in the ocean, encountering these gentle giants is a truly sensational experience. There is no specific underwater navigation; the focus is on surface interaction from a boat, following the whale sharks as they feed on plankton.

The main marine animal to be seen here is the majestic whale shark, which congregates in hundreds from June to September. While the primary attraction is the whale sharks themselves, the plankton-rich waters support the entire open ocean food chain, though smaller marine life is not the focus of this particular experience.

The best time to visit this site is between June and September when hundreds of whale sharks gather to feed. This makes it one of the Riviera Maya's prime attractions for snorkeling and freediving enthusiasts. Visitors should be prepared for open ocean conditions, adhere to strict guidelines for interacting with the whale sharks, and be mindful of other boat traffic.

DivingFreedivingSnorkeling

Plan Your Visit

whale sharkpelagicsnorkelingfreedivingseasonalopen oceanbig animalswide angle

Things to Note

Difficulty:

All levels

Primarily a snorkeling experience suitable for all, interacting at the surface in deep offshore waters.

Hazards:
boat trafficstrong currents
Current Strength:

Moderate

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