Belize Whale Shark FAQ
Below are a few questions and answers. If these do not answer any questions you might have about our whale shark trips please feel free to contact us we would be more than happy to help.
1. Is there an Optimum time to see the whale sharks? We normally begin to see whale shark 2 days before the full moon until 2 days after the last quarter moon. However, the Optimum time to see the whale shark is a few days after the full moon. These date chances every year, for a posting of when the best time to come is, Click Here.
2. What if we don’t see any whale shark, is there anything else to see? The dives out at Gladden Split can be very exciting, even if we don’t see any whale shale sharks. Also, the Gladden Split is a spawning ground for many different species of fish not only Snappers. Sometimes we can find ourselves diving in a school of horse eye or Carville jacks. Divers are also sometimes visited by Dolphins that feed on the fish, as well as other sharks (Caribbean Reef Sharks, Bull Sharks, or Hammerhead Sharks) and one time we were even visited by a pod of pilot whales making there migration further south.
3. Do I have to be a diver with an advance certificate to do this dive? You don’t need to be a diver with an advance certificate to do the whale shark dive. However, because the dives are done in Open Ocean, where most of the time there is no visible bottom, it is not recommend for beginner divers. You basically just hover at a depth of 60ft – 80ft, so proper buoyancy is a must. Therefore we recommend that you be a certified diver with 20 or more logged dives.
4. Can Divers and Snorkelers Be on the same boat? Yes, Divers and Snorkelers can be on the same boat.
5. If we are not allowed to stay late in the evening when spawning is most likely to take place, how do you attract the whale sharks? To attract the whale shark we dive in a tight formation over the snappers. The bubble clusters from all the divers simulates the spawn from the snappers, and if the whale sharks are down there, they come up to investigate, because they think it is a meal. 6.
What happens if I am bumped by a whale shark, will I get fined $10,000BZ? You should try your best to get out of the path of the whale sharks if it is approaching. However, we understand that the human body is not designed to move gracefully under water. Just remember, you cannot touch the whale shark, but it can touch you.
7. Are there strong currents on the whale shark dive? Sometimes there can be strong current and it might require some heavy swimming. It is recommended that you be in good health and physically fitness to do this dive.
8. Does it get rough on the whale shark tour? Because the whale shark dives are done beyond the barrier reef. It can get rough on the whale shark dive, and as a result some people do get sea sick.