{"id":6539,"date":"2020-02-01T12:26:44","date_gmt":"2020-02-01T11:26:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fernwehmotive.de\/?p=6539"},"modified":"2025-10-31T09:40:26","modified_gmt":"2025-10-31T08:40:26","slug":"schnorcheln-walhaie-la-paz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fernwehmotive.de\/en\/schnorcheln-walhaie-la-paz\/","title":{"rendered":"Snorkeling with Whale Sharks off La Paz, Mexico"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mexico.<\/strong> At first it was a dream. Then it became a little adventure. Now it has become a lasting memory. One that I will never forget for the rest of my life: My first encounter with a whale shark. In the Baja California, these peaceful giants captivated me and made my dream come true. In my following article you will learn everything you need to know about snorkeling with the whale sharks off La Paz. When, where and with which supplier? What is there to consider for the welfare of the animals? <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Unassigned, unpaid advertising. The article contains affiliate links*.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Content<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

My first Whale Shark - a lasting Memory<\/a>
The Whale Shark - Whale or Shark?<\/a>
Endangerment and Protection of the Whale Sharks<\/a>
<\/strong>Snorkeling with Whale Sharks off La Paz - Overview and Tips<\/strong><\/a>
<\/strong>Rules for Snorkeling with Whale Sharks off La Paz<\/strong><\/a>
Other Places where you can see Whale Sharks<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The pattern<\/em> on the back is unique to each whale shark<\/em> . This allows individual individuals to be distinguished and recognized in monitoring.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

My first Whale Shark - a lasting Memory <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Carefully I glide from the side of the ship into the water. At first sight the visibility under the water surface is zero. Then I recognize several bright spots in front of me. Probably small fish. Seeking advice I look to the left to our guide to find out in which direction I should swim. \"It's right in front of you...\" Unbelievingly I turn my gaze back into the water. In front of my eyes the bright spots from before form a pattern. I recognize outlines and the outlines become fins. The whale shark swims almost vertically in front of me in the water. Eating it opens and closes its mouth. It turns and comes slowly towards me. My small underwater camera is already running and captures this moment. My first encounter with one of these fascinating giants is accompanied by a surprised, gurgling sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We were lucky. Because on this day there were 15 animals in the snorkeling zone. As there was a lot of plankton in the water, the whale sharks were busy eating. Then they often stand almost vertically in the water and only move forward slowly feeding. Two days later I went snorkeling again. There the situation was different. The water was a bit clearer but there were fewer whale sharks to be seen. The animals we saw were eating while swimming. Even though they were not swimming very fast, it became more sportive for me as a snorkeler. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Not the best view, but certainly one of the best experiences I have ever had! By the way, the mouth of a whale shark can be up to 1.5 meters wide.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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The Whale Shark - Whale or Shark?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As big as a whale, but still a shark. With an average body length of 12 meters, whale sharks are the largest fish in our seas. But it's not only the size that reminds us of a whale. Like many whales, the whale shark feeds on plankton. It can suck in up to 6,000 liters of water per hour. Instead of baleen whales, however, it uses a special sponge-like filter apparatus that is stretched in front of its gills. It also has about 3000 teeth, which are arranged in more than 300 rows close together. A fish of superlatives! And it is not only the largest fish with an unbelievable number of teeth, but also a real pachyderm: at 15 cm it has the thickest skin of all living creatures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whale sharks give birth to up to 300 living young. The young hatch from the eggs while they are still in the womb. The time of birth can be controlled by the female. The newborn whale sharks are only about 60 centimeters long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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From our boat we could observe the whale sharks on the surface even before snorkeling.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Facts about Whale Sharks:<\/strong>:

Average length:<\/strong> about 12 meters
Maximum length: up to 20 meters<\/strong> up to 20 meters
Weight:<\/strong> up to 20 tons
Age:<\/strong> up to 100 years
Sexual maturity:<\/strong> between 10 and 30 years
Swimming speed:<\/strong> approx. 3-5 km\/h
Food:<\/strong> plankton, microorganisms, small fish <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whale sharks are found in all tropical and subtropical seas with water temperatures between 21\u00b0C and 25\u00b0C. They are most commonly found where the water is rich in plankton, krill and fish larvae. They often follow seasonal fluctuations in food supply and can therefore only be observed at certain times in many places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Endangerment and Protection of the Whale Sharks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since 2016, the whale shark has been on the IUCN Red List. It is classified as endangered. Nevertheless, it is still hunted in many countries. Apart from fishing, oil drilling, aquaculture and shipping are the main threats. The whale sharks also frequently come to feed in the shallow coastal areas rich in plankton. There, however, they are particularly exposed to heavy shipping traffic. In addition, they are increasingly affected by marine pollution, especially plastic waste. This is because they filter it out of the water together with their food. But also unregulated and reckless tourism (excursion boats and snorkeling tours) can put the whale sharks under stress and endanger them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The visibility was a little bit clouded by all the plankton - but therefore there were many whale sharks in the bay of La Paz.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The bay of La Paz is characterized by its abundance of fish and its biodiversity. Every year between October and April, the water here is also very rich in plankton and attracts whale sharks. Many tour operators have found a source of income in this area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, since 2003 there is a whale shark monitoring program in the bay of La Paz. It shows that it is mostly younger animals with 6 to 9 meters length that come here to feed. In 2019 a total of 105 different sharks were identified based on their unique pattern on their backs. However, data from recent years also show that up to 66% of the animals have injuries from boats. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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General map of the whale shark sanctuary off La Paz. You can only snorkel in the blue zone I.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To protect the whale sharks, rules for whale shark tourism have been established and the tour operators have been trained since 2009. Finally, in 2018 a sanctuary for the whale sharks was established in the bay of La Paz. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Here the snorkel boats are given time slots to enter the protected area.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The green bracelet shows that the entrance fee has been paid.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Snorkeling with Whale Sharks off La Paz - Overview and Tips <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

An underwater encounter with a whale shark is certainly one of the most exciting experiences one could wish for when snorkeling. Here I will tell you my tips for this unique nature experience:<\/p>\n\n\n\n