Cancun Whale Shark Encounter from Cancun

We were able to see the...

We were able to see the whale sharks and for the most part swim near them. We each had 2 opportunities to swim/see the whale sharks that were in the area. Each attempt was approximately 10 minutes each which was adequate. We were given a cold cut sandwich for a snack with a beverage and the lunch consisted of a fish ceviche which was ok for those that like fish but if you had an allergy to seafood which my wife had then you were out of luck. You would just have another sandwich. The cost for the excursion was rather expensive being well over $200 per person when tips etc were added in. What I didn’t like was being conned into renting a wet suit for $15 after being told that with a life jacket on, you wouldn’t be able to swim to keep up with the whale sharks, but with a wetsuit you don’t need a life jacket so you can then swim better to kept up with the whale shark. Makes no sense, l can swim well enough with a life jacket on to keep up with the whale sharks. You use the fins to propel you through the water not your arms. Also a wetsuit won’t keep you afloat which is the purpose of using a life vest so having those with wetsuits not wear a life vest is a serious safety issue. They had us all were a life vest of the way out to where the whales sharks were but not on the way back. Makes no sense. Also the cost of the pictures was price gouging to the extreme. They took pictures using a GoPro and would email the pictures. When we returned back to the original business location to see the pictures that were taken and to purchase the ones that were wanted. It was very disorganized to locate which photos/videos were of you or someone else so after about 15 minutes you got most of the pictures that pertained to you then you got the bill. J was told 2250 pesos for my pictures which was reduced to an even 2000 pesos($118) USD approximately which is a lot to just have a some pictures emailed over with no frames etc. so with the initial $187 ea. $20 fee pd at the site, $15 for a wet suit that I was told was necessary to get the best experience, then a tip for the crew, bus driver and then the cost of the pictures, the lack of good lunch. No worth the price.

Response from the operator: Hello Bruce, I'm so sorry to hear this unique experience felt expensive. We rarely receive comments like this. But this is what an experience like this is worth anywhere in the world, and our infrastructure is superior to that of any other company in Cancun for this kind of tour. Please inform restaurants and tour operators like ours, especially when food is included, about any family members' allergies to avoid inconvenience; if you had told us, your wife would have had a different meal. As for the wetsuit rental, it is optional, and it is a shame you didn't understand how to use it correctly. These are meant for good swimmers to avoid using the life jacket, which some find uncomfortable while swimming. They can only be used while swimming, but when you are on the boat, the life jacket is mandatory by law, not only here but in any part of the world. Thank you for your comment and for joining us on this wonderful, unique adventure you can only experience here in the Mexican Caribbean waters, home to the world's largest aggregation of whale sharks!

via Viator

Greatest experience!

The patience of the guides, the friendliness of the guide and captains was amazing! The ceviche was the best thing for lunch at Isla Mujeres! I cannot say enough about the experience! I will be coming back next season!

via Tripadvisor

Excellent experience

The guide, Nate and the captain, Julian, were excellent in guiding us. They clearly explained the rules and the process during the boat ride. Nate was attentive and helped us have a memorable experience when were swimming with the whale sharks. It is an awesome experience and we highly recommend it. If you go, try to get Nate & Julian are the team you go with. They are very experienced and know what they are doing.

via Tripadvisor

Fun half day activity

We were on the Alma Luisa, Nate our guide and Julian our captain did a great job. Got us right next to the sharks and made sure we got great views. The photos at the end were pricey, but we had to buy them they were so cool. Could have used some beers on board for the civiche after the dive, but a great experience overall.

via Tripadvisor

If swimming with whale sharks is on your bucket list… stop researching and just book with Cancun Whale Shark Encounters.

If swimming with whale sharks is on your bucket list… stop researching and just book with Cancun Whale Shark Encounters. Seriously. It was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done, and I’d do it again tomorrow. It’s a long day, but I promise you… every minute is worth it. When I was researching tours, there were a few things nobody really explained, so here’s the stuff I wish I had known: 1. TAKE. THE. ANTI-NAUSEA. MEDICATION. I’m not kidding. The whale sharks are about 20+ miles offshore, and you’re riding in a fast, open boat. The ocean can get pretty sporty. Even if you don’t usually get seasick… take the medication. And if you had one too many margaritas the night before? Definitely take the medication. Half our boat learned this lesson the hard way. 2. Don’t stress about the number of boats. Our guide told us there were around 50 boats out that day. My first thought was, “Well… there goes this experience.” Wrong. There were 30+ whale sharks everywhere. It was absolutely unreal watching these gentle giants casually cruising around while everyone respectfully took turns. 3. They genuinely care about the whale sharks. Each boat only carries eight guests, and only two swimmers plus your guide get in the water at a time. The captains and guides all work together, communicating constantly to make sure the whale sharks aren’t crowded or stressed. I really appreciated that they protect the experience for both the guests and the animals. 4. Ninety seconds sounds short… until you’re swimming with a bus. Your swim is about 90 seconds each time. I remember hearing that and thinking, “That’s it?” Trust me… these whale sharks are MASSIVE, and they absolutely fly through the water. You won’t keep up for long. Somehow those 90 seconds feel like forever, and yet somehow not long enough at the same time. It’s honestly hard to describe until you experience it. 5. Seasickness can ruin your day. We were lucky enough to swim twice. Unfortunately, four people on our boat were so seasick they never even got in the water. I felt terrible for them because they traveled all that way and missed out on something truly incredible. So… one last time for the people in the back… TAKE THE ANTI-NAUSEA MEDICATION. 6. I’d do this again in a heartbeat. The crew was fantastic. Willy and Baby Face were Professional, organized, funny, and passionate about what they do. You could tell they genuinely cared about giving everyone an amazing experience while protecting these incredible animals. Swimming alongside the largest fish on Earth is one of those moments that makes you realize just how amazing our planet really is. Thank you, Cancun Whale Shark Encounters, for giving us a memory we’ll never forget. Now if you’ll excuse me… I’m already trying to figure out when I can come back and do it again.

via Tripadvisor