Swim with whale sharks in Mexico
Baja California is one of the best places in the world to swim with whale sharks. And, don’t worry, these beautiful creatures have a docile nature and are not predatory. These are large pelagic fish who move slowly through the waters off Baja California as they filter feed on microscopic plankton. The best time to enjoy this experience is between December to March, in the bay of La Paz.
The Bay of La Paz, Sea of Cortez
The most popular place for swimming with whale sharks in Baja California is from La Paz. This Mexican city is on the eastern side of the peninsula and you will be swimming in incredible turquoise waters, in the Sea of Cortez.
You’ll be picked up from your hotel and taken down to the harbour, where you’ll be issued with wrist bands (these are permits to swim with whale sharks). The boat takes you out of La Paz Bay to a spit of land opposite La Paz, which takes around 30mins. You’ll be swimming between half and 1km from the shore and it’s advisable to hire wet suits as this give more buoyancy and avoids the requirement to wear a life vest when in the water, which can get in the way. The trip is highly regulated and people are split into small groups, each group taking it in turns to enter the water. Each time you swim, you’ll be accompanied by the guide who will instruct you on what to do, where to swim and importantly how to avoid contact with the whale shark.
You enter the water by ladder as the whale sharks approach and gently swim along side until the shark has moved on. They tend to move slowly, though usually faster then we can swim. It’s an incredible experience to watch these beautiful creatures as they glide effortlessly through the water. And they’ll feel pretty huge when you’re up-close, ranging from 5 to 12 meters in length.
How can I book this experience?
We offer tailor-made holidays in Baja California and can arrange this experience for you if you are booking a holiday package with us. We only use reputable, certified operators who will make sure that you have the best experience possible, whilst considering the well-being of the whale sharks.
