Whale shark reproduction galapagos conservation trust. The galapagos islands are one of several locations that are visited by the whale sharks during the year. Near the yucatan peninsula, whale shark season ranges from june to september, whereas whale shark season in mexicos baja peninsula occurs from winter to early spring. However, during the annual migration, from june till september, they can be seen in small groups. Well be there in the middle of whale shark season, when gigantic female sharks travel past the northern islands and, of course, well be visiting amazing sites around the other regions as well. Although there may be only three or four whale sharks present at any given time, the turnover rate is around two days, so over a season several hundred sharks may use the site. This fantastic infographic from intrepid travel details the weather, water temperature and wildlife events throughout the year. The following event was made in collaboration with ocean school, a free educational resource, learn more at oceanschool. Hi, wed love to get a chance to snorkel with a whale shark. Whale sharks are regularly sighted between june and november. Whale sharks, galapagos sharks, hammer heads, eagle rays, sting rays, manta rays, and even bottlenose dolphins can all be spotted. Galapagos dive liveaboard diving with whale sharks.
Every year, the whale sharks season at the galapagos is from june through november. Galapagos whale shark season is between june and november when the humboldt current cools the waters around darwin and wolf islands in the northwest of the archipelago. Whale sharks are most commonly seen in the north of the galapagos marine reserve, close to the islands of wolf and darwin. To have an incredible experience, should consider some security advice control your movements, approach slowly. Best time to see whale sharks in galapagos islands 2020. Helping the peaceful galapagos whale shark, the largest. The objective was to document the movements and behaviors of the worlds largest fish, the whale shark rhincodon typus, in order to better understand its natural. Those who desire the large pelagic, the apex predators and the challenge of man against nature are a special type. The giants of the sea are found in open water and the area around darwins arch. The galapagos islands are located on the equator, which means they have excellent weather year around, so you can visit the islands year round.
There are two main seasons for diving in the galapagos, with the year split into two. Whale sharks are still targeted by a number of commercial fisheries throughout the world learn more here. Humpback whales migrate through the galapagos good time to see whale sharks off of darwin and wolf until november or so. Another galapagos whale that causes more than a stir of excitement is the killer whale. Diving in the galapagos islands bluewater dive travel. This article explains when the best time of year is to dive with hammerhead sharks in galapagos and where to find them. Top 15 best dive sites in galapagos island the best of the. January through june is wet season with sunny spells either side of the brief but impressive showers which can occur daily. Considering that you are located in toronto, your best bet for whale sharks is to head to cancun in the junesept window, when large groups of whale sharks tend to gather in several areas in the region to feed on plankton the isla holbox area in fairly.
If you share the same curiosity, would love diving with whale sharks and care about the oceans then please enter our webpage and join us. Though the brydes whale are the most common whale in the galapagos, the humpback whale is the most easily identified whale. The galapagos shark carcharhinus galapagensis is a species of requiem shark, in the family carcharhinidae, found worldwide. Whale sharks in the galapagos islands happy gringo travel. Best guide to scuba diving in galapagos islands, ecuador.
Theyre quite active on the surface, breaching frequently and occasionally jumping right out of the water. If you are going on a galapagos cruise, your local flights should be booked with galapagosaboard this will help us make sure you book the correct flights. Whale watching in the galapagos is a yearround activity, though the cooler months july through november are generally considered the best time to see whales. The best time to swim with whale sharks in mexico depends on what part of the country you intend to visit. This site is one of the few known offshore, midocean locations where adult whale sharks have been seen regularly. It is one of the few places in the world where whale sharks can be observed all year round. Whale sharks and hammerheads darwin island youtube. The original was filmed way back when i was finishing school. Tagging amazingly huge whale sharks in the galapagos.
The whale shark in galapagos facts on the worlds largest. For your support you will get a underwater video of your individual dive expedition. Galapagos whale shark season is between june and november when the humboldt current cools the waters around darwin and wolf islands. Some of the shark shots are distant only because it was somewhat difficult to. The islands of the galapagos, offer lots of natural outcrop during whale shark season, so more plankton, their favorite. These are often referred to as whale shark seasons and are normally associated with a local burst in productivity such as a coral or fish spawning event. Sep 19, 2017 galapagos whale sharks might sound intimidating but, theyre actually a slow filterfeeding type of shark thats also the biggest fish in the world.
Sometime in 2017 the galapagos whale sharks will also be featured in the new bbc blue planet 2 series. Though whale sharks grow as large as a yellow school bus and the largest measured was bigger than a semitractor trailer, these massive animals are filter feeders, and they come to the galapagos. This species favors clear reef environments around oceanic islands, where it is often the most abundant shark species. You support galapagos whale shark project directly with a donation which is included in the price. The diving season in galapagos is generally divided into two categories. The best places to swim with whale sharks lonely planet.
Yep, i know, you want to cage dive with great white sharks. Santa cruz giant tortoises migrate down from the highlands to the lowlands to begin mating season humpback whales migrate through galapagos good time to see whale sharks off of darwin and wolf island, until novemberish july. Darwin and wolf islands are where the liveaboard boats go to for the ultimate whale shark experience. While you may see whale sharks during any cruise on mv galapagos sky, the number of encounters goes up dramatically during whale shark season. Underwater, the wind, current, water temperature defines the most outstanding area to discover the whale sharks. A baleen whale feeds by opening its mouth and taking in water, which is expelled through the baleen, trapping small animals such as krill and fish. There are many reasons for planning a dive trip to galapagos like we have described in our galapagos scuba dive guide. They feed by swallowing big mounts of water and straining plankton with their comblike bones in the mouth. Schooling hammerheads, giant whale sharks, rays of all shapes and colors, turtles, huge schools of fish, galapagos fur seals, and astounding marine life diversity are just some of the riveting attractions of galapagos liveaboard diving a destination many divers feel is the best in the world. Your complete guide to diving and snorkeling with whale sharks. Consequently, it offers a unique opportunity to record the movements of these sharks from oceanic areas in contrast to most previous studies near mainland coasts.
Hope this is helpful snorkeling with whale sharks was on my bucket list and we did a fair bit of research to make it happen in the yucatan region in summer 2015. Top 15 best dive sites in galapagos island the best of. When is the best time to dive with whale sharks in galapagos. However, during the annual migration, from june till september. The oceans largest shark has a little something to say. When these three variables interact, the galapagos islands become the perfect place for whale watching. Whales are more commonly spotted in the western waters of the archipelago, between isabela and fernandina islands in particular. Divers should be prepared for the colder water with adequate exposure protection. Species of baleen whales found in the galapagos include blue whale, brydes whale, humpback whale, minke, and sei. Here, they can be seen between 6 and 60 feet 2 and 20 meters under the waters surface as they feed along rocky outcrops. Imagining a vacation involving sea lions, penguins, seals, eagle rays, marine iguanas, hammerhead sharks, galapagos sharks, sea turtles, golden rays and whale sharks is a phenomenal experience. Mar 05, 2020 the following event was made in collaboration with ocean school, a free educational resource, learn more at oceanschool. Best time for whale shark season around utila in honduras.
While most shark species, dolphins and seals are there yearround, the best time of year to see whale sharks is between august and october, and the best time to see rays is december to april. Whale and dolphin watching can be done by land on occasion, but it is typically done by boat. Galapagos dive expeditions led by the director of the galapagos whale shark project, jonathan r. The topography underwater also makes it a dive site where sea lions like to play, eels hide, and the barnacle covered rock walls provide ample camouflage for other reef dwellers. The best time to dive with whale sharks in galapagos from a liveaboard is the dry season between june and dec. This period of time also offers the opportunity to dive. The best time and place to see them is between june and october, and the best location is in the channel between the islands of isabela and fernandina.
I am wondering if i will have a good opportunity of seeing whale sharks doing land based diving only daily dive trips from santa cruz islandno liveaboard. Whale sightings in the galapagos islands depend on an interesting correlation between the return of the southeast trade winds, the availability of food caused by upwellings, and the migration patterns of cetaceans. The hammerheads and other sharks are in the middle. The whale shark in galapagos facts on the worlds largest fish. We saw a whale shark on our may 2018 group trip to galapagos one month earlier than the official whale shark season. Gloves and hoodies are recommended even in the wet season as some sites have cooler water due to oceanic currents and upwellings. If you want a small chance to see them on the central islands it is during the wet season dec may although it is not very likely you will see one. From june to dicember you can encouter whale sharks in galapagos, roaming about the open waters near darwin and wolf. Whale sharks rhincodon typus are the largest fish in the sea, and large adults may reach 40 ft. Swimming and diving with whale sharks dr simon j pierce. They are often seen breaching where up to 34s of their huge 50 foot, forty ton bodies lift out of the water in an explosion of power, grace and agility.
The galapagos whale shark project was born of a curiosity about whale sharks and love of the oceans. Apr 01, 2012 the whale sharks are at the beginning and at the end of the video. Whale and dolphin watching in the galapagos, when and where. When is the best time to dive with hammerheads in galapagos. A world class dive destination, galapagos is listed as one of the seven underwater wonders of the world.
The blue whale, minke whale, humpback whale, sei whale, byrdes whale, and fin whale are also in this group. This can be on your cruise, or you can take a separate charter boat specifically to see whales. Best diving in the galapagos islands, whale sharks, mantas. Over the past two years the best months have been august and september, if you really want to experience galapagos diving you need to dive darwin and wolf. The majority of galapagos whale shark merely pass through the islands during their migratory journey, but a significant percentage actually stay around the archipelago and, due to the high number of plankton in the waters around the galapagos, there is almost always at least one whale shark feeding in these waters. Some of these species are yearround residents while others pass through during their migrations. Whale shark season in the galapagos is between around june and october tends to be best, with peak sightings typically in august and. Oct 19, 2016 whale and dolphin watching in the galapagos is one of the most incredible and unforgettable experiences of life. Jul 10, 2010 i am trying to plan a trip to the galapagos islands during whale shark season. Typically, whale sharks are more active near the northern islands of wolf and darwin between june and december. If you wish to dive in galapagos with numerous schools of hammerhead, galapagos sharks, oceanic whitetip, dolphins, whale sharks and whales, you must be sure you visit the northern most islands of wolf and darwin. Also, some clarification on the live aboard group trip i am offering during whale shark season on the new humboldt explorer.
They also have a bit of the little mermaid syndrome and always want to be part of your world. Hammerheads, galapagos sharks, and even whale sharks, occur during the warm and wet season januarymay. Learn many whale shark facts while also learning about galapagos cruises and travel with quasar expeditions. Measuring up to 55 feet 17 meters long, theyre like gentle sea giants. Whale shark season junenovember and manta season decembermay when its slightly warmer. Marine megafauna foundation galapagos whale shark season. Puerto ayora, ecuador october 7, 2015 with the permission of the galapagos national park directorate, experts from around the globe sailed to darwin island in the far northern region of the galapagos marine reserve in ecuador. Whale shark diving ranks way up there on any shark divers bucket list. You dont need to have diving skills to swim with whale sharks, but excellent swimming skills are a must.
We snorkeled with whale sharks off isla mujeres near cancun, mexico the season for seeing them there is june to. Divencounters is the worldwide representative of the luxury liveaboard mv galapagos sky formerly the mv sky dancer of the dancer fleet. During whale shark season in galapagos, whale sharks pass through the outer islands wolf and darwin from may to december, but some stay yearround to feast on the abundance of plankton and krill brought by the three converging ocean currents. Galapagos whale shark galapagos whale shark project. The galapagos whale shark project, supported by galapagos conservation trust, aims to increase our knowledge about the worlds largest fish including what their migratory patterns are, and whether the majority of individuals seen in galapagos are actually pregnant females. Lava lizards begin mating behavior which includes pushups. The main season runs from the end of march to april, and from october to december. Galapagos land based diving and whale shark season scubaboard.
Galapagos dive liveaboard galapagos whale shark project. Oct 15, 2015 the team found that rather than a resident group of whale sharks, there was a steady stream of whale sharks moving past darwin throughout the season. Come and read about the galapagos whale shark, which is known as the worlds largest fish. They fade into each other so there is no strict dividing line but they can be generally characterized as follows. Diving and snorkeling at these islands are outstanding. These encounters, which are at once educational and exciting, make the appeal of the archipelago obvious. Nov 25, 2019 whales sharks might seems intimidating but, they. Best time to see whale sharks in galapagos islands 2020 rove.
While you may see whale sharks during any cruise on mv galapagos sky, the number of encounters goes up dramatically during whale shark season june through november of every year. The best time to dive with whale sharks in galapagos is between june and. Thats cool its a lifechanging experience, i wont argue with that. Apr 16, 2020 but even though they are called whale sharks, these giants are beautiful and harmless, indeed. The whale shark season is june to november in the galapagos. Adult female whale sharks make longdistance movements. The trip was organised by jonathan green from the galapagos whale shark project, and funded primarily by the galapagos conservation trust and the bbc shooting footage for the. Whale sharks, the largest fish in the sea, can reach up to 40ft and approximately 12m. Giant turtle nesting season, whale shark season diving. And second, if you dive at the galapagos, roll with it. With mola mola, sea lions, penguins, whale sharks and iguanas on the list of sightings, the galapagos marine park is high on all divers lists of places to visit. Galapagos whale sharks might sound intimidating but, theyre actually a slow filterfeeding type of shark thats also the biggest fish in the world. The baleen whales are the biggest mammals on earth and all 6 species of rorqual whales are found in the galapagos.
Scuba diving in the galapagos tends to advanced divers, who are comfortable in deep waters and changing conditions. The fact that so little is known about where whale sharks are born and spend the first few years of life highlights the importance of the research being conducted in galapagos. Hughes and santiago dunn, divencounters luxury liveaboard cruises visit all of the top dive sites in the galapagos including wolf and darwin islands on every trip. For the best chance of seeing a whale shark in the galapagos, head to the open water around wolf and darwin islands between june and december.
The best time to swim with whale sharks in the galapagos is during the dry season, which takes place between june and december. Its an outstanding island to spot land iguanas, different species of birds like boobies, redbilled tropicbirds, frigatebirds, noddy terns, pelicans, and more. That is why the highest chance of meeting these creatures can be only guaranteed on. Shark diving in the galapagos is well known, but there is so much more also to be found in these diverse waters.
May 02, 2018 spotting a whale shark in galapagos is an incredible experience, and even more so when its spotted somewhere wholly unexpected. Tagging amazingly huge whale sharks in the galapagos islands. Do you want to dive with whale sharks in galapagos. Posted by admin on 72110 categorized as dive reports, the galapagos. Whale shark season starts in june and runs to november. Oct 16, 2019 pregnant whale shark from the galapagos in september 2016, chris rohner and i from mmf were lucky enough to be able to join a research expedition to darwin island. However, you will get your heart pumping anyway as their size is rather impressive.