Whale Shark Festival 2011- Isla Mujeres, Mexico

Every year between May and September, the whale sharks gather off the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula to enjoy the warm waters rich in their favourite foods.  Whale sharks are the largest fish in the sea, reaching lengths of up to 12 meters or more and weighing up to 36 tonnes!  Hundreds of whale sharks congregating in one area is extremely unusual, it’s a unique opportunity for visitors to Cancun and the Riviera Maya to experience swimming alongside these magnificent creatures.

The small island of Isla Mujeres is home to the “Whale Shark Festival”, an annual celebration of the “dominoes” as they are lovingly called for their spotted skin.  2011 marks the fourth annual festival, featuring local cuisine, art, dance and of course the chance to snorkel with the whale sharks and on the reefs surrounding the island.  The festival prides itself on creating awareness of sustainable tourism and the need to protect and conserve our oceans and the life beneath the surface.

Apart from the fun of sampling great food and enjoying the underwater world, the Whale Shark Festival brings an opportunity to hear presentations from experts in marine biology, the ecosystem and Mayan culture.  This year the esteemed biologist Rafael de la Parra of “Project Domino” presents his study “An Unprecedented Aggregation of Whale Sharks, Rhincodon typus, in Mexican Coastal Waters of the Caribbean Sea.”   Other speakers include Dr. Robert Hueter, Director of the Center for Shark Research, Mote Marine Laboratory,biologist Beatriz Galvan a researcher for Project Domino, and Alfonso Morales, Mayan Archaeologist.

“Research and education together serve as the backbone for preservation.  We are proud such distinguished speakers will present at the Academic Seminars as part of the Whale Shark Festival,” said John Vater, who co-founded Ceviche Tours with his wife, Adriana, and longtime friend and Isla Mujeres native Luis “Cuco” Refugio and his family.

The Whale Shark Festival 2011 comes to Isla Mujeres July 15-17.  This is a family friendly event with activities for kids of all ages, bring the children to play in paradise and to learn how they can help to protect our oceans and wildlife for the future.

Enjoy our blog “Swimming with Whale Sharks” to read about a first hand experience with these gentle giants and check out our whale shark photos on Flickr. Book your own swim with whale shark tour and immerse yourself in a whole new world!