The new whale
shark watching season in Baja California Sur kicked off on the first of July.
Often called the
“the gentle giants of the sea”, whale sharks have been swimming the Sea of
Cortes for thousands of years. As the world’s largest fish they can reach lengths
of up to 12 metres. But despite their immense size, they have docile natures. Fortunately
for humans, they prefer to open their colossal jaws and “filter feed” only on plankton
which they scoop up while swimming near the surface.
There are few
experiences in the world that match swimming alongside the largest fish in the
sea – and Cabo and La Paz are the perfect locations to enjoy this.
But to protect and
respect these huge creature, SEMARNAT (Department of Environment and Natural
Resources) urges everyone to be responsible - tourists and service providers.
All official service
providers have recently attended training, have an official SEMARNAT
permit, and should
have an official flag conspicuously displayed on their boats.
So, if you are in
town for a whale shark experience, make sure you only go with a certified provider,
follow all their instructions and advice. And please note, all the following are
forbidden - feeding, littering, getting too close, obstructing, using flash
photography or any audio equipment that could distract the animas in any way.
And remember,
these amazing enormous creatures were in Cabo long before we were!