Long famous for fun in the sun and spring break partying, Cancun also sits astride the migratory path of one of the largest creatures in the sea, the whale shark. Whale sharks are non-aggressive and feed near the surface, so swimming with them involves little more than being in the right place at the right time and strapping on some snorkeling gear. Given the sheer number of whale sharks that visit the Cancun area during the whale shark season, whale shark boats usually have little difficulty arranging a close encounter with these gentle giants.


Whale sharks are the largest fish in the ocean, routinely weighing 20 tons and roughly the size of a school bus. The largest ever recorded was 40 feet long, and even larger whale sharks might be out there. Anything in the ocean bigger than these giants is a true whale, and therefore a marine mammal rather than a fish.

Time Frame

Whale sharks follow a migratory course in search of the plankton, fish eggs and small fish upon which they feed. This course brings them into the area north of Contoy and Holbox Islands, roughly 45 minutes by boat from Cancun, every year between June and September. Tours from Cancun to the whale shark feeding waters are a snorkel boat staple during the summer months.


Sea conditions during Cancun's whale shark season are excellent for snorkeling. The water temperature is around 85 degrees Fahrenheit, with open ocean visibility reaching 100 feet.


In addition to not requiring any special training, whale shark snorkeling trips out of Cancun offer one potential safety advantage over scuba diving with the sharks. Whale sharks sometimes perceive the air bubbles exhaled by divers as fish eggs, one of their favorite foods, and therefore may come in for a closer inspection. While those with an adventurous spirit may find a close encounter with a 30-foot, non-aggressive fish thrilling, diving also greatly increases the risk of an accidental collision with a multi-ton fish.

Other Sea Life

Other forms of big, filter-feeding pelagic sea life are drawn into the Cancun area for the same reasons as the whale sharks. Therefore, a Cancun whale shark swimming trip could very easily become a manta or golden ray swimming trip as well.

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