Hi I am a marine biologist on a quest to find whale sharks this fall. ANybody know the best time to go or is always variable. I am thinking of going the last week of Sept or first week of October. I am bringing a group of friends. WHere would you recommend would be the best place to stay that we could camp AND have the option of sleeping in beds if some of the group wants a bed? Thanks for you help
Try going to www.mexfish.com and search the archived articles for Bahia de Los Angeles as the presence of whale sharks in the bay is frequently included in the reports so boaters are more cautious and don't strike them with their prop. Your proposed timeframe should be pretty close.
Hi Kelplady, We are also whale shark aficianados and have gone the last three years. September and October are probably the best. At one point, we were there at the end of October and there was a group of seven whale sharks all around us. Last year we were there September into October for three weeks and saw one or two almost every time we went out. It's better if you go early in the day, as the water is flatter and they are easier to spot. Best to camp down at the south end of the bay to avoid using too much on fuel for the boat crossing the whole bay to get there. We are going back this October for more whale sharks! They're spectacular!
Check out www.scubabaja.com Ricardo is one of the best guides in the area. I'd recommend staying at biologists' Antonio and Bety Resendiz's Campo Archelon (resendizshidalgo@yahoo.com). Likely to run into other biologists there...most diverse tidepool I've ever seen. Please help encourage responsible whale shark observing by not touching or trying to ride. My observation is very few tolerate and often sends them diving to escape...sometimes leaving the area. Enjoy!
My wife and I are both journalists and will be towing our 16' skiff down in October to photograph and write about the whales. How many miles out in the bay are they and are they in the same general area each year? Are you able to refernce a broad general area as a starting point on a map or is it just hit and miss while keeping your eyes on the horizon? Any advice is appreciated. Thank You, Michael www.globaleyephotography.com
My wife and I have had a home in Bahia since 1978 and have seen many whales sharks from June-November. We also conduct tours from a beach called La Unica in ctober for that expressed purpose. See http://www.bajabeyond.com
October is by far the best month. There is no way of knowing where or when they will be there, but give us a call at 619-328-9814 and we'll tell you what we know and have experienced,
BTW, you may have seen of heard of the video I shot back in June 1993 of two Orcas attacking and killing a whale shark right in the bay. That was quite an experince and is still the only such video. It was sad to see but at the same time it was nature a work.
