{"id":2661,"date":"2018-06-28T11:12:50","date_gmt":"2018-06-28T11:12:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kooxdiving.com\/en\/?p=2661"},"modified":"2019-11-05T14:16:58","modified_gmt":"2019-11-05T14:16:58","slug":"the-2018-whale-shark-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kooxdiving.com\/en\/the-2018-whale-shark-festival\/","title":{"rendered":"Get Ready! The Whale Shark Festival Is Coming!"},"content":{"rendered":"
\nSave the whale sharks by swimming with them is the message being delivered by shark conservationists around the world \u2013 ecotourism wants to boost local economies and promote whale shark conservation. Isla Mujeres is home to the largest concentration of whale sharks \u2013 the largest fish in the world \u2013 and you can join in the 11th Annual Whale Shark Festival in July 2018<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Get ready! The Whale Shark Festival is coming!<\/h1>\n

The festival will be held in Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo, Mexico. It\u2019ll showcase traditional dances, local cuisine, and works from local artisans. There\u2019s a fair, photography exhibitions, sand culture competitions, conferences, documentaries, and workshops. Children will be able to take part in drawing and costume contests. You\u2019ll be able to participate in sport fishing, diving and snorkelling tours of the reefs, and most importantly swimming with the whale sharks.<\/p>\n

\"whale<\/p>\n

The Whale Shark Festival is all about raising awareness to preserve the region\u2019s marine ecosystem \u2013which forms part of the second largest barrier reef on the planet. It\u2019s also the migratory path of whale sharks, sea turtles, and game fishes. Sustainable eco-tourism is the only way to keep the indigenous culture and way of life of Isla Mujures \u2013 working with the islanders to help promote environmental preservation and the economy.<\/p>\n

Getting to Isla Mujeres<\/h2>\n

To get into Mexico you\u2019ll need a valid passport, Mexican Tourist Card, and Customs form which you\u2019ll be given at the airport when you check in. The Ultra Mar ferry located at Gran Puerto leaves every half hour \u2013 you\u2019ll be able to get an airport shuttle, a public taxi, a bus, or hire a private van. The other dock is Puerto Juarez and there are several express services currently serving the island.<\/p>\n

All about Whale Sharks<\/h3>\n

\"whaleWhale sharks are fish and can dive to great depths \u2013 feeding on plankton that they filter from the water through their fine mesh of tiny teeth \u2013 attracting them to warm waters where large concentrations of the food source are found. They\u2019re regarded as highly migratory and return yearly to the Yucatan peninsula to feed and mate. These seasonal gatherings are regular \u2013 reaching the largest numbers between June and September<\/strong> \u2013 more than 400 whale sharks were spotted off the coast in 2011.<\/p>\n

They can grow up to 12 metres long and weigh more than 20 tons and are truly beautiful in appearance. Their grey and white bodies are covered with a pattern of pale yellow bars and spots \u2013 then pattern of spots around the gills is unique to each individual \u2013 just like a fingerprint. The skeleton is not built of bones but entirely of cartilage.<\/p>\n

The sharks become sexually mature at about 30 years of age<\/strong> \u2013 and it\u2019s been estimated that they can live<\/strong> from 70 to 100 years old<\/strong>. Female sharks produce eggs which hatch inside unlike most fish \u2013 and then give birth to about 300 baby sharks. Whale sharks are gentle and intelligent making them ideal swimming partners as they don\u2019t present any danger to divers.<\/p>\n

Swim with the Gentle Giants<\/h3>\n

\"divingWhale Shark tours Mexico<\/a> are a real adventure<\/strong> \u2013 and you can take part in them with a team from Koox Diving. Your day will start at 5am where you\u2019ll be met and taken in a van to Cancun. Then you\u2019ll head in a boat towards the special location near Isla Mujeres. The trip will take about two hours and your instructors will discuss and plan the swim with you. They\u2019ll acquaint you with the snorkelling gear and tell you all about the whale sharks \u2013 so all you have to do is admire and enjoy.<\/p>\n

The Koox Diving team will take care of everything for you.<\/strong> You\u2019ll be given all the scuba gear and equipment needed and prices include transportation costs. Your diving guide will be friendly and patient \u2013 but also very strict on safety procedures. To make sure your swim with the whale sharks is exciting and safe you need to follow instructions and:<\/p>\n