It's International Whale Shark Day!
Swimming alongside the biggest fish in the ocean — calming, exhilarating, and humbling all at once.
Today is International Whale Shark Day. Swimming alongside them is at once calming and soothing, exhilarating and a little scary — and one of my most favorite experiences in the world. They are magnificent creatures, sliding silently through the water. From a distance they seem slow, almost lazy — but once you're in, you realize how hard it is to keep up.
Our guide Cindy plans our jump perfectly, positioning herself to catch a photo of me next to the biggest fish in the ocean. I hesitate on the jump — smile — but the moment I'm in, it's effortless. You slip into a kind of trance, watching this gentle giant pass by. Each shark carries a fascinating constellation of spots across its body, like a starry night sky uniquely his own.
The gentle giants
"They are deep divers, disappearing for long stretches, only to reappear when you least expect it — their grand bodies surfacing with the gentlest, most silent break in the water."
These creatures travel extraordinary distances — up to 12,000 miles over the course of a lifetime that can span 100 to 130 years, covering distances that can exceed the circumference of the Earth. Exploring the ocean has given me so many wonders over the years, and swimming with whale sharks is truly one of the grandest.
When and where can I see these beauties?
We are lucky that they come every year from July through September to feed on the krill in the Gulf of Mexico. The area is UNESCO protected — but it is still wise to choose your tour company carefully, as not everyone follows the rules.
Fun fact: Whale sharks feed by filtering enormous quantities of water through their gills — consuming krill, plankton, fish eggs, and small fish. They need about 45 pounds of food per day to sustain their massive bodies. They are completely harmless to humans.
Why we loved Heaven Under Earth
We went with Heaven Under Earth out of Playa del Carmen, and we are so glad we did. They insist on an early start — which means you get to the sharks before the crowds arrive. Cindy works hard to catch the photo of you next to a whale shark (hard to recognize anyone in a snorkel mask, but that's part of the fun!). The crew kept the boat a respectful distance from the sharks at all times, and only two guests and one guide entered the water at a time — never crowding the fish.
To be out on that magnificently blue sea, watching whale sharks skim the surface with their enormous scooper mouths, is truly spectacular. This kind of day lives in you forever.
Book your whale shark experience through Zamas Hotel
Season: July through September
Tour operator: Heaven Under Earth, Playa del Carmen
Group size: Maximum 2 guests + 1 guide in the water at a time
Tip: Book an early departure — you'll reach the sharks before other boats arrive
What to wear: Rash guard, fins, snorkel mask — no sunblock (protects the marine environment)
UNESCO World Heritage Site: We work only with operators who follow the rules
Book via Zamas Hotel: Tel/WhatsApp: +52 984 145 2602 · Email: frontdesk@zamas.com
If this experience moves you to support whale shark conservation — and it will — consider these organizations doing important work in the region: Pronatura Península de Yucatán A.C., which studies whale shark behavior specifically in the presence of tourist boats in the Caribbean and trains tour operators on best practices; Tiburón Ballena México, which monitors whale shark populations using geolocation technology; and the Ocean Conservancy, a leading international marine conservation organization.
Stay at Zamas Hotel — your base for adventure
Zamas Hotel is a boutique beachfront property at KM5 on the Tulum hotel road — established in 1993 and one of the original hotels on this legendary stretch of Caribbean coast.
All of the adventures in this blog — whale sharks, snorkeling, catamarans, cenotes — can be arranged directly through us. Come stay, and we'll take care of the rest.
Book your stay: www.zamas.com
WhatsApp / Tel: +52 984 145 2602
Email: frontdesk@zamas.com
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