ufgatorpilot

I've always wanted to dive with whale sharks, and I'm considering doing a trip this summer. Has anyone done this before? Any recommendations on when and where to go? Thanks!

USMCFLYR

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USMCFLYR

DYNASTY HVY

If you want some real excitement try this -Great White Shark Diving South Africa



Fred

ufgatorpilot

Have you done it? That's been on my to-do list too. My old boss and his wife actually got certified to scuba dive just so that they could do the great white shark dive when they went to South Africa.

Looks like Belize would be a good place for whale sharks, especially since it shouldn't be difficult to get there from Florida.

Stringer

Going to SA next week, hoping to do the great white dive if money allows! I'll report back if I do it!

Thunder1

Check out scuba diving off the coast of Phuket, Thailand in the Similan Islands. Did it in 2009 on a 5-day live aboard dive boat. Amazing diving in the open ocean off the coast of Thailand. Swam with 25' whale sharks and 10-12' manta rays -- all in the wild; not some caged underwater zoo theme park. Service was phenomenal; price was outrageously cheap at the height of the ecomomic meltdown. Prices are still very good.

DYNASTY HVY

Yes about 7 years ago and it was an interesting experience to see that big fella coming at you with all them teeth and for just a brief second forgetting that you are in a cage .


Fred

A3Lately

The Maldives is another great place for doing that. Was there in 2008. Coral and fish life is also fantastic (although they say it took a few years post the '04 tsunami to recover). The best part about it as a destination is that of the 1100 plus islands, nearly all of them have their own resorts with house reefs, so you dont need to take a boat or extra time to dive. Stayed at the Banyan Tree. Magnificent local

ryan1234

Did a shark dive off Roatan (which was pretty cool.. have the DVD and all) - the dive master takes you down to a little shelf at around 80-90 feet, he took a bucket of chum... instantly there was about 30-40 sharks about 6-7' + .... they were pretty tame, until they opened that bucket... it was really something else to see all of that like 2 feet away. The weirdest part was the lack of peripheral vision you don't really think about until something bumps you from behind... and it is about 7' and has quite a few teeth.

btw the equipment sucked - My reg failed at like 30', instead of doing the smart thing and heading up, I switched to the alternate and kept going down (the alt worked fine). A few people in my group had some gear problems. If you have a reg, I'd take it with you.

I asked them about whale sharks, they said it's very rare and scheduling a dive for that is very, very tricky - Belize is the same way. They actually kinda laughed when I asked. There is a 'season' for it... but you could be down in-country diving each day for months until you came across one.

Good luck though!