Galapagos whale shark season

The trip was organised by jonathan green from the galapagos whale shark project, and funded primarily by the galapagos conservation trust and the bbc shooting footage for the. This site is one of the few known offshore, midocean locations where adult whale sharks have been seen regularly. Whale shark reproduction galapagos conservation trust. Some of these species are yearround residents while others pass through during their migrations. Over the past two years the best months have been august and september, if you really want to experience galapagos diving you need to dive darwin and wolf. Hammerheads, galapagos sharks, and even whale sharks, occur during the warm and wet season januarymay. Those who desire the large pelagic, the apex predators and the challenge of man against nature are a special type. Whale sharks, the largest fish in the sea, can reach up to 40ft and approximately 12m. The fact that so little is known about where whale sharks are born and spend the first few years of life highlights the importance of the research being conducted in galapagos.

The main season runs from the end of march to april, and from october to december. Diving in the galapagos islands bluewater dive travel. There are two main seasons for diving in the galapagos, with the year split into two. Swimming and diving with whale sharks dr simon j pierce. Measuring up to 55 feet 17 meters long, theyre like gentle sea giants. This can be on your cruise, or you can take a separate charter boat specifically to see whales. The following event was made in collaboration with ocean school, a free educational resource, learn more at oceanschool. Galapagos land based diving and whale shark season. May 02, 2018 spotting a whale shark in galapagos is an incredible experience, and even more so when its spotted somewhere wholly unexpected. Come and read about the galapagos whale shark, which is known as the worlds largest fish. Apr 01, 2012 the whale sharks are at the beginning and at the end of the video.

Puerto ayora, ecuador october 7, 2015 with the permission of the galapagos national park directorate, experts from around the globe sailed to darwin island in the far northern region of the galapagos marine reserve in ecuador. Best time to see whale sharks in galapagos islands 2020. The whale shark in galapagos facts on the worlds largest. Apr 16, 2020 but even though they are called whale sharks, these giants are beautiful and harmless, indeed.

If you want a small chance to see them on the central islands it is during the wet season dec may although it is not very likely you will see one. Well be there in the middle of whale shark season, when gigantic female sharks travel past the northern islands and, of course, well be visiting amazing sites around the other regions as well. If you share the same curiosity, would love diving with whale sharks and care about the oceans then please enter our webpage and join us. New live aboard, itinerary and prime whale shark season with optional addon in ecuador. Galapagos whale shark galapagos whale shark project. Whale and dolphin watching can be done by land on occasion, but it is typically done by boat. January through june is wet season with sunny spells either side of the brief but impressive showers which can occur daily. Best time to see whale sharks in galapagos islands 2020 rove. Oct 15, 2015 the team found that rather than a resident group of whale sharks, there was a steady stream of whale sharks moving past darwin throughout the season. During whale shark season in galapagos, whale sharks pass through the outer islands wolf and darwin from may to december, but some stay yearround to feast on the abundance of plankton and krill brought by the three converging ocean currents. Whale sightings in the galapagos islands depend on an interesting correlation between the return of the southeast trade winds, the availability of food caused by upwellings, and the migration patterns of cetaceans. And second, if you dive at the galapagos, roll with it.

The best time and place to see them is between june and october, and the best location is in the channel between the islands of isabela and fernandina. Best guide to scuba diving in galapagos islands, ecuador. Sometime in 2017 the galapagos whale sharks will also be featured in the new bbc blue planet 2 series. Best time for whale shark season around utila in honduras. Consequently, it offers a unique opportunity to record the movements of these sharks from oceanic areas in contrast to most previous studies near mainland coasts. Santa cruz giant tortoises migrate down from the highlands to the lowlands to begin mating season humpback whales migrate through galapagos good time to see whale sharks off of darwin and wolf island, until novemberish july. The best time to dive with whale sharks in galapagos from a liveaboard is the dry season between june and dec. The whale shark season is june to november in the galapagos. Its an outstanding island to spot land iguanas, different species of birds like boobies, redbilled tropicbirds, frigatebirds, noddy terns, pelicans, and more. Learn many whale shark facts while also learning about galapagos cruises and travel with quasar expeditions. Though whale sharks grow as large as a yellow school bus and the largest measured was bigger than a semitractor trailer, these massive animals are filter feeders, and they come to the galapagos.

Whales are more commonly spotted in the western waters of the archipelago, between isabela and fernandina islands in particular. The islands of the galapagos, offer lots of natural outcrop during whale shark season, so more plankton, their favorite. Galapagos dive liveaboard galapagos whale shark project. Typically, whale sharks are more active near the northern islands of wolf and darwin between june and december. Although there may be only three or four whale sharks present at any given time, the turnover rate is around two days, so over a season several hundred sharks may use the site. Whale sharks are still targeted by a number of commercial fisheries throughout the world learn more here. We saw a whale shark on our may 2018 group trip to galapagos one month earlier than the official whale shark season. You dont need to have diving skills to swim with whale sharks, but excellent swimming skills are a must. Tagging amazingly huge whale sharks in the galapagos islands. Whale and dolphin watching in the galapagos, when and where.

Whale sharks and hammerheads darwin island youtube. Underwater, the wind, current, water temperature defines the most outstanding area to discover the whale sharks. For the best chance of seeing a whale shark in the galapagos, head to the open water around wolf and darwin islands between june and december. Marine megafauna foundation galapagos whale shark season. Imagining a vacation involving sea lions, penguins, seals, eagle rays, marine iguanas, hammerhead sharks, galapagos sharks, sea turtles, golden rays and whale sharks is a phenomenal experience. The galapagos islands are one of several locations that are visited by the whale sharks during the year. The original was filmed way back when i was finishing school. Galapagos land based diving and whale shark season scubaboard. If you are going on a galapagos cruise, your local flights should be booked with galapagosaboard this will help us make sure you book the correct flights. The hammerheads and other sharks are in the middle. Galapagos whale shark season is between june and november when the humboldt current cools the waters around darwin and wolf islands in the northwest of the archipelago. Shark diving in the galapagos is well known, but there is so much more also to be found in these diverse waters.

The objective was to document the movements and behaviors of the worlds largest fish, the whale shark rhincodon typus, in order to better understand its natural. A world class dive destination, galapagos is listed as one of the seven underwater wonders of the world. To have an incredible experience, should consider some security advice control your movements, approach slowly. Here, they can be seen between 6 and 60 feet 2 and 20 meters under the waters surface as they feed along rocky outcrops. Helping the peaceful galapagos whale shark, the largest. For your support you will get a underwater video of your individual dive expedition. The diving season in galapagos is generally divided into two categories. Jul 10, 2010 i am trying to plan a trip to the galapagos islands during whale shark season. Top 15 best dive sites in galapagos island the best of. Galapagos dive expeditions led by the director of the galapagos whale shark project, jonathan r. Divencounters is the worldwide representative of the luxury liveaboard mv galapagos sky formerly the mv sky dancer of the dancer fleet. Adult female whale sharks make longdistance movements. The baleen whales are the biggest mammals on earth and all 6 species of rorqual whales are found in the galapagos.

This fantastic infographic from intrepid travel details the weather, water temperature and wildlife events throughout the year. The galapagos whale shark project, supported by galapagos conservation trust, aims to increase our knowledge about the worlds largest fish including what their migratory patterns are, and whether the majority of individuals seen in galapagos are actually pregnant females. The topography underwater also makes it a dive site where sea lions like to play, eels hide, and the barnacle covered rock walls provide ample camouflage for other reef dwellers. Your complete guide to diving and snorkeling with whale sharks.

Top 15 best dive sites in galapagos island the best of the. The majority of galapagos whale shark merely pass through the islands during their migratory journey, but a significant percentage actually stay around the archipelago and, due to the high number of plankton in the waters around the galapagos, there is almost always at least one whale shark feeding in these waters. We snorkeled with whale sharks off isla mujeres near cancun, mexico the season for seeing them there is june to. This period of time also offers the opportunity to dive. When is the best time to dive with hammerheads in galapagos. Though the brydes whale are the most common whale in the galapagos, the humpback whale is the most easily identified whale.

Oct 19, 2016 whale and dolphin watching in the galapagos is one of the most incredible and unforgettable experiences of life. Posted by admin on 72110 categorized as dive reports, the galapagos. It is one of the few places in the world where whale sharks can be observed all year round. Hi, wed love to get a chance to snorkel with a whale shark. Also, some clarification on the live aboard group trip i am offering during whale shark season on the new humboldt explorer. Giant turtle nesting season, whale shark season diving. Whale sharks rhincodon typus are the largest fish in the sea, and large adults may reach 40 ft. The best time to dive with whale sharks in galapagos is between june and. Schooling hammerheads, giant whale sharks, rays of all shapes and colors, turtles, huge schools of fish, galapagos fur seals, and astounding marine life diversity are just some of the riveting attractions of galapagos liveaboard diving a destination many divers feel is the best in the world. Near the yucatan peninsula, whale shark season ranges from june to september, whereas whale shark season in mexicos baja peninsula occurs from winter to early spring. That is why the highest chance of meeting these creatures can be only guaranteed on. The best time to swim with whale sharks in the galapagos is during the dry season, which takes place between june and december.

Whale shark diving ranks way up there on any shark divers bucket list. Oct 16, 2019 pregnant whale shark from the galapagos in september 2016, chris rohner and i from mmf were lucky enough to be able to join a research expedition to darwin island. The galapagos islands are located on the equator, which means they have excellent weather year around, so you can visit the islands year round. Whale shark season junenovember and manta season decembermay when its slightly warmer. Mar 05, 2020 the following event was made in collaboration with ocean school, a free educational resource, learn more at oceanschool. While you may see whale sharks during any cruise on mv galapagos sky, the number of encounters goes up dramatically during whale shark season june through november of every year. Scuba diving in the galapagos tends to advanced divers, who are comfortable in deep waters and changing conditions. They also have a bit of the little mermaid syndrome and always want to be part of your world. From june to dicember you can encouter whale sharks in galapagos, roaming about the open waters near darwin and wolf. Whale watching in the galapagos is a yearround activity, though the cooler months july through november are generally considered the best time to see whales. Thats cool its a lifechanging experience, i wont argue with that. The galapagos whale shark project was born of a curiosity about whale sharks and love of the oceans. With mola mola, sea lions, penguins, whale sharks and iguanas on the list of sightings, the galapagos marine park is high on all divers lists of places to visit.

Species of baleen whales found in the galapagos include blue whale, brydes whale, humpback whale, minke, and sei. These encounters, which are at once educational and exciting, make the appeal of the archipelago obvious. Whale sharks are regularly sighted between june and november. Whale shark season starts in june and runs to november.

Tagging amazingly huge whale sharks in the galapagos. Lava lizards begin mating behavior which includes pushups. They are often seen breaching where up to 34s of their huge 50 foot, forty ton bodies lift out of the water in an explosion of power, grace and agility. However, you will get your heart pumping anyway as their size is rather impressive. Galapagos dive liveaboard diving with whale sharks.

I am wondering if i will have a good opportunity of seeing whale sharks doing land based diving only daily dive trips from santa cruz islandno liveaboard. Gloves and hoodies are recommended even in the wet season as some sites have cooler water due to oceanic currents and upwellings. Whale sharks, galapagos sharks, hammer heads, eagle rays, sting rays, manta rays, and even bottlenose dolphins can all be spotted. Hughes and santiago dunn, divencounters luxury liveaboard cruises visit all of the top dive sites in the galapagos including wolf and darwin islands on every trip. Galapagos whale sharks might sound intimidating but, theyre actually a slow filterfeeding type of shark thats also the biggest fish in the world. While most shark species, dolphins and seals are there yearround, the best time of year to see whale sharks is between august and october, and the best time to see rays is december to april. The blue whale, minke whale, humpback whale, sei whale, byrdes whale, and fin whale are also in this group. Diving and snorkeling at these islands are outstanding.

Divers should be prepared for the colder water with adequate exposure protection. When these three variables interact, the galapagos islands become the perfect place for whale watching. This article explains when the best time of year is to dive with hammerhead sharks in galapagos and where to find them. Best diving in the galapagos islands, whale sharks, mantas. Nov 25, 2019 whales sharks might seems intimidating but, they. Hope this is helpful snorkeling with whale sharks was on my bucket list and we did a fair bit of research to make it happen in the yucatan region in summer 2015. Yep, i know, you want to cage dive with great white sharks. Theyre quite active on the surface, breaching frequently and occasionally jumping right out of the water. The giants of the sea are found in open water and the area around darwins arch.

Considering that you are located in toronto, your best bet for whale sharks is to head to cancun in the junesept window, when large groups of whale sharks tend to gather in several areas in the region to feed on plankton the isla holbox area in fairly. A baleen whale feeds by opening its mouth and taking in water, which is expelled through the baleen, trapping small animals such as krill and fish. While you may see whale sharks during any cruise on mv galapagos sky, the number of encounters goes up dramatically during whale shark season. This species favors clear reef environments around oceanic islands, where it is often the most abundant shark species. Whale shark season in the galapagos is between around june and october tends to be best, with peak sightings typically in august and.

Every year, the whale sharks season at the galapagos is from june through november. The best places to swim with whale sharks lonely planet. You support galapagos whale shark project directly with a donation which is included in the price. When is the best time to dive with whale sharks in galapagos. There are many reasons for planning a dive trip to galapagos like we have described in our galapagos scuba dive guide. However, during the annual migration, from june till september, they can be seen in small groups. They feed by swallowing big mounts of water and straining plankton with their comblike bones in the mouth. Another galapagos whale that causes more than a stir of excitement is the killer whale. The oceans largest shark has a little something to say. Whale sharks are most commonly seen in the north of the galapagos marine reserve, close to the islands of wolf and darwin. Galapagos whale shark season is between june and november when the humboldt current cools the waters around darwin and wolf islands. Whale sharks in the galapagos islands happy gringo travel. They fade into each other so there is no strict dividing line but they can be generally characterized as follows.

The whale shark in galapagos facts on the worlds largest fish. These are often referred to as whale shark seasons and are normally associated with a local burst in productivity such as a coral or fish spawning event. Some of the shark shots are distant only because it was somewhat difficult to. The galapagos shark carcharhinus galapagensis is a species of requiem shark, in the family carcharhinidae, found worldwide. Sep 19, 2017 galapagos whale sharks might sound intimidating but, theyre actually a slow filterfeeding type of shark thats also the biggest fish in the world. Do you want to dive with whale sharks in galapagos.