Isla Mujeres… The Island off of the Yucatan
We are looking forward to the 2021 season and to showing serious shark enthusiasts the numerous Whale Sharks , and comfortable water temperatures to be experienced off Isla Mujeres.
Come on aboard!!
Isla Mujeres Information
Join us on this very special trip to what just might be the greatest gathering of feeding Whale Sharks on the planet!
We have timed the trips to be at Isla Mujeres during the height of the Whale Shark season.
Isla Mujeres is located on northeastern tip of the Yucatan peninsula just a 6 mile ferry ride away from the bustling tourist destination of Cancun. In my 45 years of diving I had never seen such a large number of Whale Sharks in one area!
The crew will explain the code of conduct for viewing the Whale Sharks. We board our panga at the village pier. The panga will take a max of ten snorkelers. Only two snorkelers plus the guide are allowed in the water at one time. We will rotate into the water thru-out the morning swimming with the Whale Sharks as they feed in the rich currents of the reserve. The pangas return to the dock in the early afternoon. That leaves us time for lunch at one of the island reataurants where local “ceviche†is considered the best in Mexico! After lunch its siesta time or perhaps an open air massage on the beach.
It’s hot in the afternoons and most people opt for nap-time or just sitting in the water relaxing. After sunset and during the cooler evenings is when most people come out to stoll along the beach or visit the many shops and restaurants. We’ll have three days on the water with the Whale Sharks. There are plenty of options available before or after our tour. You can spend some time in Cancun at one of the posh resort hotels, head south to Cozumel for some scuba diving, try Cenote diving, or visit the Mayan ruins of Tulum or Chitzan Itza.
Trip Schedule
June to September
How to Book
Reservations and bookings for the Whale Shark trips can be made online by emailing us at: [email protected]. You can also phone our office at 619-299-8560 – 7 days a week- 9am-5pm Pacific Time Zone (Pacific Daylight Time during the summer).
Note:Â occasionally we are offshore out of cell phone range and may be unavailable, but there is a voice mail feature on our phone line. Please leave your message and we will return your call when we return to shore.
Payment: We prefer a personal check , Cashier’s Check, or Money Order made out to San Diego Shark Diving and mailed to our office:
San Diego Shark Diving Expeditions, Inc.
6747 Friars Rd Ste 112
San Diego, CA 92108 USA
Payment can also be made using a credit card (Visa, Master card, American Express, or Discover Card). Many of our foreign white shark divers also like to make their payment via bank wire transfer. Please email or call us for the wire transfer details. We strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance to protect against unforeseen situations.
Itinerary
Day 1:Â People will board the air conditioned transport van outside the arrivals gate at the Cancun airport. A representative will be holding a sign for the San Diego Shark Diving Group. It is a 30 min. drive to the ferry terminal. Here we purchase our ferry tickets (70 pesos-about $5.50 one-way) and hop aboard the ferry for the 30 min. ride across the channel to Isla Mujeres 6 miles away.
Upon disembarking outside of the terminal a porter will load up our baggage for the short walk to our hotel. Once unpacked and refreshed you are free to explore the beach and village . Try some of the local “ceviche†usually served with a plate of fresh tortillas. You can also get into vacation mode by taking a siesta. Its hot here during the afternoons so a nap makes good sense. Its easier to stroll the village during the cooler evening hours.
Day 2: We meet the the Mujeres Tours office for orientation. We will be issued wrist bands that all going into the reserve must wear. Our panga crew will introduce themselves and brief us on the reserve “code of conductâ€. Then its off to snorkel with the Whale Sharks. The reserve is about an hour’s run from the pier. Once there we should spot several animals finning on the surface as they slowly swim with their mouths open gulping down plankton laden water. The first two snorkelers enter the water with the dive guide once they are retrieved the next two will go in and so it goes until early afternoon when the plankton drops deeper and so do the Whale Sharks. The boat carries snorkeling masks and fins if you don’t want to bring your own. It also carries a cooler with water and soft drinks plus sandwiches for the day. After we return to the pier in the afternoon time for a shower, lunch at the hotel bar/restaurant and maybe a siesta. Dinner in town and a cruise down the beach.
Day 3:Â Off to the pier to board our panga for another day of snorkeling with the Whale Sharks.After returning to the pier, shower, lunch, siesta. See, its the simple life!!
Day 4:Â More Whale Shark snorkeling. Shower, lunch, siesta. What more could you ask for? Dinner during the cooler evening. Catch the stars out over the ocean.
Day 5: Pack up for our return to Cancun. Head to the ferry landing where we board the boat back to Cancun. Disembarking at the Cancun ferry terminal we’ll taxi back to the Cancun airport for our return flights home. Some may opt for extensions in Cancun or Cozumel. Others may opt for visiting the Mayan ruins of Chitzen Itza or Tulum. The Yucatan in a fascinating area and should definitely be explored.
The “pangas†range in size from a single outboard 28 ft skiff to a 38 ft triple outboard speedster. Each with an overhead awning for shade. These are open boats with no inside salons. Most do not have restrooms.
- Trip Schedule & Pricing
-
Trip Schedule
June to September
How to Book
Reservations and bookings for the Whale Shark trips can be made online by emailing us at: [email protected]. You can also phone our office at 619-299-8560 – 7 days a week- 9am-5pm Pacific Time Zone (Pacific Daylight Time during the summer).
Note:Â occasionally we are offshore out of cell phone range and may be unavailable, but there is a voice mail feature on our phone line. Please leave your message and we will return your call when we return to shore.
Payment: We prefer a personal check , Cashier’s Check, or Money Order made out to San Diego Shark Diving and mailed to our office:
San Diego Shark Diving Expeditions, Inc.
6747 Friars Rd Ste 112
San Diego, CA 92108 USAPayment can also be made using a credit card (Visa, Master card, American Express, or Discover Card). Many of our foreign white shark divers also like to make their payment via bank wire transfer. Please email or call us for the wire transfer details. We strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance to protect against unforeseen situations.
- Itinerary
-
Itinerary
Day 1:Â People will board the air conditioned transport van outside the arrivals gate at the Cancun airport. A representative will be holding a sign for the San Diego Shark Diving Group. It is a 30 min. drive to the ferry terminal. Here we purchase our ferry tickets (70 pesos-about $5.50 one-way) and hop aboard the ferry for the 30 min. ride across the channel to Isla Mujeres 6 miles away.
Upon disembarking outside of the terminal a porter will load up our baggage for the short walk to our hotel. Once unpacked and refreshed you are free to explore the beach and village . Try some of the local “ceviche†usually served with a plate of fresh tortillas. You can also get into vacation mode by taking a siesta. Its hot here during the afternoons so a nap makes good sense. Its easier to stroll the village during the cooler evening hours.
Day 2: We meet the the Mujeres Tours office for orientation. We will be issued wrist bands that all going into the reserve must wear. Our panga crew will introduce themselves and brief us on the reserve “code of conductâ€. Then its off to snorkel with the Whale Sharks. The reserve is about an hour’s run from the pier. Once there we should spot several animals finning on the surface as they slowly swim with their mouths open gulping down plankton laden water. The first two snorkelers enter the water with the dive guide once they are retrieved the next two will go in and so it goes until early afternoon when the plankton drops deeper and so do the Whale Sharks. The boat carries snorkeling masks and fins if you don’t want to bring your own. It also carries a cooler with water and soft drinks plus sandwiches for the day. After we return to the pier in the afternoon time for a shower, lunch at the hotel bar/restaurant and maybe a siesta. Dinner in town and a cruise down the beach.
Day 3:Â Off to the pier to board our panga for another day of snorkeling with the Whale Sharks.After returning to the pier, shower, lunch, siesta. See, its the simple life!!
Day 4:Â More Whale Shark snorkeling. Shower, lunch, siesta. What more could you ask for? Dinner during the cooler evening. Catch the stars out over the ocean.
Day 5: Pack up for our return to Cancun. Head to the ferry landing where we board the boat back to Cancun. Disembarking at the Cancun ferry terminal we’ll taxi back to the Cancun airport for our return flights home. Some may opt for extensions in Cancun or Cozumel. Others may opt for visiting the Mayan ruins of Chitzen Itza or Tulum. The Yucatan in a fascinating area and should definitely be explored.
- Boat Accommodations
-
The “pangas†range in size from a single outboard 28 ft skiff to a 38 ft triple outboard speedster. Each with an overhead awning for shade. These are open boats with no inside salons. Most do not have restrooms.
FAQ
Q. What water and air temperatures can I expect at Isla Mujeres?
A. Generally water temps are a warm 76-78 F.
Air temperatures can be high 80s to low 90s during the day.In the evenings mid to low 80s . It is usually cooler when there is cloud cover. Do use bio-degradable sunscreen(required when swimming within the reserve) liberally during the trip. The sun can be intense down at the island.
Q. What is the visibility like on these trips?
A. The animals are here to feed on the abundant plankton brought in by the convergent currents so the water tends toward a deep blue color and visibility averages about 60 ft with an occasional clear area of 100 ft. You are so close to the Whale Sharks that visibility usually is not a problem.
Q. Will we be going to several dive sites?
A. No we will be in the marine reserve snorkeling with the Whale Sharks.
Q. How much dive time can I expect during the trip?
A. That’s up to you. We must adhere to the “code of conduct†when within the reserve. That means only two snorkelers and a dive guide in the water at a time.The animals are usually moving so you must swim to keep up with them. When they out swim you, return to the boat and give the next two snorkelers their turn. Believe me, you’ll get plenty of water time as we rotate into and out of the water.but there are lots of other things to do when you are not in the water. You can take surface shots of the Whale Sharks from the deck. Hey you’re on vacation, enjoy it!
Q. What is the average size of the Whale Sharks at Isla Mujeres?
A. The Whale Sharks we’ve seen have ranged from a small 15 ft male to a hefty 35 ft female. Its also a treat to see the other animals that tag along with the Whale Sharks such as Cobia, Remoras, Jacks, and Trevelly. Some of the sharks look like they have beards with all the fish hanging around the lower lip.
Q. Can we go exploring on the island?
A. Certainly! The rural areas of the south of the island to the bustling main town. Many small shops offering shirts and crafts and many good restaurants offering everything from fresh seafood, to Mediterranean cuisine. You can rent a golf cart or scooter to explore the further reaches of the island.