Swimming with Whale sharks is a breathtaking experience that everyone should add to their bucket list. With a tour including gear booked out of La Paz costing 650 pesos or $32, it’s a steal for an unforgettable experience. Lamentably, the first jump of the snorkeling trip I couldn’t fully appreciate the beauty of the animals. My head was filled with so many worries about the size and possible dangers of the Whale sharks that I was literally shaking from the moment I jumped into the water till the moment I got back onto the boat. This shark, being anywhere from 18 to 33 feet, is known as the largest fish in the ocean. Anything 6 times my height is enough to freak me out, I don’t know about you!
So, we approach the area where the sharks usually are, and the guide starts trying to spot one. Finally, our guide Christina does, and our group is instructed to jump in and start swimming with her! All I see are bubbles and this huge WHALE SHARK moving under me and in front of me, and I’ll be honest—I was scared sh*tless. Half of the time I spent with my head above the choppy water, hoping to God the jump would be over soon.
Luckily though, we were given a second chance (I was still really hesitant about and almost didn’t do it.) That would’ve been an even greater loss than I could’ve imagined though because our group got incredibly lucky. Whereas in the first jump we were chasing the swimming shark, in the second we were able to witness a baby shark, a staggering 10-foot long baby I might add, swimming ever so slightly, just feeding in the same spot off of the floating plankton all around us. Plankton is actually the only thing these gentle giants eat! It was incredibly peaceful and beautiful to watch. It was, perhaps, one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen: its silky, spotted body and elegant gills flowing in the water, contracting and expanding as It breathed. As one fellow snorkeler noted, when it opened its huge mouth, you could feel the pull of the water around it, moving us in the same motion. Of course, I was still cautious not to get too close to this majestic creature, but my nerves subsided a lot once I regained the rhythm of my breath and just enjoyed the show. The little fish swimming around and latched onto the Whale shark were also really cool to see. All in all, I am so glad I took the jump the second time and saw this beautiful, harmless animal, the Whale shark. (I would think it might be called a “leopard shark” though for all its beautiful blue spots.)
Thanks for reading! Please let me know if you have any questions or opinions in da comments 🙂
Love,
Cierra