It’s early in the morning and the tropical air is still cool, we are given life jackets and we jump aboard our ride. A speed boat in which the captain promises us we are going to swim with whale sharks. We are sceptical as spotting wildlife can be unpredictable
We ride for one hour. When we leave the sun is shining but halfway into the trip we are flying through mist, the sea looks soft and silky. Like a scene from Moby dick we are searching the open seas in search of whales.
The fog lifts, there is no land in sight and in front of us is a fin. Perhaps the fin of a dolphin, but no. As we get close the view of this magnificent creature can be seen under the waves. It’s the length of our boat with an open mouth that could swallow you whole and we are supposed to swim with it!
It turns out the whale shark does not eat humans, thank god. Its mouth is open because it filters out plankton by continuously passing sea water through its mouth.
We are first up to jump in. That in itself is daunting this far out at sea with no land in sight, not only that, there’s the odd jelly fish. We are assured they don’t sting, but we are not stupid.
I look down in the ocean and see the mouth of the whale shark coming to swallow me up, it’s so close and it’s coming fast. I swim as fast as I can away, so much for swimming with whale sharks it’s more like swimming away from them!
Leanne however is dragged along by the boat captain and swims gracefully side by side with the whale shark. She’s amazed. I’m amazed she’s even in the water!
The second time I cautiously following the tail, scared in case it hits me I bail out. However, the third time I have the greatest pleasure of swimming side by side with one of the earths most magnificent creatures. Its swims gracefully faster than me and slowly slips away.
Swimming with turtles
As the boat heads back in search of land a strange object is spotted in the waters, two turtles are clung together floating on the surface. They are in fact mating, a process which takes an amazing twenty days.
About a kilometre off land the boat anchors and we jump into the sea to snorkel along the coral reef. There’s lots fish among the coral, dashing in front and below. Its a good excuse to try out the underwater camera.
Then all of a sudden a turtle swims underneath us and we follow it, amazed at the colours and patterns on its back.
I feel like grabbing it and using it for a free ride, but of course I didn’t, this is real life not the Little Mermaid.
The boat then heads inland through mangroves into a natural harbour, if the Garden of Eden existed this might be it.
There is only us, endless sand and turquoise waters and a vast array of wildlife. The shallow waters are full of fish. So many fish they fearlessly swarm around you.
Huge shells can be found in the waters, these are very much alive I can confirm. A huge alien arm came out of one to check out what was happening. Perhaps it tastes nicer than it looks...
Pink flamingos stand perched in the distance, undisturbed by our presence.
And as the boats head back to harbour we are greeted by dolphins playing beside the boat.
A perfect way to top off one of the best days we spent in Mexico.
