Users' questions

Can you see whale sharks in Florida?

Can you see whale sharks in Florida?

In the United States, whale sharks can be seen along the east coast from New York to Florida. More often than not, the fish are seen by divers or boaters in deeper waters offshore due to their large size, Barbarite said, but there are still only a couple sightings each year in Florida.

Where can you go swimming with sharks in Florida?

The Florida Aquarium in Tampa has solved all that with their Swim with the Fishes adventure. This in-water reef adventure affords guests six and older the opportunity to encounter an experience like one of the Florida Keys’ most beautiful coral reef dive sites without being a certified SCUBA diver.

Where do you go swimming with whale sharks?

Seven Best Places to Swim with Whale Sharks

  • Holbox, Mexico and Isla Contoy, Mexico.
  • Gladden Spit, Belize.
  • Tanzania.
  • Honda Bay, Palawan, Philippines.
  • Utila, Honduras.
  • Australia.

How much does it cost to swim with whale sharks?

Booking a swim with the whale sharks costs about $60 to $100 and is possible online or in person.

Why is it illegal to touch a whale shark?

​Whale sharks are slow moving animals, but they are so big it will appear they are moving fast. Divers can expect that the whale sharks may swim right up to them and must pay close attention at all times. It is illegal to touch a whale shark, so make sure to swim out of the way if one swims toward you.

Is it safe to swim with whale sharks?

If you’ve seen a picture of whales sharks it might be hard to imagine you could swim with this scary looking shark. But don’t let the ‘shark’ name put you off, whale sharks pose no threat to humans and feed almost strictly on plankton. They are docile, shy animals that are safe to swim with.

Are there great white sharks in Florida?

Snowbirds. Great white shark sightings in the waters along eastern Florida are becoming increasingly common in recent years. Those who are studying these sharks, like Chris Fischer of OCEARCH, Three OCEARCH tagged sharks “pinged” along eastern Florida in November and early December.

Where is the best place in Florida for sharks?

Best Places to See Sharks in Florida

  • Gasparilla Island State Park, Boca Grande, Fla.
  • Delray Beach and Boca Raton, Fla.
  • Sebastian Inlet State Park, Fla.
  • Shark Tooth Capital of the World: Venice, FL.
  • Palm Beach Shark and Turtle Dives.
  • Dry Tortugas National Park, Key West, Florida.

Are whale sharks safe to swim with?

Has anyone been killed by a whale shark?

Whale sharks are extremely docile and there are no records in history of humans being attacked, or eaten, by one. They can reach up to 14 metres long, and weigh more than 12 tonnes – making them the largest fish in the entire ocean.

Has anyone been eaten by a whale shark?

During the dive, the largest whale shark in the area began to act differently. It appeared to be swimming directly at divers with its mouth wide open. The diver recalls being hit hard by the whale shark. Then the diver was sucked into the mouth of the whale shark — head first — and half-swallowed up to her thighs.

Is it OK to touch a whale shark?

Whale sharks have 300 rows of tiny teeth in each jaw which are not used. It is illegal to touch a whale shark, so make sure to swim out of the way if one swims toward you. There’s no mistaking their large size and tremendous power, especially of their tail!