The last dozen years have seen a surge of eco-tourism in Baja California Sur, resulting in an influx of travel revenue for the state’s capital city of La Paz, and bringing in millions of dollars annually. La Paz, which borders the Sea of Cortez, offers warm weather, white beaches, and an abundance of activities for water enthusiasts.

The Sea of Cortez boasts 900 islands, each lined with rugged rock faces, and dotted with crescent beaches of white sand and clear, shallow water. The marine wonders of the area, which is often called the Gulf of California, are diverse and unique. Famed oceanographer Jacques Cousteau once referred to the Sea of Cortez as the “World’s Aquarium” due to the large variety of life beneath the blue water - many endemic to the region, and many more migrating species.

Swimming with whale sharks has been a large tourism draw since the growth began, and is partially responsible in creating the boom as word spread of the lifetime experience. As the largest species of fish, the whale shark measures up to 41.5’’ (the largest on record), and weighs in at about 40 tons. While the whale shark is indeed a shark, they are perfectly safe, with a diet consisting entirely of plankton and krill.

Many charter boats offer snorkeling with whale sharks, but there is one that stands above the rest. Island Cat is a large and spacious catamaran, with hulls spanning 30, and room enough to hold up to 35 guests comfortably. Two full meals are prepared by an onboard chef using fresh, organic ingredients; an experienced crew serves guests what they wish from the open bar; and an onboard marine biologist answers all of guest’s questions about the whale shark and more. Guests can expect to be pampered by their crew before and after their encounter with the whale shark.

The Sea of Cortez is a favorite place for the whale shark to feed during the months of October to April. The water is rich with the plankton the fish needs for its survival. Topographic maps show a drop off in the underwater landscape, changing the depth from 6-10 feet in the shallows to a quick drop of 22-33 feet. The currents caused by this shelf in the ocean floor results in the common ocean phenomenon called plankton blooms, which are large concentrations of phytoplankton, microscopic plants that float in the upper, sunlit layers of the water. Three individual feeding zones for the whale sharks exist in the area located in the Magote, near the middle of the spit of land that extends out in front of La Paz.

Whale sharks are considered an endangered species and receive staunch protection under international and Mexican law. While it is legal to swim with them as they feed, strict rules are enforced. A limited number of boats can be in each whale shark feeding zone at one time, and with an experienced snorkel leader, only six additional people are allowed in the water of any zone at a time. There is no SCUBA diving gear permitted while in the water with the fish, and swimmers must stay a minimum of six feet from the shark. The oils in human skin, as well as residue from lotions or sunscreens can cause life-threatening infection to a whale shark.

For further information, or to book a Whale Sharks Encounter, see: www.BajaWhaleShark.com. In the U.S. or Canada call: 541-325-7369, in Mexico call 612-152-9940.