Whale Shark Tour on Mahé — Seychelles
Sunday, October 3rd
At 10:00 a.m. we pick up our rental car. Then a phone call to the Underwater Centre to check whether our whale shark excursion is happening. And it is on.
At half past twelve we meet at the dive base of the Dive Seychelles Underwater Centre in Beau Vallon Bay, receive a wetsuit for protection against plankton (jellyfish larvae) and a thorough briefing on the whale shark project. The whaleshark tour costs €125 per person, of which €60 goes to the whale shark conservation programme.
Tracking the Whale Sharks
We head out by boat for about half an hour towards the west coast and encounter several whale sharks off the island of Therese. We are guided by an ultralight aircraft that spots the whale sharks from above.
The pilot communicates with the boat captain via radio. Meanwhile, we are already sitting with our fins over the side of the boat, ready to jump. The spotter goes in first. As soon as his hand goes up, it's go, go... then you have to paddle hard, because a whale shark won't wait for you — but with a bit of luck it stays nearby. Important — stay calm and don't stress the animals unnecessarily!
On the 3rd jump, however, we get lucky and the whale shark stays close for a long time to feed.
According to the team, we were very fortunate — in total we spent nearly 2 hours in the water with the whale sharks. Usually they dive down after a short time.
Of course, there is no guarantee of spotting whale sharks, but the chances are excellent. We were absolutely thrilled and would do the tour again in a heartbeat, especially since it also supports species conservation.
Whale Shark Facts and the Conservation Programme in the Seychelles
A whale shark can grow up to 14 metres long. Reported sightings of up to 18 metres have not been verified.
They weigh up to 13 tonnes, meaning the tail fin alone can weigh around 2.5 tonnes. A safe distance should always be maintained.
The dots between the pectoral fin and the head form a unique pattern on each side of every animal — like a human fingerprint, no two are alike.
When swimming with these giants, you should keep a 3-metre safety distance, as the tail sweeps through a large radius. Stay clear of the area in front of the pectoral fins, as the shark will dive to avoid any obstacle.
The meeting point is at the Berjaya Hotel on Beau Vallon Beach at the Dive Seychelles Underwater Centre.
The cost for this experience is €125, of which €60 goes to whale shark research. Dr. David Rowat has been leading the whale shark project for many years to protect the species sustainably.
More info online:
Dr. David Rowat,
Chairman, Marine Conservation Society, Seychelles
PO Box 384, Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles
Booking Office: 24 71 65
Tel: + (248) 345445 Mobile; +(248) 513671 Fax: + (248) 344223
visit us at www.mcss.sc or
http://seychelles-whale-sharks.blogspot.com
http://seychelles-turtles.blogspot.com
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Country code Seychelles 00248
Dive Center, Ocean Dream Divers,
Mahé, Beau Vallon, Mare Anglaise
Dive Center: 24 83 85
