Not just Shark Pictures:
Elasmodiver contains photos of sharks, skates, rays, and chimaera's
from around the world. It began as a simple web based field guide to
help divers find the best places to encounter different species of
sharks and rays but it has slowly evolved into a much larger project
containing information on all aspects of shark diving and
photography. There are now more than a thousand shark pictures
and sections on shark evolution, biology, and conservation. There is
a large library of reviewed shark books, a constantly outdated shark
taxonomy page, a monster list of shark links, and deeper in the site
there are numerous articles and stories about shark encounters.
Elasmodiver is now so difficult to check for updates, that new
information and pictures are listed
on an Elasmodiver Updates Page that
can be accessed here:
If you're
looking for a broader range of marine life pictures the following
links represent a new area that contains pictures on other marine
organisms and on marine habitats. This expansion of Elasmodiver is
in its first stages but will eventually include pages on everything
from sea stars to nudibranches. Creating this portal will take time
and for now it consists of a token offering of fish pictures. Please
return regularly to enjoy the progress.
The world's
largest aggregation of Whale Sharks can be seen at the very tip of the Yucatan
Peninsula, near Isla Holbox. A marine park has been created to protect the
sharks while they are in the area and from June until the end of August half of
the local fishermen become tour guides. The rules governing the interaction are
fairly strict and no scuba equipment is allowed. On snorkel however, it is
possible to get extremely close to the massive sharks and it is quite normal to
find multiple sharks feeding together which leads to extraordinary chances to
watch their behavior. Manta Rays are also protected in the park but snorkelling
encounters with them tend to be brief because they are easily startled.
No flash photography
is allowed, and officially you must remain more than 2 meters from the sharks
but in the plankton rich waters it is difficult to see the sharks from that
distance and after the first couple of snorkels the guides usually turn a blind
eye to snorkellers that are bending this rule as long as the sharks are not
acting as though they are being harassed.
Operators:
More than 80 tour boats have permits to enter the park from Holbox and another
50 make the longer trip from Cancun so it is best to arrange a tour once you
arrive on the island. The prices and service are fairly standard but some things
to look for in an operator include the number of people on the tour (the maximum
is ten passengers but in smaller groups you will get more time in the water) and
whether the boat has a fly bridge or a raised viewing platform. This with give
you better opportunities to see and photograph the sharks from the surface.
If you want to really
concentrate on the sharks and 'talk shark' for the whole time you are there,
Shark Diver Magazine organizes one or two trips during the season that are all
inclusive and structured to allow the maximum time possible with the Whale
Sharks.
Directions
and Accommodation: Holbox Island can be reached by a combination of
minibus and ferry from the airport and Cancun Town, or by small plane directly
from the airport. Make arrangements at the ground transportation desk or
negotiate directly with a taxi/minibus driver. The trip from the airport takes
around 3 hours by land.
Accommodations on the
island range from Spartan cabanas on the beach and cheap hotels in the town
center (about $50 per night) to luxury self contained resorts. If you prefer the
latter it would probably be best to research the accommodation options and book
before your arrival. The town fills up with local tourists from Cancun over the
weekend so it is much easier to find a bed during midweek.
