BEIJING, Aug. 31 (Xinhuanet) -- For just a couple months every year, the biggest congregation of whale sharks can be found just off the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico. And the whale shark isn’t just some big fish; it’s the biggest in the world. This attracts tourists from all over to try and get a good look.
I’m heading to what the Ancient Mayans called the Black Hole. Holbox island is a slither of land off Mexico’s southwest coast. In its murky waters swims the biggest fish in the world.
This is it. The whale shark. It can grow to 18 metres. It’s got 300 teeth, dwarfs the Great White and I’m here to go swimming with it.
For only two months a year it comes to feed on the plankton floating around Holbox and hordes of tourists follow in its wake.
The island we’re stepping onto is little more than a sand dune and to protect it from the influx of visitors, residents have taken an unusual step: banning tarmac and cars. So in Holbox, the golf cart is king of the road.
There are no resorts here, locals have agreed that hotels should have a maximum of three stories and 20 rooms. The aim is to balance the tourist dollar and the unspoiled paradise vibe that visitors come here for. After soaking it up, it’s time for the main attraction.
First I have some technical questions for my trusted guide, Nubi.
One thing that worries me slightly is that this whale shark has this huge mouth, has anyone ever been swallowed by accident.
I later discovered that Nubi had never actually been in the water with a whale shark. Happily oblivious of that-- our motley crew from Italy, France and Mexico set off. After some serious sea sickness, we have our first sighting.
Obviously they’re gentle giants and they don’t eat people but when you see all those fins going around like that, mm. It’s like something out of jaws.
Mexican tourist Irma is keen to go in first. My plan is to see if she makes it out again.
"It was beautiful but difficult to catch up, it was great!" said Irma, Mexican Tourist.
Too late to turn back. It comes out of nowhere, like a huge ghost rising from the depths.
Whale sharks are thought to be highly migratory, though no one knows for sure where they go. They’re also thought to live long lives - up to 100, even
150 years-but again, no one knows for sure. Despite its size, much mystery remains.
I wondered if it was bothered by the stick insect frantically paddling alongside it. It seems unconcerned. The only danger is from its huge tail. With one graceful swoop it disappears into the depths.
"It’s like nothing I’ve seen before, they’re huge, the mouth is enormous."
"Thankfully it seems to be more scared of us than we are of them."
"Hopefully we don’t scare them enough to go away forever."
That does seem a real possibility. Tour operators say tourists should only go in two by two, but that guidance is often ignored. And many sharks carry propeller scars from the boats that cluster round them.
Although these waters and Holbox are part of a National Park, there’s a general lack of government regulation and Mexican investors have already bought land they plan to turn into a one hundred fifty room resort with shopping areas and canals. Many locals, like Nubi, are worried the island can’t cope with that scale of development.
"It’s going to be big buildings I think, for rich people and we are not prepared for that it’s going to be a lot of trouble even for the birds which we are watching now they’re not going to have a place to rest and reproduce and it’s a big, big impact." said Nubi Betancourt, Whale Shark Tour Guide.
We drift back to port watching the wildlife on the shore, while beneath us the whale sharks meander and feed. As long as they continue to visit Holbox, so will tourists, with all the benefits, and potential dangers, they bring.
(Source: CNTV.cn)
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