Isla Mujeres is getting set to celebrate this marvel of nature, that recently had a region of the peninsula declared as its haven

CT Staff/Agencies

The second annual Whale Shark Festival at Isla Mujeres, Mexico is scheduled to take place from July 15–19, 2009.  Located off the tip of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, Isla Mujeres may be extremely hot during the summer, but guests will have plenty of opportunities to cool off by immersing themselves in the cool, blue Caribbean waters.

Lasting five days, the Whale Shark Festival celebrates island culture, drawing thousands of visitors to the island to learn about the largest fish in the world  Currently listed as an endangered species, whale sharks can reach up to 40 feet in length and weigh up to 15 tons.

Highlighting the festival is the unforgettable experience of swimming with whale sharks, which are considered to be filter eaters and pose no immediate threat to humans.  Daily excursions take guests to an area where whale sharks congregate, providing swimmers with a rare opportunity to spend time with these large and powerful animals.  Accompanying swimmers are fully licensed guides that are also expert divers.

In a recent visit by Mexico's president, the whale shark' habitat was declared a biosphere reserve, located near Holbox, north of Isla Mujeres, with a surface area of 146 thousand acres. The marine surface of this Protected Area guarantees the protection of the region which contains waters rich with organic material.

This concentration of nutrients allow for the exceptional presence of species of not only these gentle giantts, but also mussels, crustaceans, birds and marine mammals, and above all, schools of fish of commercial and sport importance.

In addition to the festival's activities', guests can also participate in other water-based activities such as scuba diving and snorkeling on the region's pristine reefs and shipwrecks.  Additional activities include sport fishing charters, turtle farm tours and trips to Contoy Island and Boca Iglesia.  The festival also features local businesses,  allowing guests to learn firsthand about Isla Mujeres' food, culture and heritage.

This year's Whale Shark Festival events include:

 * Swimming with whale sharks: guests will be provided with opportunities to swim with endangered whale sharks and contribute photographs to ECOCEAN's International Whale Shark Photo-Identification Library Project.

* Academic seminars presented by preeminent scholars in the fields of marine biology, sustainable ecotourism and Mayan architecture.

* Filmmaker Jeronimo Aviles will screen his latest film about Mexican shark researcher Deni Ramirez's activities in the Baja area and research efforts by the Domino Project.

* Archaeologist Alfonso Morales from Grupo Plan will present a conference about Mayan culture and commerce in the Mexican Caribbean.

* Environmental education programs will allow children to explore area reefs and fish, and  also learn about local bird species and conservation efforts.