There is no place really like it. With the hustle and bustle of Cabo San Lucas, then around the corner complete wilderness of Baja. Our Pelagic Mexico snorkel tour was one I had been looking forward to getting on for a long time. It certainly lived up to my expectations. With such a mix of emotions. Anticipation, excitement, thrill and a bit overwhelming at times. Not to mention the need for patience. After meeting my group and being briefed by the amazing team at Latitude Encounters, we were ready for a day of swimming with sharks.
Our first day heading out the harbour of Cabo was an experience in itself. The boat was being followed by curious large male sea lions, then arriving at the famed arch. After a quick photo shoot we were underway. Heading out on the Pacific side of the Baja peninsula. As the name would suggest we were heading off shore looking for pelagic sharks. Our main targets were mako and blue sharks. Within about three minutes into our passage, the crew had spotted our first of many humpback whales. The humpbacks come to this area every year for shelter and to bring up the calves. Such an awesome sight to watch something so big just glide past effortlessly, and so close to the boat. After spending some time with the whales we were back on our mission for sharks.
After an exhilarating ride we were in the middle of the deep sea. The boat was positioned over a pinnacle starting at about 80 metres deep. Now we would begin the process of chumming. Chumming is a mixture of crushed dead fish in a big barrel of water. The team would then pour this bit by bit into the ocean, creating fishy oil slick on the surface. Letting the currents, wind and tide do its job. The slick went out as far as the eye can see. Now at this point I would recommend even the heartiest of ocean travellers to take motion sickness tablets. With the engines off and the boat bobbing around with a scent of chum in the air. It definitely is a top tip. Now comes the part for patience. With our chum slick out and large bait on the surface it is time to just wait. This was made all the much easier with the resident PHD shark expert Katy. Who would tell us all about the sharks there behaviour and how to behave in the ocean with them. Not forgetting an unbelievable amount of humpbacks breaching and passing the boat. Pretty incredible watching an animal weighing tons and tons launch out of the sea, creating a huge boom and splash.
SHARK SHARK SHARK !! Our patience and luck had paid off. The words shark were so inviting and exciting now. We had our first mako shark arrive at the boat. Just what we had been waiting for. A member of the Latitude team jumped in to make sure the conditions were safe and the shark was going to stay with us. It was time to get in. Making our way down the ladder and holding onto the line. The shark was immediately curious and swimming all around us. With the guidance of the in water team and their knowledge of shark behaviour, we couldn’t have felt safer. Pretty amazing to think we were in the middle of the ocean with this beautiful apex predator swimming around us. What a show we had. The light shining off the blues of the shark, all the while the big black eyes just scanning.Passing right in front of us zooming from the large floating bait. By far one of my top shark experiences. All the more magical with the Baja Peninsula as the backdrop. No Blues arrived that day, but the mako sharks stole the show.
