Scuba Dive with Whale sharks in Belize at Gladden Spit, Placencia

Belize is famous for many scuba diving activities, the coral reefs and aquatic life of the Barrier reef, the famous Blue Hole, and also the gentle giant Whale sharks. There’s no other resort destination in the whole of Belize that can offer you access to all these scuba sites in one comfortable dive package except for Placencia. Splash Dive Center based in Placencia in Southern Belize, are able to offer you the perfect and most comprehensive diving itinerary in Belize and the Caribbean, and if sighting a Whale sharks is on your list, then we will do our best to make this happen.

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When you take your scuba diving package and vacation in Placencia, you’ll never be more than a short boat ride from beautiful coral reefs, an abundance of aquatic life, the famous Blue Hole of Belize, and Gladden Spit, home to the Whale sharks of the Western Caribbean.

For those divers who visit Placencia outside of peak Whale shark season, you can still learn about these gentle giants through our PADI Whale shark specialty, and are in-house Whale shark seminars, and through local research projects.

Gladden Spit
Location: 26 nautical miles east of Placencia
Depth: 60 Feet/18mt
Access: One hour and thirty minute boat ride from Placencia
Expertise Rating: Advanced

The Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve located near Placencia in Southern Belize, is a spawning aggregation site for many different tropical fish species including the cubera, mutton and dog snappers which produce tons of spawn. This spawning occurs around the full moon to last quarter during the months of March to June. This is what attracts the Whale Shark to the Gladden spit. Whale sharks are the biggest fish in the ocean growing up to lengths of 60 feet/18mt. Divers and snorkelers get a rare opportunity to swim along with this magnificent creature. The wall here slopes down to 160 feet/50mt then drops off into the blue abyss. Diving is done in mid water at a depth no deeper than 60 feet/18mt in groups no larger than 12 divers with their dive masters.

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Special procedures are followed on this dive to ensure safety and to limit any harm that may be caused to the sharks. Snorkeling is done on the surface in open water, however snorkelers have an excellent chance of seeing the whale sharks as they come to the surface to feed.

In 2023 the best time for Whale Shark diving package dates are:

  • April 2nd to April 12th
  • May 2nd to May 12th
  • June 1st to June 10th

There’s no higher chance of scuba diving with Whale sharks than with Splash Dive Centers Whaleshark dive trips on your vacation in Placencia