Whale Sharks of Holbox | JONATHAN BIRD'S BLUE WORLD

Jonathan travels to Holbox, Mexico in search of the massive whale shark-the world's largest fish. Reaching 50 feet long, these animals grow larger than a school bus, but they are completely harmless since they eat only plankton and small fish. Jonathan gets up close and personal to a mouth the size of a small car in his investigation to discover why so many whale sharks visit Holbox every summer.
#underwater #scuba #scubadiving #sharks #whalesharks #holbox #mexico
This is an HD upload of a previously posted Season 2 segment.
**********************************************************************
If you like Jonathan Bird's Blue World, don't forget to subscribe!
Check out our extras channel: ‪@BlueWorldplus‬
You can join us on Facebook!
/ blueworldtv
Twitter
/ blueworld_tv
Instagram
@blueworldtv
Web:
www.blueworldTV.com
**********************************************************************
Holbox is not your typical tourist destination. Until recently, this sleepy island wasn’t much more than a fishing village.
There are no paved roads, and everyone gets around in golf carts or other non-conventional transportation. There are almost no cars on the island.
The highway here is a stretch of beach where you can hit maybe 20 MPH if you have a fast cart. Downtown, this island has the charm of a place not yet discovered by throngs of tourists.
But everywhere there are signs. Something special has been discovered here. Offshore in the cool waters of the Gulf of Mexico, a giant lurks!
To find the whale sharks, I get up early to meet the boats to take me and the other intrepid snorkelers on the adventure of a lifetime.
These are converted fishing boats. Instead of depleting the ocean of fish, these fishermen are instead making their living taking tourists to swim with the fish. A really big fish.
Using a GPS device to help him find the shark hot spot, the captain takes us about an hour offshore.
Our guide Andreas stands in the bow, with a carefully trained eye on the horizon.
Soon, we pass a pod of dolphins.
We also see manta rays, and large schools of fish feeding in a frenzy.
Soon, he spots what we are looking for-the large fin of a whale shark sticking up out of the water.
As we pull the boat up alongside the shark, I can see its massive mouth open and funneling water in, like a gigantic storm drain. The shark is feeding. But what could it be eating? It’s more than 30 feet long. What could feed such an enormous animal?
To find out, I don my snorkel gear and hop over the side.
The whale shark passes right in front of me. The water is not very clear, and this is where I get my first clue what is going on here.
The sharks have come to this section of the ocean because it is filled with plankton! Whale sharks might be the biggest fish in the sea, but they eat only plankton and small fish.
The word plankton comes from a Greek word meaning drifter, so plankton are drifting organisms.
Early in the morning, when the water is calm, the plankton forms a thick layer near the surface.
He's just surface feeding. What the whale sharks do here is they swim across the surface of the water with their mouths open wide and all that plankton that's sitting right there at the surface gets funneled right into their mouths.
The enormous mouth swallows up huge quantities of water.
The water comes back out through the shark’s gills, but comb-like structures in the gills capture the plankton like an enormous spaghetti strainer. So the whale shark swimming through the water is like a big pool skimmer, filtering the plankton for breakfast. Each shark eats hundreds of pounds of food every hour! It turns out that eating plankton is very efficient for a large animal.
Conditions here around Holbox Island are perfect for plankton in the summer. The water is not as clear as other islands in the area, but these conditions attract a vast number of whale sharks, manta rays and fish-all animals that eat plankton.
The fish attract other predators like dolphins, birds and bigger fish. That’s why Holbox has always been a great fishing area for the locals.
I can’t believe how many sharks are around the boat. I can count as many as ten at a time. I have been to a lot of places around the world to swim with whale sharks, but never anyplace with this many!
Soon however, as the sun gets higher in the sky and the air gets warmer, wind picks up and waves start to form. The plankton layer dissipates, and the sharks dive down deep, out of sight.

[@christinalick9804]

I can watch Jonathan for hours and still want more!!!..such an adventure with every video 💓

[@sarahbethsstitching9937]

Christina Lick I totally Agree with ya

[@thememechannel5744]

Christina Lick dude same.. I love the channel,too!!

[@JeonsFavMixedGworl]

Christina Lick I know right!!

[@natesmarinelife4028]

I agree

[@yumekai1]

the footage of the animals on the surface was so peaceful and calming, I loved it.

[@cozycozes7137]

"But this is just a small one. About the size of a car." OMG! That is huge!!! =0

[@cozycozes7137]

The whale sharks look so beautifull!

[@abigailrajadurai8078]

Well they're usually much bigger

[@jedivenomsnake9487]

Megalodon: am I joke to you?

[@jedivenomsnake9487]

Guess again Sherlock. Megalodon was 60 ft

[@DoomCrab682AnimsYT]

HE’S THICC

[@jensendurrant4103]

I remember watching every single one of these videos as soon as they were released

[@jordanezell5132]

Mr. Bird, you have opened up my eyes to a whole new world. God bless you.

[@DoomCrab682AnimsYT]

😱

[@DoomCrab682AnimsYT]

That’s nice to hear

[@kgaming8082]

This channel is what made me interested in marine life! Thanks Jonathan:)

[@BlueWorldTV]

Glad to hear it!

[@Mitterman777]

Yeah

[@Lena-ri2vb]

My professor (marine environment) just gave us 10 minutes to watch your video. We were talking about micro surface layers. Best lecture so far!! Don't tell her I already watched this video (twice). 🤫 Thank you Jonathan you made my day! Again! Gone come back to your videos if the theory of the ocean is just too theoretically (especially in covid times). See you soon ☺

[@BlueWorldTV]

Thanks!!

[@Sharkkingstudios23]

This show was ultimately nostalgic I think it is one of the best tv shows in history it is so great and I loved it since I was 3 1/2 11/10

[@betsabemirambel2825]

I like whale shark😱

[@thethreegamerreptilecousin8321]

Did you know Jonathan was the one that inspired me to want to become a “ marine biologist

[@Lerkbtw]

Same

[@mehmylandmehmyland8831]

Actually before I found these videos I already wanted to be one but this inspired me even more

[@Dandeb19]

That was beautiful. I didn't know they got so huge. Thanks again Jonathan

[@WildBillCox13]

Another very enjoyable segment. Thanks, Jonathan and team!

[@citricgaming8374]

Whale shark is my favourite shark of all time

[@EnclaveAJones]

Keep those High Definition videos coming, BlueWorld Crew.

[@BlueWorldTV]

+POV Master We will slowly work through the whole back catalog.

[@topazdraws501]

+BlueWorldTV i love your videos, they're so fascinating and informational! :D

[@callumjones1724]

+BlueWorldTV I'm gonna work as an aquarist when I'm older my birthday is tommorow I'll be 9

[@tharenbarton6532]

+BlueWorldTV I used to have fears of ocean even though im 11 years old but your videos show me how wonderful the sea creatures and ocean is...I want to be like you when i grow up...thx for your vids

[@tharenbarton6532]

+CALLUM_BRIT I will be an aquariest also like Jonathan...im 11 by the way...I dont knoe why I felt like saying my age

[@KaijuCinema]

I love how you guys reply to viewers! Not many people on KZbin do that especially at your level! It is so cool to hear from the guys behind my favorite show!

[@BlueWorldTV]

+KaijuCinema We try to keep up on it!

[@KaijuCinema]

:)

[@sikujacob4556]

The sea can never cease to fascinate me.

[@paulbaudry1143]

Great video, thanks!

[@Sonicnicholasgameandreview8999]

Whale Shark. OMG I’M LIVING IN HEAVEN RIGHT NOW

[@richardeschbaum9313]

did you really just travel very far because a youtube comment said you should go there on the previous video? wow

[@septimusheap897]

I love these videos!Jonathan Bird is such a positive guy!Keep up the dives!

[@BlueWorldTV]

+Septimus Heap Thanks!!

[@remireddygmailcom]

JSeptimus Heap jjjJJ

[@amberbrereton]

Septimus Heap jkbjgjgh

[@madhuneupane7318]

Septimus Heap o

[@NetaGamesMan]

Dude, you must get a TV show

[@BlueWorldTV]

+NetaGamesMan I have one. It's called Jonathan Bird's Blue World!

[@NetaGamesMan]

+BlueWorldTV in witch channel?

[@nobodyhomeful]

+NetaGamesMan AWE

[@braydenwhite6022]

I've only just recently found you but you post some wicked stuff man keep all this up ❤️

[@harvwehlage2857]

You're such an amazing marine biologist Mr. Bird. Keep on protecting our underwater friends and hope they will stay living free and in the wild!💖👍🐋🦈🐬

[@BlueWorldTV]

Thank you, I will

[@harvwehlage2857]

@@BlueWorldTV I know you will Mr. Bird!👍

[@antoniehockeynl]

Unbelievable how big they are

[@1981troublemaker]

That IS the best part of the story. Very majestic, very beautiful.

[@brittanyhopkins8862]

I love BlueWorld! keep up the great work ❤

[@BunPanhasak]

Can someone please get this guy a real TV show xD you deserved better brah

[@BlueWorldTV]

+Panhasak Bun It is a real TV show!

[@BunPanhasak]

oh really? cooool then

[@fennyciang9521]

Pa? Yug id ht hg

[@PapsyTV]

Nasaan ka

[@hommefataltaemin]

Lmao awkward

[@twitch_cizzorjr.5194]

That's cool Jonathan i love to watch your videos and to see what's next!!!

[@TheLastRoman0000]

I've never seen eagle rays do that either. Cool video.

[@jakeshepherd2827]

Love your videos keep up the good work!!!

[@jurrekooren1988]

How is the sea there so still

[@snugles_meow8508]

I know right

[@Tsumefan2]

a few of my favorite sea creatures are either mythical or don't even exist or extinct

[@kyburz2008]

I like narwhals and whale sharks

[@chrxstophxer]

Love to see these videos. Recently went snorkeling with a few sharks for the first time and I’ve been in love ever since

[@maxb9767]

Hope this place doesn't end up like these other whale shark attractions where the locals feed them dried plankton to keep them close to the land

[@yobabzbrodchavz8495]

Max B the oslob whale sharks you mean. yes even i am worried because feeding these gentle giants can alter their behavior to become dependent on human which makes them easy to be hunt by illegal fishers or hurting (or worse kill) them through propelers because these sharks think the bubbles created by propelers are dried shrimps fed by humans

[@thememechannel5744]

Yobabz Brodchavz I agree with you.

[@janetfray6841]

Great video and now he know how important it is for whale sharks to be in the ocean

[@haseebshaikh3016]

Janet Burke nice

[@gavinporter7766]

Janet Burke ,sv .m t. E

[@narendrabommineni7651]

I love it I watch it all the time

[@tbone3972]

The whale shark is so beautiful & fascinating to watch..... The water is so calm there & you are so lucky doing what you do & love.

[@realMors]

Beautiful beautiful video.

[@emmie840]

I'm off to Mexico in a few months and plan to do this, holbox looks incredible

[@ziziflor9019]

I've been binging on these videos. Love everything! Thank you

[@BlueWorldTV]

So glad!

[@zr0889]

your videos are so interesting ☺☺☺☺

[@moyittersone8643]

This was on Me and My 10 minute younger twin, Sasha And my b-day 3 days after Our B-day is on Christmas at 5:01am I also have two older siblings Winter a girl and Maxwell a boy

[@JJRos]

He says the manta ray is only the size of a car casually I would leave that would be scary

[@AmbientSleeps]

I've swam with these amazing animals in Oslob Philippines! They are the most gently animals i've ever seen no matter how big they are. best experience in my life.

[@stephenlocksleyfernandez7931]

Their mouth and fin are seen on surface when eatling plankton!

[@Aw-dr7du]

whale shark: I’m the biggest fish in the ocean! megalodon: am I a joke to you

[@BlueWorldTV]

Megalodon: "Oh crap, I'm extinct!"

[@Aw-dr7du]

lol

[@johndingal7752]

Wow amazing watching from Philippines.

[@DinaZala]

Your the best at finding stuff and going to places

[@sarahbethsstitching9937]

What an absolutely amazing animal and how smart of them to protect them by law. I wonder how many murals there are in Hobash?

[@thememechannel5744]

This show fascinates me!! I love it!! 😊

[@Blazing19721]

Another whale of information on the animals of the ocean. Great work as usual. Wish I could be there doing some of what you do.

[@naitikchuri7652]

awesome video john

[@emilyjoycechesser7204]

That whale shark is there personal celebrity

[@twistedtroyesevos8976]

My Favorite Channel is Jonathan'sBlue World

[@ElviraTheFairy]

YOUR VIDEOS ARE 10000/10000!

[@andrewhinson2565]

Keep up the good work

[@zonester_exe9142]

Jonathan you should try Malta if you do watch out for rays tropical fish great whites coral reefs human sized bas and the national Aqereoum and rarest humpback whales do you think you will do it? 😃

[@reegsgeer]

That place is amazing. I was there for a month.

[@sejalramnani7259]

Wow your shark videos are just sooooooo awesome!!

[@jedivenomsnake9487]

Hey Johnathan! What do you say to this after you say the whale shark is the worlds largest shark Megalodon: hey Jonathan am I joke to you?

[@williamblankenship7239]

hi i am 10 and i watch your videos 24/7 you are awesome and creative

[@BlueWorldTV]

Thanks!

[@sistercox]

Omg is this you because you're awesome

[@Bransonplays100]

BlueWorldTV spence you do this stuff I want to do it with you

[@Bransonplays100]

BlueWorldTV your awesome keep up the good work

[@ryanmoeller3308]

Great video good sir! I would love to go on some of these adventures with you! Thank you for helping people realize how important these magnificent creatures are! 😁

[@jchristinacuellar9877]

ryan moeller kjsosiisjekisskspsolekeksosijssmknj kjsjsjsmsinajr vxvgcbdgsseswcvfvgyyj

[@shengbomu1549]

请啊紫色我的小超人通过法国不好吗，k l o po o o

[@fionale8599]

ryan moeller l j k j

[@dianadia9780]

ryan moeller v

[@dianadia9780]

ryan moeller 0

[@stephenchaouch5701]

How would you react if it was attacking you I have a big dive tommorow?!

[@theunknown2358]

i have already seen whale sharks in front of my very eyes

[@mandavitiwari1073]

I love sharks and especially whale sharks as they do not harm us ... But can I ask a question... Means everyone has a picture in minds that sharks kills ..But the face u are showing of them is totally different...So is that true that they are dangerous ..I mean i have this doubt that u swim along with them..It's just magical.or just amazing.. I also wanna do research on them or their behavior

[@MsTinnn]

Hi to my favorite channel! I really enjoyed watching all your videos. Stay safe

[@BlueWorldTV]

Thanks so much

[@naveedladha2204]

hey jonathan i really like ur videos i wanted to suggest if u culd do a video of a killer whale

[@DurgeshKumar-kq9cq]

Very nice video

[@shadowlord17762]

I really want to swim with a whaleshark. They are so beautiful and friendly. I would love to have one as a pet if I had the room😂

[@AllieThePrettyGator]

7:39 good thing an Adult Whale Shark has nothing to worry about when it comes with predators

[@hommefataltaemin]

Wow I never realized how big they are

[@nakada1996]

love it!!

[@mairagaming7447]

good video fantastick

[@simplymoney4374]

I really want to go scuba diving with you..good luck diving

[@wilson1403]

I love whale sharks

[@busybillyb33]

This is a giant of a fish, yet a harmless filter feeder. Now imagine a Great White Shark that is the size of a Whale Shark - that would be the Megalodon. Scary!

[@arnabdas9784]

Hi Jonathan...are u a marine biologist? your videos are very much enjoyable and resourseful...Seeing these videos now my intention is to be a marine zoologist...thank u

[@BlueWorldTV]

I am a student of the ocean, but not a marine biologist.

[@arnabdas9784]

BlueWorldTV ok

[@roryvonbrutt7302]

Immediately hit like button.... then start watching the video !!!!!

[@elaineb7065]

There's a meme going about wi either one of these or a basker going "RAWR!!! JK I only eat plankton!!!" Anyway, gorgeous mals & so good to see them getting loved here...

[@cathycheng154]

I’ve just come back from Mafia Island another small island attracts Whale Sharks. Swimming with them is such a great experience. Love these giant big head babies!🤗

[@BlueWorldTV]

Where is that?

[@cathycheng154]

Mafia Island, is next to Zanzibar Island in Tanzania, East Africa.☺️✌️

[@tayshaunvlogs5346]

this is so cool

[@QwertyQwerty-cz5mu]

you should dive in bunaken,indonesia manado

[@joaquincordova6666]

You could also go to Oslob in the philippines to see about more than 15 whale sharks

[@BlueWorldTV]

+Joaqui Cordova This is the second reference to Oslob in a week. Gotta check that out.

[@dorietripp1165]

BlueWorldTV gavin110611🌎💥💎💰💸💵💵💶💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫💎💎💎💎💎🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫💣🔫🔫🔫💣💣🔫🔫💣🔫💣💣💣🔫🔫🔫💣🔫🔫🔫🔫💣🔫💣🛡🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪

[@yobabzbrodchavz8495]

BlueWorldTV i dont know if you could appreciate it there. yes, there are whale sharks in oslob but they are always there because they got use to be fed by fishermen with small shrimps, making them more vulnerable because they are accessable by feeding them

[@AhsanAli-rl3xq]

+Yobabz Brodchavz bbbbbbbbhdtdidy djdg

[@akramwaseem77]

Please Visit Nepal, Dolphin of Koshi River

[@STAbhi]

Your videos are amazing

[@BlueWorldTV]

Thanks!

[@selviashok4722]

super beautiful vidio

[@BlueWorldTV]

Thanks!

[@avnishsharma1170]

Selvi Ashok Hiiiiiiii.selvi

[@derekoneill21]

Wow they are big

[@jameccc3586]

I love sharks and whale sharks

[@cmaj7858]

I like the background music

[@khalidbinwalid1566]

I love that you think the best part of this amazing story is that the sharks are protected by law. Totally agree.

[@stephbrowning1690]

Totally amazing I love whale sharks I would love to see them live in their natural habitat never gonna happen but wud love to

[@BlueWorldTV]

Why never?

[@stephbrowning1690]

BlueWorldTV affordability

[@PuteriAyu007]

Just found your chanel today, really love it.. sorry my english not good.. love from malaysia..

[@Urfavlillybug]

I'm in 2nd grade and I started watching your videos on epic books and now here i am. Your amazing and have a friend named Jonathon.

[@BlueWorldTV]

Yay! Welcome!

[@Urfavlillybug]

Thank you

[@PEENIIS22]

Is the tail dangerous? You swam pretty close to it. Have you ever been hit by a tail?

[@BlueWorldTV]

+PEENIIS22 Yes, hit by a tail in the Galapagos. kzbin.info/www/bejne/l2PYf2OQlLplh8k

[@michelegates6672]

Jonathan where are tiger sharks mostly found

[@BlueWorldTV]

Tropical waters around the world.

[@IndianJimmy1]

Isn't that filter feeding?

[@roselinelouis8547]

dose a whale shark have those electric sensers

[@imissrengoku271]

Do they eat tiny planton like tiny ....fish?

[@BlueWorldTV]

Sometimes fish too, yes.

[@AlisVonMeat]

hey Jonathan!! would you one day make a video about the sawshark??:) did you eve encounter one of them?? Alice

[@BlueWorldTV]

I have only encountered them in an aquarium. They are extremely endangered.

[@nourwael1552]

You r awesome

[@chisaquaticvibe6524]

Happy World Whale Shark Day!