Whale Sharks Are a Major Attraction for Divers in Tobago

by Audrey Alleyne-Quiniou

Scuba diving is a main tourist attraction in the Caribbean island of Tobago, and the whale sharks are drawing the crowds.

The euphoria of scuba diving in the little Caribbean island of Tobago is little known by the rest of the world. Located at the southern end of the Caribbean chain, the waters surrounding Tobago offer some of the most diverse and abundant marine life.

The appearance of whale sharks, those peaceful mammals which feed on small fish and other tiny animals has been creating a tourist diving boom in the past ten years. The number of dive shops has increased in order to attract a larger market, and thousands of recreational divers flock to this tiny Caribbean island each year to enjoy its delightful marine environment.

The sleepy fishing village of Speyside in North East Tobago has become the best diving haven in the Caribbean for the more adventurous diver, whilst the Southwest of the island has much more easy diving for the more casual diver. Both the Manta rays and whale sharks are frequently seen from December to June. April and May however have been termed as ‘manta madness”, although the elusive mantas are not seen in large numbers as before. While the tourists also love the manta rays, there are those who have remarked that for them, the whale shark is the “real sensation.” “Mantas you can see all over the world” they say, “but whale sharks are rare.”

Dive operators have also stated that there are divers who have dived for as much as 20 years, and have never encountered a whale shark. Whale sharks of 40 to 55ft.are rare in the area however. The average length of those seen has been just around 25 feet, and some tourists venture to ride both on the sharks and the manta rays. Manta Lodge and The Manta Dive Center are among the big dive shops on the sunny Caribbean island. The dive operators issue strict warnings against touching or riding both the whale sharks and the mantas. They state that this practice is extremely harmful to these beautiful creatures.

In recent times shark fishing off the north coast of Trinidad’s sister isle of Tobago, has alarmed residents. Species of all types are being caught, some not having the chance to breed. Reports state that the shark meat is being sold in Trinidad, mainly to supply the shark and bake market, as a major culinary delight, and also for shark-fin soup.

Residents in Tobago fear an environmental disaster. “No sharks” they say, would mean a “dramatic increase in the number of smaller fish, which in turn eat out the coral reef” which is another major tourist attraction in Tobago.

A “recycled” transport ferry provides added diving pleasure. The 350 foot Maverick (formerly the Scarlet Ibis) is a wreck situated north on the C Caribbean side of the island.

The Scarlet Ibis was the first passenger ferry offering service between Trinidad and Tobago. In April 1997, she was sunk about three quarters of a mile off the Mt. Irvine Beach in 100ft. of water. Before being sunk, the ferry was cleaned, inspected and made safe for divers. Snappers and Rainbow Runners can be found lurking in the car deck, while schools of bait fish swirl across the upper deck.

The wreck has a depth of about  60ft./18 meters  making it accessible  to  divers of all certification levels.

At the north western end of the island, the Sisters, a series of rock pinnacles which rise up from the deep can be found. Here Hammerheads are often sighted, so too are mantas.

There are many other marine attractions in Tobago; such as snorkeling, kayaking, windsurfing and game fishing among others. Game fishing tournaments have also rapidly increased in popularity over the years. The marlin, Wahoo and tuna are the main fish targeted during these events. However, it is the whale shark which has really been playing a large role in the diving appeal of  Tobago’s beautiful clear waters.