Family Traveler

OurteamofexpertsansweryourfamilytravelquestionsGREETINGGIANTSQMyteenagersaremadkeenontheideaofswimmingwithwhalesharks.Wherecanwedothisresponsibly?Melissa,viaemailARalphPannell,director,AquaFirmaIt’sreallyimportantthatteensandfamiliesareawareofthevalueofresponsibletravel.Whalesharksaremagnificentcreatures,andswimmingwiththemisanunforgettableexperience,butit’scrucialtoensureanyencountersdon’tdisruptthesegentlegiants’populations,orcausethemanyriskofinjurythroughcarelessboating.Aqua-FirmahasapartnershipwiththecharityMarineMegafaunaFoundation,providingeducationalopportunitiestojoinleading``````whalesharkresearchersintheoceanaswellashelpingimprovethetargetingofeffectiveconservationmeasures.I’vebeenluckyenoughtoswimwithwhalesharksonourAqua-FirmaresearchandphotographytripsinMexico,alocationwithoneoftheworld’slargestknownaccumulationsofwhalesharks.Spottingupto 200 whalesharksfromourresearchvessel,andsnorkellingwithjustasmanygiantmantarays,wastrulyfantastic!Similarly,it’spossibletoswimalongsideAfrica’slargestknownaggregationofwhalesharksatthestunningMafiaIsland.LocatedwithinamarineprotectedareaoffthecoastofTanzania,MafiahasanidylliccoastandsomeofAfrica’srichestcoralreefs.AnddoremembertowatchFindingDory(thesequeltoFindingNemo),withnewcharacterDestinythewhaleshark!``````Needsomehelpplanningyournextholiday?Sendinyourquestionsbyemailtojane@familytraveller.comorviaTwitter@familytravellerASK THE EXPERTS OCEANS