Fodor's Expert Review Whale Shark Oceanic Research Center (WSORC)

Utila is widely known in the diving world as the Caribbean's whale shark capital. These massive creatures can measure as much as 12 meters (40 feet) long and weigh up to 20 tons, and they feast mostly on plankton, not humans. The sharks swim close to Utila's shores and can be spotted year-round, an exciting possibility that lures many divers to the reefs here. The Deep Blue Resort has an EcoOcean identification database used to track whale sharks around the globe. WSORC also has monitoring and research programs in Utila. Visitors can join a four-hour encounter trip, called the Ocean Safari, and try to get a glimpse of a whale shark.