7 Best Places on the Planet to Swim with Whale Sharks
(And Where Not to Go)
Avoid heavy-tourist centric encounters and swim with whale sharks in an authentic wild environment. Experience these gentle giants at their best. Discover the best places to swim with whale sharks in the world.
Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands are legendary for their biodiversity. A bucket-list location for any wild adventurer, a trip here can be made all the more exciting by encounters with whale sharks. Found in good numbers in open waters between June and December, whale sharks come here to feed and potentially even give birth to young. The best place to see whale sharks is near the islands of Darwin and Wolf, which can be achieved through liveaboard dive trips that take around 10 days. Those who are concerned about animal welfare and truly natural encounters will find The Galapagos to be exceptionally rewarding. Tours are highly regulated, with Galapagos waters being some of the most protected in the world. You’ll be in safe hands here. Be aware this is not a good location for snorkelling with whale sharks. It is certainly possible, but there are definitely better destinations.
West Australia - Ningaloo Reef
Located near the small but accessible Australian town of Exmouth (flights available from Perth) Ningaloo Reef is definitely one of the best places to swim with whale sharks in the world, and perhaps the best location to snorkel with whale sharks anywhere. Between March and August, whale sharks congregate near the surface of these calm waters in their droves. Added bonuses of swimming with whale sharks on Ningaloo Reef include potential encounters with manta rays and even humpback whales.
South Ari Atoll, The Maldives
The Maldive is a legendary holiday destination, famed across the globe for its opulence and luxury. But, it’s not just sandy beaches and cocktails that draws people to this collection of tiny islands in the heart of the Indian Ocean. The Maldives is a fantastic year-round place to swim with whale sharks. The rich reefs here are home to an abundance of life that forms the basis of the food chain massive whale sharks rely on. There is so much food for them here that they never leave, swimming peacefully around their home every day of the year. South Ari Atoll is the best place to swim with whale sharks in The Maldives. Clear waters, calm seas and plenty of boats to the region make it very accessible for all who want to swim with whale sharks. Numbers hit their peak between August and December, but you can visit any time and expect to encounter a whale shark at South Ari Atoll.
Whale Shark: The Largest Fish in the Ocean
The whale shark is by far the largest fish in the ocean. Whale sharks can grow up to 46 feet in length, with the basking shark being the next biggest fish, at 33 feet. The whale shark is longer than a London bus.
Tofo Beach, Mozambique
The best place in Africa to swim with whale sharks, Tofo Beach in Mozambique is a once-in-a-lifetime destination. Stunning in its own right, between October and March the area is inundated with whale sharks drawn to the surface by plankton blooms that flourish in the rich and vibrant seas. You’ll see some of the largest gatherings of whale sharks anywhere in the world off Tofo Beach, anywhere up to 50 or more! There is the added bonus of swimming with whale sharks here that you may also encounter manta ray, drawn to the coast for the same reasons.
Isla Mujeres, Mexico
Isla Mujeres is one of the best locations to swim with whale sharks on this, mainly because it is so accessible. Perfect for divers and snorkelers, Isla Mujeres is an island located just off the coast of world-famous resort city Cancun. Travel links are easy and opportunities for high-quality guide services are aplenty. The Mexican government coordinates with tour companies to protect whale shark welfare which means trips can only take place between June and September (peak season) for swimming with whale sharks, and a limited number of swimmers are only allowed out at any time. It’s recommended you book ahead if you can.
Gladden Spit, Belize
Google Gladden Spit, Belize and your top hits will all be about the best places to swim with whale sharks. Belize, a Central American country neighbouring Honduras and Guatemala, is famed for its offshore islands and stunning scenery. Beneath the waves, whale sharks gather between April and June near the waters of Gladden Spit, a small island about an hour and a half’s boat ride from the Belize coast. Note that while most places offer dives, this is a diving and snorkeling location. When you swim with whale sharks around Gladden Spit, you can both dive and snorkel. Rates of success are not dependent on your method, but rather the behaviour of the animal on the day.
Whale Sharks: Did You Know?
Whale sharks have over 300 rows of tiny teeth. They’re not used for eating, however. Why do they have teeth then? It’s not known why whale sharks have teeth. The most likely reason is that before they evolved to become filter feeders, whale shark ancestors ate larger prey.
Kwatisore, Indonesia
Cenderawasih Bay is located on the coast of Kwatisore, a tiny village in a very remote corner of Indonesia. Getting to Kwatisore is a mission. It features very limited tourist infrastructure and is far out the way of the main international hubs. Those travelling here have to be really dedicated to swimming with whale sharks, but the rewards are worth it. Cenderawasih Bay is a year-round whale shark destination, with animals heading to fishing pontoons daily in search of a meal. A wild, pristine and mostly untouched landscape, it is perhaps the best place to swim with whale sharks anywhere in the world. Not this is not like other locations that intentionally bait whale sharks. These sharks are scavengers, not guests.
Where NOT to Swim with Whale Sharks
There are some fantastic places around the world to encounter and swim with whale sharks. However, not every location supports good animal welfare. If you’re concerned about your impact on these powerful yet vulnerable creatures, be sure to avoid the following well-known whale shark dive spots:
Oslob, Cebu
Oslob is a very famous place to swim with whale sharks, potentially the best known place in the world. Why? Because whale sharks amass here daily and you’ll always have a chance of a close encounter. This is because locals bait them with food and even trap them with nets. Huge numbers of tourists swim here and cause disruptive behaviour. The allure of promised food also takes the whale sharks away from their migratory path. This is not responsible by any means.
Donsol Bay
Lack of respect for whale sharks' wellbeing is rife in the region. Excursions are often overbooked with lots of swimmers in the water carelessly interacting with animals. Reports of guide boats chasing sharks that are trying to get away from people are well documented here and a lack of regulation means this is unlikely to change while people continue to pay for unethical encounters.
Interested in swimming with dolphins?
Read our wild guide!