How to Swim or Dive With Whale Sharks In 2022

How to Swim or Dive with Whale Sharks1
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Dreaming of swimming with whale sharks? Not sure when or where to go for the best possible experience? You are in the proper location! Fortunately, there are incredible locations all over the world that provide chances to swim and dive with these gentle giants at various times of the year. This list of the top locations to see whale sharks for each month of the year has been carefully curated by us to assist you.

How Do Whale Shark Tours Operate?

  • In order to fully enjoy a whale shark tour, plan to depart from your lodging around 7:00 am and return in the late afternoon around 4:00 or 5:00 pm.
  • You will be picked up by the whale shark tour operator’s bus at the agreed-upon meeting location or your hotel, taken to the boat ramp, and then taken onto the Ningaloo Reef.
  • Before snorkeling on the inner reef of Ningaloo, you’ll receive a safety briefing on the boat and watch as spotter planes look for whale sharks. The inner reef, where you can see amazing coral and fish, is where most whale shark tours include two snorkeling excursions.
  • When you get close to a whale shark, the boat will stop a safe distance away so as not to disturb the fish. You’ll keep going to Ningaloo’s outer reef in the direction of the spotter plane.
  • To ensure you swim a safe distance with the fish, groups of up to 10 swimmers enter the water with a dive master serving as their guide. You’ll be divided into smaller groups for the experience since the majority of whale shark tours have up to 20 passengers on board. Your guide will direct you on when to start swimming and putting your head in the water after you are dropped off in the water close to the whale shark. Be left speechless as these enormous spotty fish pass you by in the water as you marvel at the distinct white spots and distinct ridges that resemble stripes on their gray bodies.
  • Your swimming group will be picked up by the boat, and the process will be repeated for the following group of 10 people. The “jump” is repeated several times before a late lunch is served, after which you’ll have another chance to snorkel back in the inner reef.
  • Upon returning to land, a bus will transport you to a nearby town or to your lodging.

How To Swim Or Dive With Whale Sharks

Allow our experts to confidently respond to all of your inquiries. You and your family are going to have a blast and do something special together.

The mate or the captain will signal for you to enter the water once the boat is in the proper position. Keep your guide by your side in the water as he directs you toward the whale shark you will be snorkeling next to. Your guide will look out for you the entire time and be by your side.

The average swimming speed for whale sharks is 7 km/h (4 mph). This is sufficient to eventually outpace you, so once you spot the enormous tail, it’s time to head back to the boat and give the following team a chance to enter the water while you wait for your turn. Thus, everyone has the opportunity to see the whale sharks while you can take a nap. Maintaining proper hydration requires having access to water.

We advise you to pack the following items to ensure the most comfortable whale shark tour possible: towels, hats, sunglasses, rash guards or long-sleeve shirts, sandals or flip-flops, and cash for tips and mementos.

Additionally, we advise wearing swimwear or comfortable, lightweight clothing over your regular clothes.

Where To Swim Or Dive With Whale Sharks In Different Months

January

  • Cabo San Lucas, La Paz and Baja California, Mexico
  • Donsol Bay, Philippines
  • South Ari Atoll, Maldives
  • Tofo Beach, Mozambique
  • Mafia Island, Tanzania
  • Cenderawasih Bay, Indonesia

February

  • Cabo San Lucas, La Paz and Baja California, Mexico
  • Donsol Bay, Philippines
  • South Ari Atoll, Maldives
  • Mafia Island, Tanzania
  • Cenderawasih Bay, Indonesia
  • The Top 5 Scuba Diving Destinations in April –
  • Ningaloo Reef Australia

March

How to Swim or Dive With Whale Sharks
  • Cabo San Lucas, La Paz and Baja California, Mexico
  • Gladden Spit, Belize
  • Donsol Bay, Philippines
  • Ningaloo Reef, Australia
  • South Ari Atoll, Maldives
  • Koh Tao, Thailand
  • Mafia Island, Tanzania
  • Cenderawasih Bay, Indonesia

April

  • Cabo San Lucas, La Paz and Baja California, Mexico
  • Gladden Spit, Belize
  • Donsol Bay, Philippines
  • South Ari Atoll, Maldives
  • Koh Tao, Thailand
  • Cenderawasih Bay, Indonesia
  • Swimming with whale sharks

May

  • Cabo San Lucas, La Paz and Baja California, Mexico
  • Gladden Spit, Belize
  • Donsol Bay, Philippines
  • Ningaloo Reef, Australia
  • South Ari Atoll, Maldives
  • Koh Tao, Thailand
  • Cenderawasih Bay, Indonesia

June

  • Isla Holbox, Isla Contoy, Isla Mujeres, Cancun and
  • Cozumel, Mexico
  • Gladden Spit, Belize
  • Ningaloo Reef, Australia
  • South Ari Atoll, Maldives
  • Wolf Island and Darwin Island in the Galapagos
  • Islands, Ecuador
  • Tofo Beach, Mozambique
  • Cenderawasih Bay, Indonesia

July

  • Isla Holbox, Isla Contoy, Isla Mujeres, Cancun and Cozumel, Mexico
  • South Ari Atoll, Maldives
  • Wolf Island and Darwin Island in the Galapagos
  • Islands, Ecuador
  • Tofo Beach, Mozambique
  • Cenderawasih Bay, Indonesia

August

  • Isla Holbox, Isla Contoy, Isla Mujeres, Cancun and
  • Cozumel, Mexico
  • South Ari Atoll, Maldives
  • Wolf Island and Darwin Island in the Galapagos
  • Islands, Ecuador
  • Tofo Beach, Mozambique
  • Cenderawasih Bay, Indonesia

September

  • Isla Holbox, Isla Contoy, Isla Mujeres, Cancun and
  • Cozumel, Mexico
  • South Ari Atoll, Maldives
  • Wolf Island and Darwin Island in the Galapagos
  • Islands, Ecuador
  • Koh Tao, Thailand
  • Tofo Beach, Mozambique
  • Cenderawasih Bay, Indonesia

October

  • South Ari Atoll, Maldives
  • Wolf Island and Darwin Island in the Galapagos
  • Islands, Ecuador
  • Koh Tao, Thailand
  • Mafia Island, Tanzania
  • Tofo Beach, Mozambique
  • Cenderawasih Bay, Indonesia
  • Roatan, Honduras

November

  • Cabo San Lucas, La Paz and Baja California, Mexico
    South Ari Atoll, Maldives
  • Wolf Island and Darwin Island in the Galapagos
  • Islands, Ecuador
  • Mafia Island, Tanzania
  • Tofo Beach, Mozambique
  • Cenderawasih Bay, Indonesia
  • Roatan, Honduras

December

  • Cabo San Lucas, La Paz and Baja California, Mexico
  • Donsol Bay, Philippines
  • South Ari Atoll, Maldives
  • Wolf Island and Darwin Island in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
  • Mafia Island, Tanzania
  • Tofo Beach, Mozambique
  • Cenderawasih Bay, Indonesia
  • Roatan, Honduras

How Does Feeding Affect Whale Sharks

The long-term effects of feeding whale sharks remain to be seen, but there has already been a noticeable shift in their migratory habits. Even though it might not seem like a big deal, there is still a lot we don’t know about whale sharks. Their survival might be negatively impacted by this.

Whale shark injuries have also increased as a result of the whale sharks’ increased willingness to approach boats closer. Whale sharks still have a market for their meat and fins, and since they view boats as a source of food, they are more likely to be poached.

In addition, they only receive one type of food, depriving their bodies of the variety of nutrients they require. Due to their lengthy lifespan, it is unknown how feeding them will impact the species and the viability of this practice.

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