Where can I snorkel with Whale Sharks?

Snorkellers watch as a whale shark swims by. Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

• This reef is the only place on Earth where you can encounter whale sharks swimming so close to land. You’ll find huge schools of whale sharks gliding in schools along the reef, and snorkeling with whale sharks during season is almost a guarantee. Head to Coral Bay or Exmouth, where you’ll find lots of whale snorkel tour operators to guide you to the best spots.
• When to see whale sharks: April – July

Snorkelling with whale sharks in the Caribbean

Gladden Spit, Belize

• This is the best known site for snorkeling with whale sharks in Belize, crawling with huge schools of enormous whale sharks up to 14 metres long. You’ll find them here feeding on krill and plankton in the shallows. There are also are plenty of whale shark snorkel tours that’ll take you to the right spots, although there’s no guarantee the whale sharks won’t be hiding in the deep!
• When to see whale sharks: March – June

Utila, Honduras

• One of the few places in the world where you can snorkel with whale sharks all year round, Utila is known as the whale shark capital of the Caribbean. The whale sharks here grow up to 10 metres long and can be seen swimming close to the shore throughout the year. Your best bet for snorkeling with whale sharks in Utila is to swim on a calm day when fish rise up to the surface, attracting whale sharks to feed.
• When to see whale sharks: March – May or September – December

Snorkelling with whale sharks in Indonesia

Cenderawasih Bay, West Papua

• This massive marine park is home to whale sharks pretty much all year round. The giant creatures are often hanging out just below the surface of the water, and you can guarantee a snorkel with them any time of year. The whale sharks congregate here to feed on small fish thrown out by local fishermen, and they’re used to being around snorkelers. That means you’ll have them coming right up to you and swimming close, giving a truly unique whale shark snorkeling experience!
• When to see whale sharks: All year!

Derawan Island, East Kalimantan

• The waters around this island attract small numbers of giant whale sharks to feed on anchovies thrown out by fishermen. You might be able to snorkel with whale sharks here if you’re lucky, but it’s not as popular as Cenderawasih. Your best bet here would be Whale Shark Point, a floating platform roughly 20-minutes from shore where whale sharks can be seen feeding between 6-8 in the morning.
• When to see whale sharks: June – September

Gorontalo, Sulawesi

• This area in Botubarani village is home to numerous whale sharks that swim just metres away from the shore. You can snorkel with whale sharks almost every morning during season, with lots of tour operators and local fishermen able to guide you to the right areas.

Note that word is spreading about local fishermen feeding the whale sharks here, as they do in Oslob in the Philippines. This is dangerous for the life of the whale sharks and done only to attract tourists to the area. For this reason Ninja Shark doesn’t recommend visiting Gorontalo as it only encourages this practice.

When to see whale sharks: December – April

Snorkelling with whale sharks in Mexico

Contoy, Cancun

• This island is known for its whale shark population, and it’s a great spot to snorkel with whale sharks if you come at the right times. You’ll find many tour operators from Cancun that offer trips to this area.
• When to see whale sharks: June – September

Holbox, Quintana Roo

• Less popular with whale sharks than the other islands off Cancun, Holbox still offers plenty of opportunity to snorkel amongst these creatures. Again, you’ll find lots of tour operators to take you swimming and snorkeling with whale sharks, but your chances are less than at Isla Mujeres.
• When to see whale sharks: June – September

Isla Mujeres, Cancun

• This is the best place to snorkel with whale sharks in Mexico. Every year hundreds of whale sharks gather around the waters north of the island to feed on the plankton. The best spot to snorkel with whale sharks is around an hour’s boat ride from shore, and you’ll find lots of tour operators to take you there. Some even have a whale shark spotting guarantee!
• When to see whale sharks: June – September

La Paz, Baja California

• Hundreds of juvenile whale sharks congregate around the shallow waters of this city every year. It’s a great opportunity for beginner snorkelers to get up close to whale sharks, and you can almost bet on seeing them if you visit at the right times. You’ll find lots of tour operators to take you to the right spots.
• When to see whale sharks: October – February

Snorkelling with whale sharks in the Philippines

Donsol Bay, Gimagaan

• This is one of the best places in the world to snorkel with whale sharks, home to huge schools of sharks up to 12 metres long. During peak season it’s rare not to see a whale shark while snorkeling, and they can even be spotted off-shore. Whale sharks here often come up to the surface and interact with snorkelers, making for a truly exceptional experience. Peak viewing time is between February and April (also peak tourist season).
• When to see whale sharks: December – May

Oslob, Cebu

• We have to put this on the list because you can most definitely snorkel with whale sharks in Oslob, but it won’t be ethical snorkeling. The whale sharks here are fed by the local fisherman to attract them to the area so they can make more money, interrupting their migration routes and damaging their life cycles. Guides and tourists often also touch the whale sharks here, which isn’t a good idea as it causes them stress and also can possibly transmit bacterial infections. Ninja Shark doesn’t recommend visiting the whale sharks in Oslob for this reason.
• When to see whale sharks: Unfortunately, all year round.

Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte

• Less popular than Donsol and Oslob with both whale sharks and tourists, this area of Southern Leyte still has a good whale shark population with lots of sightings common while snorkelling during migration season.
• When to see whale sharks: February – April