Only 1 in 3 million people worldwide will swim with whale sharks in their lifetime!
Swim with whale sharks Ningaloo reef is a lifelong experience. Join whale shark sightseeing trips or snorkelling in Exmouth or Coral Harbor to get the best wildlife contacts. Every year from mid-March to mid-July, these lightweight giants gather in Ningaloo Marine Park after massive coral formation. It is the largest human-friendly fish in the world and can grow up to 18 meters long.
The opportunity to swim with whale sharks in Australia area attracts visitors to Exmouth and Coral Bay from afar. It’s one of the few places in the world where it is easy to meet regularly at the water’s side for whale shark trips.
When and where does the tour operate?
Join whale shark sightseeing trips or snorkelling in Exmouth or Coral Harbor to get the best wildlife contacts. Every year between mid-March and mid-July, these modest ocean giants gather in Ningaloo Marine Park after producing many corals.
Why swim with whale sharks in Ningaloo?
Ningaloo Reef currently has the highest whale shark interaction and accessibility rate in the world, with 97% in 2016, 94% in 2017 and 97% in 2018.
This means that tourists are almost guaranteed to swim successfully with whale sharks. Ningaloo is one of the only places in the world where this huge but completely harmless fish can be located stably in large groups.
How do they grow?
Surprisingly, whale sharks can grow up to 18 meters with a mouth over 1 meter. Ningaloo generally interacts with whale sharks 6 to 11 meters long. In areas like Mexico, whale sharks are very young and often 2-6 meters.
Ningaloo has been returning to Ningaloo waters every year since 1995 and Zorro and Stumpy male whale sharks are 8 meters long.
Some companies use shared aeroplanes to increase the likelihood of finding Ningaloo whale sharks. Most also have a comfortable no-show policy. If you don’t see whale sharks on the trip, you can come back the next day. Visit https://www.coralbayecotours.com.au/manta-rays for further infomation regarding manta ray coral bay.
Is it ethical to swim with whale sharks?
This was what weighed in our minds when we investigated the whale shark trip at Ningaloo Reef. Subsequently, we met with King Ningaloo Reef Tours in 1969; founder George King, the first person to swim with whale sharks in the Ningaloo region.
Kingal is environmentally certified and has close ties with local conservation groups to protect the Ningaloo Reef whale sharks from the start.
They take care that activities do not damage the environment or alter the behaviour of sea creatures. These policies include nontoxic sunscreen, high-efficiency motors, low noise/gas engines, and use of contactless policies.