Experience the tour of a lifetime with an unforgettable encounter with the largest fish in the sea, the whale shark.
The tour typically starts with a relaxing snorkel on one of the beautiful coral gardens, which house a wide variety of fish, reef sharks and other marine wildlife.
The boat will then sail to the outer reef, where a spotter plane will already be out searching for whale sharks, so you can experience as much as possible during the tour.
Once the boat has made its way to the spot where the whales have been spotted, guests will be split into smaller groups that will take turns swimming. To avoid disturbing the animals’ environment too much, there’s a maximum of one hour of swimming time allowed with the whale sharks.
On the way back, the tour will often stop for a second reef snorkel at a different site, so you can explore even more of these incredible waters. Depending on your tour provider, all snorkel equipment (including long wetsuits), toilet facilities and an underwater photo package may be provided. But be sure to bring a towel, hat, sunscreen, swimsuit, water bottle and warm clothing.
To finish the day, it’s common to celebrate with a glass of champagne and fruit platter. Many tours also include a full buffet lunch, morning and afternoon tea, fresh drinking water, tea and coffee throughout the day.
If you’re not comfortable swimming, many operators offer observer tickets so you can enjoy the experience from the boat. Child pricing is often available for guests aged 6 to 16.
Please keep in mind while operators do their best, whale shark sightings cannot be guaranteed
Tours usually run from May to June during migration season.
Tour companies include:
Photo credit: Tourism WA
