Best place to swim with whale sharks in Australia
Few animals are as enthralling, majestic (and big!) as the glorious whale shark.
And it just so turns out that there's a great place to visit them just across the ditch!
If you’re looking to experience these majestic animals up close and personal your best bet is Ningaloo Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Western Australia about 1,200km north of Perth.
Ningaloo is Australia’s largest and most accessible fringing coral reef and over a 300km stretch is home to 500 rich and varied fish species that are worth checking out.
The best time of the year to go if you want to see the whale sharks is mid-March to July, as that follows a mass coral spawning that attracts them close to the reef. Most tours depart from Exmouth, and offer pick-ups from local caravan parks and hotels.
While most tours vary in the experience they offer there are some general best practice rules for dealing with whale sharks and making sure you don’t become part of their dinner (to be honest they’re generally bigger fans of plankton, but their mouths are so big you really don’t want to risk it!).
Boats should approach the whale shark at an idle speed and remain at least 15 metres distance from the animal. Passengers can be released at this point to get up close and personal with the whale shark. When it has passed however, passengers generally must return to the boat promptly.
When you’re in the water, as with any animal the last thing you want to do when approaching a whale shark is agitate it, so you should keep at least three metres distance from it at all times. Make sure you’re never blocking the whale shark’s path and remain at least three metres away from it at all times.
And of course, do not touch, ride of chase after the shark at any time.
There are a number of operators in the region offering fantastic whale shark experiences for you to enjoy including Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim, 3 Islands Whale Shark Dive and Sail Ningaloo, just to name a few options. If you’re ever in that part of the world you owe it to yourself to experience the whale shark animal up close and personal.
An experience with these fascinating animals can remind you just how little we are.
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