NINGALOO WHALE SHARKS
|
| Type of dive: |
|
Animal interaction |
| Snorkelling: |
|
Yes, phenomenal! |
| Scuba: |
|
No, snorkelling only |
| Access: |
|
Boat only (Full day experience) |
| Depth: |
|
Varies, interactions are surface based |
| Visibility: |
|
5 – 18 metres (15-60’) |
| Water temperature: |
|
24 – 28°C (75-83°F) |
| Seasonal: |
|
Yes, March to October (April & May best) |
Whale sharks are the largest fish in the oceans, only some species of whale are bigger!
Whale sharks, Rhincodon typus, the largest non-mammalian vertebrates, are filter feeders.
They feed on small marine organisms such as krill and plankton, plankton is the main component of their diet.
Individuals average over nine metres (30’) in length and can weigh up to nine tonne (10 tn), the largest recorded was 12.65 metres (41.5’) long.
They have been known to live some 70 years.
These large, long-living, slow-moving pelagic fish inhabit the world’s warmer tropical and sub-temperate open seas.
Whale sharks have been exploited by many cultures and are classified as a threatened species. In 2003 whale sharks were added to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in an effort to regulate international trade of whale shark product.
Western Australia’s World Heritage listed Ningaloo Reef is one of the most accessible places in the world where humans can interact with whale sharks.
Ningaloo Reef is one of the world’s biggest fringing coral reefs and is around 300 kilometres (185 mi) long.
Ningaloo Reef runs just a few metres off shore and offers great easily accessible snorkelling where snorkellers can experience an infinite number of dive sites and take in the abundant diverse tropical marine life on offer.
Whale sharks are docile and non-threatening, and diving with these magnificent gentle giants of the deep is absolutely exhilarating.
The start of the Ningaloo Whale Shark season coincides with the annual March/April coral spawning season and runs for around four months.
As well as the whale sharks, divers will experience lots of fish, turtles and reef sharks, and dugongs are regularly sighted.
Encounters with humpback whales and mantra rays are not uncommon in the latter half of the whale shark season.
A whale shark experience is an absolute must for any underwater adventurer.
Special thanks to Simon Buckingham of Three Islands Whale Shark Dive.
Copyright © 2024 Steve Sinclair
Other great Australian animal dives:
Humpback Whales, Giant Cuttlefish, Great White Sharks, Burrunan Dolphins, Montague Island Seals, Tollgate Shark Gutter, Mantra Bommie, Dwarf Minke Whales, Cod Hole, North Horn Shark Feed and Raine Island Turtles.
Local dive services:
|
|
EXMOUTH DIVE & WHALESHARK NINGALOO |
|
|
THREE ISLANDS WHALE SHARK DIVE |
Other services:
|
|
Need somewhere to eat, drink & stay? |
 |
BLAST EXPERIENCES |
OTHER INFORMATION
LOCATION
State or Territory:
Western Australia
Nearest City:
Perth
Nearest Regional City:
Carnarvon
Nearest Town:
Exmouth
HOW TO GET THERE
Air:
Nearest International Airport:
Perth
Nearest Domestic/Regional Airport:
Exmouth (Learmonth)
Road:
Perth to Coral Bay:
12 hours (1,140 km/710 mi) via National Route 1
Bus:
From Perth or Exmouth
Train:
Not available
Ferry:
Not relevant
THINGS TO DO
Ningaloo Kayak Adventures
Coral Coast Tours
Ningaloo Marine Interactions
Sail Ningaloo