3 Best Places to Swim with Whale Sharks

There are several places in the world to have this incredible underwater experience.

However, I am going to walk you through three of the BEST places to snorkel with this majestic 40,000-pound fish:

– Mexico

– Maldives

– Australia

Experience Overview

My husband and I had our very first encounter with a whale shark off the coast of Isla Mujeres, Mexico, and it’s still one of the most unforgettable experiences we’ve ever had.

We booked a tour with On Isla Mujeres Water Tours, and they delivered an incredible adventure.

With over 400 exceptional reviews on TripAdvisor, I was confident we’d made the right choice!

There’s actually a bit of a backstory to this one.

Just before our trip, I tore a ligament in my thumb during a car accident and ended up in a cast.

I asked my orthopedic surgeon if we could postpone putting my arm into a cast until after our whale shark tour—luckily, he agreed.

Determined to make it work, I wrapped my hand as securely as possible and decided I wouldn’t let my injury stop me.

On the day of the tour, the guide was incredibly kind and stayed by my side the entire time. When the moment came and a whale shark was spotted, we jumped in.

Swimming alongside these massive creatures isn’t exactly a leisurely paddle—you have to move quickly to keep up.

Since my hand was out of commission, my amazing guide actually pulled me along (photo below), bringing me right up next to the whale shark. It was absolutely surreal.

For anyone unfamiliar, whale sharks are not actually whales. They’re sharks, but not the predatory kind. They’re gentle, filter-feeding giants that mostly dine on plankton.

After our time in the water, the boat crew served us fresh ceviche and guacamole.

We enjoyed our meal as we cruised past Playa Norte, which is frequently listed as one of the world’s best beaches. It was the perfect way to wrap up an already amazing day.

When to Go

Mid-May to mid-September is the best time to visit Isla Mujeres if you’re hoping to swim with whale sharks.

Cost

$150 per person

Book here: On Isla Mujeres Water Tours

Experience Overview

We got lucky—twice.

The Maldives is made up of 26 atolls, but if you’re searching for whale sharks, the South Ari Atoll is the place to be.

To boost your chances, choose a highly-rated resort in this atoll and confirm ahead of time if they offer whale shark excursions.

During our stay at the Outrigger Maldives Maafushivaru, one of our favorite boutique resorts, we made sure to book the whale shark tour as soon as we arrived.

The Outrigger doesn’t just stop at whale sharks—they also have a fantastic house reef and even offer manta ray tours.

If you’re into snorkeling, you’ll definitely want to check out my guide to the best Maldives snorkeling resorts, complete with videos and reef ratings.

Our whale shark excursion didn’t disappoint. We had the incredible privilege of swimming alongside this majestic creature all by ourselves for a few unforgettable minutes—just us, the whale shark, and the beautiful Maldivian waters.

Eventually, other tour boats showed up, but those initial moments were pure magic.

On the way back to the resort, as if the day couldn’t get any better, we encountered a playful pod of dolphins that swam right next to our boat!

I couldn’t have scripted that day any better.

When to Go

Whale sharks can be found here year-round, but the best time for higher concentrations is typically from December through March.

The Maldives is one of the few places on Earth where you can experience swimming with whale sharks no matter the season.

Cost

At the Outrigger, the whale shark excursion cost us $175 USD per person.

Book here: Outrigger

Experience Overview

Ningaloo Reef in Australia is often called one of the best places in the world to swim with whale sharks!

When researching, I found that tours typically operate out of two locations: Coral Bay and Exmouth.

Exmouth offers more tour options, and based on what I’ve read, it’s the most popular starting point.

After digging into different operators, it became clear that small-group tours have the edge. Larger groups often mean more time waiting and less space to enjoy the experience.

Live Ningaloo is the only company in Exmouth that caps their tours at 10 participants, creating a more intimate experience.

Other companies, such as Ocean Eco Adventures, accommodate 20 guests at a time—still a solid option but less exclusive.

The smaller group size comes with a higher price tag, but if cost is your main consideration, Ocean Eco Adventures is a highly-rated and more affordable choice.

When to Go

• Coral Bay: March through the end of June

• Exmouth: March through early August

Cost

• Live Ningaloo: $890 AUD (~$537 USD)

Book here: Live Ningaloo

• Ocean Eco Adventures: $549 AUD (~$331 USD)

Book here: Ocean Eco Adventures

My husband and I are passionate snorkelers, and swimming alongside a whale shark—twice!—ranks as one of the most incredible bucket list experiences we’ve ever had. It’s truly unforgettable.

As the Australia Coral Coast tourism website notes, “only 1 in 3 million people globally will swim with a whale shark in their lifetime.”

Make sure you’re one of them!

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Questions about our whale shark experiences in Mexico or the Maldives?

Let me know in the comments below!