Swimming With Whale Sharks in Exmouth — The Ultimate Bucket List Experience

This is the Ningaloo Whale Shark Swim, a full-day adventure departing from Exmouth that takes you out to the outer reef to snorkel over colourful coral gardens and spot tropical fish, turtles and maybe even manta rays, before heading out in search of the largest fish in the sea.

Quick facts

• Price: $615 per person (adult, in-season)
• Duration: Full day, approx. 7am-4:30pm
• Location: Exmouth, Western Australia
• Best time to visit: Whale shark season runs mid-March to October/November, with the best chance of a sighting (around 95%) from late March to late July
• Operator: Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim

Why should I book this experience?

It seems like everyone talks about the Great Barrier Reef, but the Ningaloo Reef has to be one of the most incredible snorkelling spots in the country! This amazing marine environment is the world’s largest fringing coral reef, stretching 300 kilometres along Western Australia, and is home to turquoise beaches, vibrant coral gardens and, of course, the largest fish in the sea, the mighty whale shark! Despite their enormous size, whale sharks are completely harmless to humans and feed only on tiny plankton, krill and small fish, which makes swimming alongside one feel surprisingly calm rather than intimidating. Every year from March to August, the whale sharks are drawn to these waters because a massive coral spawning event triggers a huge bloom of krill and plankton, providing a rich, abundant food source for them to feed on.

What is the experience actually like?

The team from Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim will pick you up in a bus from your Exmouth accommodation first thing in the morning before you board their vessel and cruise out towards the outer reef. After you are fitted with snorkel gear and listen to a quick run-through on how to use everything properly, you’ll head out for your first snorkel of the day, following your guide over colourful coral gardens while spotting all kinds of tropical fish, including parrotfish, turtles and maybe even manta rays.

Once you’re back on board, you can enjoy a morning tea while the crew run through a safety briefing on how to swim respectfully with whale sharks, all while their private spotter plane circles the reef searching for these gentle giants. Once a whale shark is spotted, you’ll line up at the back of the boat, slip into the water and keep your eyes peeled as these massive sharks glide beneath the surface, slowly swaying their tails as they cruise calmly through the open water.

After enjoying lunch overlooking the reef and hopping in for one last snorkel, the crew will take you back towards Exmouth, where you might even spot humpback whales cruising along the coastline during their annual migration.

What was your experience like?

I’ve done this tour on two separate occasions now, and it still remains my favourite travel experience in Australia. The first time I did this was with Coral Bay Eco Tours, just 90 minutes south of Exmouth, and I remember feeling so nervous before jumping in the water. I’d never swum in open water before, so I was terrified, not knowing what could be swimming behind me absolutely petrified me. The initial snorkel sessions we did that morning, before we even started searching for whale sharks, helped build my confidence, and being in a group with a guide right there the whole time made me feel so much safer.

When it was finally time to jump in I was still pretty nervous, but we lined up in an organised line so the whale shark could swim alongside us and we all got a good look, and it was incredible. I remember seeing a blurry, massive figure in the distance, not sure what it even was at first, and then it got closer and I could make out its tiny eyes, massive mouth and beautiful spots. We went in and out of the water at least ten separate times that day and spotted all shapes and sizes, from just 6 metres up to a massive 12 metres.

Because of Western Australia’s marine rules, individual in-water group encounters with a whale shark are typically capped at an hour, so the guides really encourage you to make the most of it. After that first encounter I just kept jumping back in, the adrenaline was amazing, and seeing these incredible creatures with my own eyes is something I’ll never forget.

There’s nothing quite like coming face to face with the biggest fish in the ocean and realising just how calm and gentle these creatures actually are.

Good to know

• What’s included: Pickup and drop-off from select Exmouth accommodation, snorkel gear and wetsuits, food throughout the day, briefings, and one free photo from the onboard photographer
• What to bring: Swimwear, a towel, sun protection (hat, sunglasses, shirt), something warmer for cooler moments, and seasickness tablets from a pharmacy if you think you’ll need them
• Fitness/swimming requirements: You’ll need to be a confident swimmer, though the crew offer coaching to help you get comfortable in the water if needed
• Age restrictions: Children under 6 years of age are usually not permitted to swim with a whale shark
• Weather/wildlife dependency: Sightings aren’t guaranteed, though the operator’s own spotter plane gives you close to a 95% success rate in peak season. Tours can be cancelled or rescheduled due to bad weather or poor water visibility
• Booking advice: Tours book out months in advance during peak season, so it’s worth booking as early as possible

Getting there and wear to stay

Exmouth sits around 1,200km north of Perth, so travelling here from Melbourne is no easy feat. On both of my visits to the region, I opted to fly with Qantas to Perth and hire a car to drive up the Coral Coast. There are some incredible destinations you can stop at to break up the drive, including the Pinnacles Desert, Kalbarri to see ancient rock formations and gorges, and Monkey Mia to get up close with dolphins and dugongs. It can take around 13 hours to drive up the coast, but if you’d rather fly in, you can get from Perth to nearby Learmonth Airport in under 2 hours with Qantas, with flights running back the same way too.

For a cheap hostel-style stay, Potshot Hotel Resort has bunk rooms and is located right inside one of the best pubs in town. If you’re after something more romantic, Casa Del Sol is a beautiful apartment for two, just 2km from the beach and an easy walk to the shops in town. If you are travelling as a family, you can’t go past RAC Exmouth Cape Holiday Park, which has plenty of cabins and campsites as well as two pools, a games room and a camp kitchen, all an easy walk from Exmouth’s town centre and the beach. For the ultimate bucket list stay, Sal Salis is an eco-luxury safari camp in Cape Range National Park where you can literally snorkel straight off the beach among vibrant coral and tropical fish!