Western Australia · Attraction
Swim with Whale Sharks on Ningaloo Reef
Giants of the open sea
schedule 1 min read / Updated Jun 2026
Every year between March and August, whale sharks, the largest fish on Earth, aggregate along Ningaloo Reef to feed on the mass coral spawn. Licensed operators based in Exmouth use spotter planes to locate individual sharks and put small groups of swimmers directly alongside them, making Ningaloo one of only a handful of places worldwide where this encounter is reliably possible.
The tours run as full-day expeditions departing around 7 am and returning mid-afternoon. After a safety and snorkelling briefing on board, a dedicated spotter aircraft radios the vessel's skipper with the shark's position. Swimmers enter the water in small, guided groups and drift beside the animal, which can reach 12 metres or more, as it filters plankton near the surface. Multiple swims are usually possible across the day, interspersed with reef snorkelling and a hot lunch.
Operators are required to hold an ecotourism licence and follow strict approach protocols set by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions: no touching, no flash photography, no approaching within 3 metres of the animal. A spotter plane fee is bundled into the tour price. Most operators report a high sighting success rate during peak season.
Bookings open months ahead and sell out quickly, particularly for April to July. Several operators also offer observer places for passengers who prefer to stay on deck rather than swim.
Scenic views
Lookouts near Swim with Whale Sharks on Ningaloo Reef.
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