Imagine coming face-to-face with a 40-foot-long shark in open water. Don’t worry; this is one shark that won’t bite. Instead, these ten-ton animals are hungry for some of the smallest creatures in the sea, and they open wide to scoop up large helpings of plankton. Whale sharks are the largest members of the shark family, and they have become one of the most sought after marine animal encounters in the world. Here are six prime destinations where you can swim with these gentle giants.
Isla Contoy, Mexico
A boat ride from Cancun or Isla Mujeres brings snorkelers to an almost guaranteed encounter with whales sharks. The big fish show up each summer to feed on rich clouds of plankton washed up by Caribbean currents. The season runs from May to September, and during the peak months of July and August, as many as 30 to 40 animals will gather in one location.
Gladden Spit, Belize
Twenty miles off the coast of Belize, the Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve is visited by migrating whale sharks each spring. Because these big fish are filter feeders that eat small things, they come for the annual snapper and grouper spawns, when these fish release millions of eggs into the water, creating a floating caviar buffet. These encounters take place each April and May, and are said to be best on the three days either side of the full moon.
La Paz, Mexico
Each winter, the Bay of La Paz provides a seasonal home for roving whale sharks, which gather from all parts of the Sea of Cortez and beyond to feed in the bay’s plankton rich waters. In addition to stops at the spit of land where the sharks gather, tours may also include a visit to the sea lion colonies at Los Islotes. The season runs from November to April, with cooler waters wetsuits are advised.
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
The volcanic islands made famous by Charles Darwin are washed by three colliding ocean currents that create a rich environment for all types of marine life—including whale sharks. Encounters can take place around all of the islands, but many sites can only be reached by multi-day cruises aboard live aboard tour boats. Whale sharks can be found year-round, but their numbers swell during annual migrations between July and October, when pregnant females often use island waters as a rest stop.
Cebu, Philippines
There are several reasons why the coastal town of Oslob has become one of the world’s most popular destinations for whale shark encounters. Attracted by scraps from local fishermen, the fish remain in the area year-round. Encounters take place within a few hundred yards of the beach in warm, clear water, and there are dozens of tour operators who provide fast, inexpensive access to the site.
South Ari Atoll, Maldives
The Maldives offers a wealth of snorkeling and diving diversity, including year-round sightings of whales sharks around most all of the 26 atolls that make up this nation of islands. Unique encounters take place along the southern edge of South Ari Atoll, where juvenile whale sharks of 10 to 20 feet in size feed in the sheltered waters of a marine preserve. The best time to visit is during the dry season between October and April, when seas are calmer and winds are light.
