Exmouth Whale Shark Snorkel
LOCATION Exmouth Western Australia
DEPTH 5-20 Meters
WATER TEMP 24-28 Degrees
DIFFICULTY Medium
This is a great experience but you will need to be a confident snorkeller to keep up!
FEATURE
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Exmouth Whale Shark Snorkel
LOCATION Exmouth, Western Australia
DEPTH 5-20 Meters
WATER TEMP 24-28 Degrees
DIFFICULTY Medium
This is a great experience but you will need to be a confident snorkeller to keep up!
FEATURE
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Exmouth Whale Shark Snorkel
The Exmouth Whale Shark Tour offers the chance to snorkel with majestic whale sharks. With spotter planes leading the way, this well-coordinated tour ensured an ethical and structured swim alongside these gentle giants.
What Can I See?
- Whale Sharks
- Humpback Whales
- Turtles
- Sharks
- Fish
The whale sharks are the stars of the show but you could spot anything when you are cruising around the outer Ningaloo Reef. We also saw humpback whales, a hug turtle and a dugong. Our daughter saw killer whales when she did the tour. There is also a variety of fish a reef sharks around when you do your preparation snorkel.
Where & How do you get in?
Everyone we speak to about the whale shark swim comments on how hectic it is. Entry and exit from the water is from the back of the boat which can moving around a bit if there is a swell. You need a bit of strength to get back up on the boat – crew do give you a hand but be aware there is a bit more to this activity than just climbing out of a swimming pool.
Best Season
Whale sharks are on Ningaloo Reef from March to August, peak season is from May to July.
We strongly recommend booking a whale shark tour in advance as places fill quickly in peak season.
If you go on a whale shark cruise from June, you might also see humpback whales which are in the area from June to October. There are separate tours available to swim with them.
How Busy/Crowds
The whale sharks are the starts of the show but you could spot anything when you are cruising around the outer Ningaloo Reef. We also saw humpback whales, a hug turtle and a dugong. Our daughter saw killer whales when she did the tour. There is also a variety of fish a reef sharks around when you do your preparation snorkel.
Recommended Gear
Wetsuits, Mask, Snorkel and Fins are provided by the tour company
More Information
Reading back over this, you might think swimming with whale sharks sounds a bit rough and tumble – but don’t be put off! So long as you are confident in the water the crew are amazing and will give you every chance to have an incredible encounter with a whale shark (along with whatever else cruises past on the day).
Keep in mind sightings and the length of sightings cannot be guaranteed, neither can the conditions.
Visibility
Visibility is usually 10-15 meters but can be 25+ meters
Costs / Permits
The whale sharks are the starts of the show but you could spot anything when you are cruising around the outer Ningaloo Reef. We also saw humpback whales, a hug turtle and a dugong. Our daughter saw killer whales when she did the tour. There is also a variety of fish a reef sharks around when you do your preparation snorkel.
Getting There
Exmouth is 1200km from Perth in Western Australia. There are several tour operators based in the town and they will collect you from your accommodation in Exmouth and take you to the Tantabiddi Boat Ramp where the Exmouth whale shark tour depart from. Or, if you are staying on that side of the Exmouth Peninsula like we were, you can meet tour groups at the jetty.
The information for each snorkel spot is provided by people who have snorkelled there. However, snorkelling conditions change daily. Please be aware that wind, swell, tides and cloud cover can all affect visibility and your experience in the water.
Disclosure: Please Note That Some Links In This Post May Be Affiliate Links, And At No Additional Cost To You, We Earn A Small Commission If You Make A Purchase. Commissions Go Toward Maintaining The Snorkel Spots Website.
Exmouth Whale Shark Tours
Facilities on Board
Toilets
Shade
Food & Drinks
About the Snorkel
Oh boy, had we been looking forward to this! We have been waiting on a chance to snorkel with whale sharks for years so were super excited when we got to do this. From talking to people most tours operate in a similar way, so this is what to expect.
While spotter planes locate the whale sharks, you get to do a snorkel on the reef. This was pretty good, but it is quite deep, so everything is quite a way a way.
With all your gear sorted word comes through they have found the whale sharks – and a well-rehearsed operation swings into gear. Swimming with whale sharks is very structured with strict rules about how close you can get to the giant fish. We can’t fault the ethical approach the operators have to the whale sharks.
Everyone on the tour is put in groups and when you are told to hop in, it all happens very quickly. As the whale shark appears you watch it swim past then you can swim with it – if you can keep up. If you are not a strong snorkeller you will watch it swim off into the distance! When you are directed back to the boat, there is some urgency to it so they can keep track of the whale shark. Getting back onto the boat can be tricky if there is a swell and the platform and ladder is moving around a bit.
We went through this process 5 or 6 times – and it was as exhausting as it was exhilarating so be prepared! That said, it was an amazing experience. To top it off, on our way back to shore, humpback whales appeared and were breaching and blowing all around us.
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- Fun Facts about Sharks - February 15, 2024
- Where can you Safely Swim with Sharks in Australia? - February 15, 2024
- How to Snorkel – 15 Tips for Beginners - February 15, 2024
