Diving with Whale Sharks

The Maldives have so much to offer for divers and marine life lovers. These Indian Ocean islands and atolls are not only incredibly beautiful above water, they play host to a multitude of marine marvels too.

One of those marvels is the prevalence of the mighty whale shark. The southern tip of the South Ari Atoll is one area renowned for regular whale shark encounters, with many individuals known to spend most of their time in this region. Depending on the time of the year, they congregate on either the east or west of the atoll. The best months for sightings are December to March, but they can be seen year-round from both liveaboard and resort.

Between June and September, large numbers of whale sharks also gather around the Baa Atoll in the northwestern Maldives, drawn by plentiful food in this region. It is possible to make a snorkelling trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hanifaru Bay, and whale sharks are regularly seen in the general area on dives as well.

The Galápagos Islands need little introduction to divers. These famously remote islands, once visited by Charles Darwin, are well known for superb big fish encounters, along with some truly unique sightings (think penguin and marine iguana).

Throughout the year, liveaboard expeditions take experienced divers to two rocky outcrops northwest of the main Galápagos Island group, called Wolf and Darwin. Here, all manner of thrilling animals gather, including many sharks. The diving here is world-class at any time of year, but from June to November, when the Humboldt current is at its peak, huge adult whale sharks gather here too.

Research indicates that these whale sharks, which seem to dwarf those seen in other locations, are pregnant females, suggesting there are birthing grounds nearby. Nobody has witnessed a birth, but the knowledge that every whale shark seen may be a mother to many more whale sharks only adds to the excitement!

From June to September each year, an extraordinary event unfolds in the waters around Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. During this time, a phenomenon called the Afuera brings a huge aggregation of whale sharks. Surprisingly, one of the world’s largest aggregations of whale sharks was known only to a few fishermen until relatively recently, and the area was not recognised for its special significance until 2009.

Scientific research suggests the reason for this whale shark fiesta is an abundance of tuna eggs in the water, which are clearly tempting enough to draw whale sharks from far and wide. Nowadays, regular day trips are organised from popular resorts along the Yucatan coast to witness this event. These are full day trips starting early in the morning, but the rewards for those looking to catch a glimpse of the world’s largest fish are enormous.

Whale sharks are also found in the Sea of Cortez on the western coast of Mexico seasonally and are occasionally seen on a liveaboard in Socorro.

Tanzania may not be the first country that comes to mind when thinking about a great destination for a diving holiday - her wonderful topside wildlife tends to take centre stage. However, the islands of Pemba, Tanzania and Zanzibar offer some lovely diving. In addition to colourful coral reefs, turtles and dolphins, this area is also known for sightings of whale shark between December and March each year.

Whale sharks can be seen around Pemba and Zanzibar during this period, but the most consistent sightings are arguably on the little island of Mafia. This unassuming backwater lies well off the normal tourist trail, but firmly on the must-visit list for whale sharks, who gather here in numbers.

The whale sharks in this region seem to be adolescent males, and snorkelling trips are run by a local conservation organisation, allowing visitors to spend quality time in the water with these beautiful animals.