Featured Wildlife Journeys

Whale Shark
Manta Ray
Humpback Whale
Green Sea Turtle

Deluxe Whaleshark Swim

Available from: March 01 2023 - August 31 2023

From: $320 USD

Duration: Full Day - Ningaloo & Exmouth

Type: Groups, Shared.

Departs: Daily from Exmouth

Interests: Fish & Marine Invertebrates.

The opportunity to swim with the Whaleshark is one of the world’s greatest interactive marine encounters.

This fish, the largest of the shark family and the largest fish in the world at an average of 12 meters (40 foot) in length, is a harmless plankton eater, with their graceful and passive nature providing an unforgettable day out on the waters of the World Heritage listed Ningaloo Marine Park.
Educational talks from on-board marine biologists, provide a fascinating insight into the rich biodiversity found in the area. Guests will be entertained by Bottlenose and Australian Humpback Dolphins, with a keen eye occasionally spotting Dugongs as they surface to take breath.

About Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks Ningaloo:

As the region’s original eco-tourism operation, Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks Ningaloo is synonymous with experiencing the aquatic treasures of the World Heritage Listed Ningaloo Reef Marine Park. Debbie & Mark Ferguson have been involved taking ecotours around Western Australia for over 20 years, managing the operations of a number of boats in various locations. The team is proud to specialise in small group tours for Whale Shark swims, Humpback Whale swims & watching, scuba diving and snorkelling and is active in numerous conservation projects including Whale Sharks, turtles and Manta Rays.

_{Price per person. Pricing is subject to availability and all prices, itineraries and routings are subject to change without notice. Currency fluctuations may affect prices as quotes based on AUD. Prices are current at time of posting (1/4/2023) and may differ when you book your travel.*}

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Itinerary

Tour day-by-day

Whale Shark Swim: Full Day Tour

This unforgettable day starts early to board a beautifully equipped vessel, with the world’s leading Whale Shark team. Using light aircraft to fly overhead during the day, the team will be directed to the locations of the whale sharks to provide the best opportunities to encounter these magnificent fish.

During the journey out, the fully qualified and experienced crew will answer your questions, help with your gear and brief you on everything you'll need to know to safely and successfully swim with these gentle giants. Throughout the day the on-board marine biologist will share interesting information about the Whale Sharks, how to identify the gender of the animal, typical behaviours, feeding patterns, how to take photos and more.

“I’m very fortunate to work in an area that has one of the highest interaction rates with Whale Sharks in the world. We find them, we swim with them, and we photograph them for identification purposes. Our videographers are required to get a shot of each Whale Shark we swim with, and we also encourage all of our guests to participate. Everyone can submit their photos to Wildbook for Whale Sharks and learn about the exact shark they swam with."

Heather Kay - Spotter & Snorkelling Guide

Instruction will also be given on how to best approach and swim with the Whale Sharks, so that the encounter with the world’s largest fish is a truly memorable one. At least one guide will be in the water with guests at all times during the swim. In the very unlikely event that no whale shark is sighted, Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks Ningaloo will offer a free repeat tour on standby in the next three years.

The return journey back to shore will often provide opportunities to see Ningaloo's other megafauna, including Humpback Whales (June to November), Manta Rays, Dugongs, Australian Humpback, Bottlenose and Common Dolphins. Morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and refreshments are served throughout the day, ending with a celebratory glass of champagne or light beer.
Tour details

Group Size: Minimum of 6 guests, maximum of 20 swimmers
Pick-up and Drop Off Point: Exmouth accommodations
Pick-up and Drop-off Time: 7:00am returning at approximately 3:30pm.
Private Boat Charter: Available on Request at additional cost. Please contact us directly with your group size & interests.
Languages: German, French, Spanish and Italian private touring is available on request.
Frequently Asked Questions: See here.

Please note: Price includes video of your Whaleshark Swim Tour by Professional Videographer (USB at additional cost).

How you'll be making a positive impact

We have aligned our sustainability vision with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Whale Shark Observations across the Ningaloo Marine Park

The team at Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks Ningaloo contribute to several ongoing data collection studies of marine life at Ningaloo Reef and the Muiron Islands including Whale Sharks, Manta Rays and Humpback Whales; delivering valuable information towards environmental studies and research, and marine management.

The Wildbook for Whale Sharks photo identification platform was introduced in 1994, and the team has assisted in identifying several individual Whale Sharks that have visited Ningaloo Reef on an annual basis. The team encourages guests to get involved with this citizen science program as well, by taking photos behind the Whale Shark’s left dorsal fin and also behind the fill slits.

Photos delivered by the crew or guests are compared to the photos of over 1,600 individual Whale Sharks that have been sighted in the area. Guests who are interested in ongoing support can sign up to ‘Adopt a Whale Shark’, which includes a monthly donation to the cause, with donors receiving an email with details about the shark’s current size and its most recent location.

Using Desalination where the Outback meets the Reef
All of the vessels operated by Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks Ningaloo utilise desalination systems that convert seawater into freshwater. This is required for numerous functions, from drinking water and food preparation, to deck and exterior washdowns. It is estimated that around 300 litres of fresh water is saved per day utilising this technology, adding up to 60,000 litres per year.

Developing Partnerships To Meet Sustainability Goals
Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks Ningaloo have developed a number of partnerships with key environmental organisations within the Exmouth region, Western Australia and Australia, including Mission Deep Blue, Longitude 181 Nature, Project Manta, Wildbook for Whale Sharks, Centre for Whale Research Western Australia, Australian Parks & Wildlife Marine Research, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation & Attractions.

Project Manta, Wildbook for Whale Sharks and the Centre for Whale Research Western Australia are all supported financially via experiences provided by Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks Ningaloo.