14 Best places to swim with whale sharks

Gladden Spit, a marine life-rich, protected reserve off the coast of Belize, sees whale sharks visit from March to June, attracted by mass fish spawning events. April and May are the most reliable months.

Full-day diving and snorkelling tours go from the south-eastern coastal town of Placencia.

The Philippines has the world’s second highest population of whale sharks (behind Mexico) and they duly arrive in Cebu’s Donsol Bay in numbers between November and June.

It’s consequently become a popular tourist destination, but not as much as over-crowded Oslob, the other Philippines hotspot – where fishermen are permitted to feed the sharks.

This small, little-visited East African country attracts a large and highly dependable population of whale sharks from November to February, when large, seasonal plankton blooms appear in the Gulf of Tadjoura.

Access is good – they’re often spotted close to shore or a short boat ride away – and visibility is excellent.

Wolf and Darwin, the northernmost islands in the Galapagos, are recognised as world-class scuba diving sites.

But from June to November, the weather and water temperatures cool, giving rise to large upwelling currents of nutrient-rich water. Vast plankton blooms result, attracting hordes of fish, including enigmatic whale sharks. Divers only.

The whale shark capital of the Caribbean, the tiny Honduran island of Isla de Utila is part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef (world’s 2nd largest reef). Whale sharks are present all year round, though March to May and August to October are best, when concentrations are highest, especially around the island’s northern tip. Mainly diving but sometime snorkelling too.

From October to March, the west coast of Mafia Island offers one of the best opportunities to snorkel with the magnificent whale shark.

The biggest fish in the sea, growing up to 12m long with giant gaping maws, these harmless, plankton-feeders are attracted here in numbers by (it is believed) the krill-rich discharge of a nearby shrimp hatchery.

The sharks are massive, but completely harmless, and wild – they’re not fed or enticed towards swimmers. Whale sharks are fast swimmers; watch them pass by, then hop back on the boat to get in front of them again. For the shark’s wellbeing, though, don’t try to touch them or get too close.

Close to shore, and requiring only basic swimming ability, this world-beating experience is also highly accessible.

The warm tropical waters of this dreamy archipelago are one of the few places in the world that’s home to whale sharks all year round.

They tend to favour the western side of the Indian Ocean archipelago from May to December, when plankton blooms in Hanifaru Bay, then head to the east until April.

Between May and September, the world’s largest fish visits Riviera Maya waters to feed on the large upswells of plankton from the Gulf of Mexico. Snorkelling with them is an astonishing experience, and takes place in open sea. These giant filter feeders, which can reach over 12 metres are astonishingly well-camouflaged – almost invisible in the inky blue until they are almost next to you, then gently swaying past and back into the depths.

Numerous tour operators in Cancun and Playa del Carmen offer snorkelling and diving trips which usually include reef snorkels and lunch.

The 260km-long Ningaloo Reef, off the western coast of Australia, is one of the world’s greatest reefs – many claim it rivals even the Great Barrier Reef. It’s also one of the world’s whale shark hotspots.

Whale sharks are gentle giants, feeding exclusively on microscopic plankton. It’s the perfect place to swim with them: the chances of an encounter are higher than possibly anywhere else, the reef is pristine, and it supports an extraordinary biodiversity of other marine life to ogle while you’re there. Also look out for turtles, dolphins, dugong (manatees), and rays.

Although not as prolific as the Mayan Riviera, the Sea of Cortez is a reliable place to snorkel with wild whale sharks.

October and November are the best months, when the water is warmer and visibility is better, but the sharks stick around until May. Half and full days tours go from La Paz.

This remote, 115-island archipelago – best known for honeymoons – also happens to be one of the rare places in the world where you can dive with whale sharks.

The islands lie on their migration route, and they obligingly swim by the coastline of Mahe from August to November – though in recent years, sightings have dwindled.

This tiny volcanic archipelago of 2 islands – San Benedicto and Socorro – is a little-known marine paradise, 24 hours from Cabo in Baja California.

Whale sharks visit from May to December, along with dolphins, manta rays and humpback whales.

It’s remote, pristine and magically wild but for advanced divers only on live-a-boards.

Under-appreciated Mozambique has at last shaken off its ‘war-torn’ tag and replaced it with ‘ecotourism hotspot’.

Unspoilt Tofo Beach is the place to go for the largest population of whale sharks in Africa, with dependable sightings between June and January.

Snorkel or dive, you’ll share the water with manta rays, turtles, dolphins, and, in season, humpback whales.

A large, sheltered bay – a diver’s paradise – is home to a year-round resident population of whale sharks with guaranteed sightings. October-April. Diving only.