EN
ES
DE
Whale sharks: the gentle giant
The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is the largest fish in the ocean and one of the most harmless. Despite the name, it is a shark, and despite the size — up to 18 meters — it feeds entirely on plankton and small schooling fish, filtering seawater through gill rakers the way baleen whales do.
For divers, the whale shark is the encounter that defines a trip. They are solitary, slow, and mostly indifferent to human presence. A good whale shark encounter is just you and the animal, at cruising depth, hovering parallel while it inhales the sunlit surface layer.
Where to find them
- Isla Mujeres, Mexico (June–September): the largest confirmed aggregation on Earth. 100+ whale sharks feeding on bonito spawn in open water. Snorkel-only by law.
- Oslob, Philippines: controversial provisioned tourism site. Guaranteed sightings but ethically compromised.
- Ningaloo Reef, Australia (March–July): wild, unprovisioned sightings from dedicated spotter-plane boats. The gold standard.
- Maldives (year-round, best in southern atolls): rare but regular on atoll corners.
- Similan Islands, Thailand (February–April): Richelieu Rock is the reliable site.
How to behave
Approach from the side, never the head. Don't touch. Don't block the animal's path. Don't chase.