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Swimming with a whale shark is un unforgettable, once in a lifetime experience that people come from all over the world to do. It is something on everyone’s bucket list! Whale sharks are the largest fish in the ocean, growing up to a possible 18 m long! Ningaloo Reef plays host to these amazing animals every year from March until August, it is the only place in the world where they congregate so predictably in such large numbers.
Whale sharks are completely harmless to humans as they filter feed on plankton and other microscopic organisms. Here on Ningaloo Reef, we are lucky to be able to enter the water with them on a daily basis and swim alongside as they cruise about the reef. Swimming with a whale shark in their natural environment is an extraordinary experience, one not to be taken for granted, and as such is conducted with the utmost respect to the whale sharks. Ningaloo Discovery will do absolutely everything possible to have guests swimming in the water with a whale shark! Whale Shark Swim Tours from Exmouth are rated as the worlds best practice. We operate under extremely well managed guidelines to ensure we can continue to enjoy being in the water with minimal impact for years to come.
Ningaloo Discovery’s team are extremely experienced and passionate about interacting with these animals in a wonderful, respectful way and we want you to join us! Ningaloo Discovery offers guests a whale shark experience on-board a large, custom fitted, shaded and spacious 56ft powerboat, INVESTIGATOR. She has been extensively refurbished to offer two huge areas of seating and viewing for guests and easy, direct access to and from the water. Her upper deck sits almost 5 m above the water and boasts 360 degree viewing for spotting all the amazing wildlife we may encounter, whilst her lower deck is well protected from the elements should it get a bit windy and is extremely spacious and comfortable. There is also a lounged area in the cockpit offering sheltered wildlife viewing options. With the use of our very own spotter plane, our pilot will direct us to whale sharks and any other marine life spotted from above.
Your small group of 10 will enter the waters of Ningaloo Reef and swim with a whale shark. You will be in awe as you immerse yourself in this truly extraordinary experience.
Guests who book on as “observers” are welcome to participate in all itinerary activities except for entering the water with a whale shark.
You will experience warm friendly staff, fun activities, delicious food and memories to last a lifetime from the minute we pick you up to the moment we say goodbye. Our priority is making your day the best we possibly can!
So what are you waiting for? Book now and get swimming with a Whale Shark ticked off your bucket list!
– Starting from 7:45am, you will be picked up from your accommodation in our private bus. Listen in or chill out during the drive down the coast as we’ll be telling you all about what you’re about to experience before being taken out to the INVESTIGATOR whale shark vessel where you will be greeted by our friendly crew and fitted with masks, snorkels, fins and wetsuits. We’ll take exceptional care of you and ensure everybody is 100% at ease, feeling confident and excited!
– Moments later immerse yourself in the crystal clear waters of Ningaloo Reef at one of our beautiful snorkel spots in the sheltered lagoon. Here you will see an array of corals and colourful fish, sometimes even turtles and rays! Take this time to ask questions, get snorkelling tips, make sure your gear fits and practice getting on and off the boat before your Whale Shark swim. Our guides will be right there with you in the water to steer you in the right direction, and to pay special attention to any modest swimmers. Feel free to grab one of our floating noodles should you feel like the extra bit of flotation.
– Now you can enjoy morning tea as our plane gets searching for Whale Sharks. Our crew will organise you into small intimate groups and as soon as a whale shark is spotted, swimming guests will be directed to put their snorkel gear on and get ready for one of the greatest moments of your life! You are about to swim with the biggest fish in the world, the whale shark!
– Your group and your guide drop in and get up close and personal to the worlds biggest fish, this is your chance to experience wonder and marvel at the sheer size, grace and elegance of the whale shark! Most of these sharks are between 4 and 12 metres long but have been known to grow as large as 18 metres!
– This may not be your only whale shark swim, the pilot has been busy searching for another gentle giant to swim with, and on their call get ready to do it all again… and again!
– After we have spent as much time as possible with the whale sharks you will enjoy a delicious buffet lunch as we cruise the reef in search of any other wildlife. Manta rays, dolphins, humpback whales, turtles, dugongs and anything else that may be around.
– Now we head back inside the lagoon where the water is turquoise blue and anchor up at a new special spot on the reef for another snorkel.
– Relax with some refreshing afternoon tea and a glass of sparkling wine on our way back to shore before the crew return you safe and sound and full of smiles back to your accommodation.
– The experience lives on as we will provide you with access to all the photos of the day taken by our professional photographer free of charge!
Not sure if this tour is right for you?
We want every guest to have a safe and enjoyable experience on our Whale Shark and Humpback Whale Tours. These tours take place in open ocean conditions and do require a certain level of confidence and independence in the water. To help you decide if this experience is suitable for you, please review the key points below.
What to expect on the day
Minimum ability requirements
To participate in the whale shark swims, guests must:
Flotation aids (such as pool noodles or life jackets) can help with comfort, but they may keep you higher in the water and can slow your movement, which may limit your experience during the whale shark swims. They are not a substitute for being able to swim confidently and independently.
Environmental considerations
Ocean conditions vary from day to day. At times the water may be choppy, and moving around the vessel or swimming back to the boat may require extra effort. Your safety is our priority, and our crew will always provide clear instructions and guidance.
Health & fitness considerations
Before booking, please consider whether you have:
If any apply, we recommend speaking with your doctor and contacting us to discuss your situation.
Need help deciding?
If you’re unsure whether the Whale Shark Tour is suitable for you, please contact our friendly office team. We’re happy to discuss your comfort level, fitness, and any concerns to help you make the best decision for your experience.
View our Terms & Conditions Here
With two beautiful boats in our fleet you may be wondering which one to choose. We take a maximum of 20 swimmers on each, both vessels are equally fast and will get you to where marine life such as Whale Sharks and Humpback Whales are spotted quickly. The itineraries for the tours are the same on both vessels and all the same inclusions apply. So what’s the difference? Our luxury sailing catamaran, Windcheetah, is the preferred choice for most. The vessel is very unique, being the only sailing catamaran that offers Whale Shark and Humpback Whale Swim Tours. It’s spacious, has 360 degree viewing areas and is the most stable boat on the reef making it the perfect choice for anyone concerned about motion sickness. Windcheetah has the added advantage of enjoying a sail on the way home and the use of our famous boom net! Our powerboat, Investigator, is big and luxurious, providing guests the opportunity to sit up on the fly bridge for a wonderful view. The powerboat is a slightly cheaper option but nothing is left out!
We HIGHLY recommend booking in advance. Ningaloo Reef is the only place in Australia where you can swim with a Whale Shark and the only place in Western Australia where you can swim with Humpback Whales, making the demand high! Spots are limited and groups are small to create an intimate and enjoyable experience so spots fill quickly. To book now, simply click HERE
Whale Sharks are most common on Ningaloo Reef between March and August each year. However we do often see them right through to the end of October on our Eco Shoulder Season Tours!
Humpback Whales migrate up and down the west coast in the winter months with the best time for interactions being August through till October.
Yes we do! We have a dedicated spotter plane in the air for all of our tours to find Whale Sharks and Humpback Whales for us to swim with. If any other marine life is spotted by our pilot on the day such as Dugongs, Manta Rays or Orca’s they will direct us to them so we can show you as much of Ningaloo Reef’s marine life as possible!
Ningaloo Discovery is able to be within close proximity to the Whale Sharks due to special permission from Department of Parks and Wildlife allowing us to interact with them. By approaching them as close as 30m on our boat, you will be able to enter the water with our experienced in water guides and experience their beauty as they swim nearby at a safe distance of 3m. Our crew will attempt to maximise your chances of an epic swim with a Whale Shark in any way that they can. Our spotter plane communicates with our crew and guides our vessel to the exact locations of the Whale Sharks.
All of our crew have participated in Department of Parks and Wildlife Whale Shark Training Program, meaning that they are highly qualified and experienced in the art of swimming with Whale Sharks. The crew will explain how to best swim with a Whale Shark to increase the likelihood of a perfect experience.
**Please note that you must have basic swimming ability to participate in water activities.**
Here at Ningaloo Discovery we are proud to say that in the 2022 & 2023 Whale Shark season, we experienced 100% success! Every single person that came out with us experienced the thrill of swimming with a Whale Shark! Often times, our guests were able to swim with more than one Whale Shark a day! While we cannot guarantee Whale Sharks will always be found on every tour, our success over recent years speaks for itself!
While Ningaloo Discovery will do everything in their power to provide you with an in water experience, it is important to remember that whale sharks are a part of nature. Whale Sharks are not contained or coerced in any way. During our dedicated whale shark tours season (not the shoulder season) we offer a guarantee which provides you with three different options in the event of a no sighting day. You can review these options in our terms and conditions. From August through our last tour in November, we are operating within the shoulder season, meaning that there is no guarantee for this time period.
Ningaloo Discovery is able to get within close proximity to the whales due to special permission from Department of Parks and Wildlife, permitting us to view them perfectly from the deck of our sailing catamaran, Windcheetah. By observing their behaviour and approaching them as close as 75m on our boat, you will be able to enter the water with our experienced in water guides and enjoy them from above and below the surface. We will do all that we can to maximise your chances of an epic swim with a Humpback Whale. With the help of our spotter plane we can find whales that are the most likely to be comfortable with us in the water with them. Swimming with mothers and calves is not permitted but observing them from the boat is a wonderful sight.
All of our crew have participated in Department of Parks and Wildlife Humpback Whale Swimming Training Program so they are very qualified and experienced in how to swim with a Humpback Whale. The crew will explain to you how to best swim with a Humpback Whale to increase our chances of a perfect experience.
**Please note that you must be a competent swimmer to participate in Humpback Whale Swims.**
While Ningaloo Discovery will do anything and everything in their power to provide you with an in water experience, we cannot guarantee the whales will be viable to swim with on the day. If you don’t get to see a Humpback Whale from the water while snorkelling we will provide you with a 50% off voucher* that can be used on another Humpback Whale Swim Tour valid for the remainder of the current season.
*This voucher is non transferrable between individual persons or companies.
To enter the water you must have at least a basic swimming ability.
Swimming with Whale Sharks is done in a relaxed way and if you are not a confident swimmer/snorkeller our crew will assist you and give you comfort and confidence while in the water.
Please note you must be a strong and confident swimmer to participate in the Humpback Whale swims. If our skipper determines on the day that you do not have the level of swimming ability to participate they may ask you to stay out of the water for your safety – please note we cannot offer a refund in this event.
As our tours are conducted in the ocean, conditions can be unpredictable. We provide floatation aids and an opportunity to practice snorkelling before your interaction. Needs some tips? Just ask your guides; they are there to help!
We offer complimentary bus transfers on all our tours from local (Exmouth) accommodation locations. Simply select your accomodation from the drop down menu when booking.
We cannot pick up guests from campsites within Cape Range National Park. If you are camping here please select “Meet at Tantabiddi Boat Ramp”, you should allow 30-40 minutes travel time. Our crew will be there to greet you.
Due to the distance we unfortunately cannot pick up from Coral Bay. If you are coming from Coral Bay, please select “Exmouth Visitors Centre” as your pick up location. You should allow a minimum of 2 hours travel time from Coral Bay. You can park your car there for the day.
Seasickness is always a risk when spending a day on the water. Our sailing catamaran Windcheetah is the most stable vessel on the reef and handles the sea beautifully. Windcheetah is the perfect choice for anyone concerned about seasickness.
Ways that you can avoid illness from affecting your day are:
We offer water and assistance on board to anyone who may feel unwell.
We recommend consulting your pharmacist for motion sickness tablets in the event you may get sick as we are unable to refund tours due to sea sickness.
We have no set age limit for swimming with Whale Sharks and Humpback Whales, however, certain levels of swimming ability are required depending on the activity. A basic level of swimming ability is required for a whale shark swim, whereas a reasonable level of swimming ability is required for humpback whale swims.
Our marine interactions occur along the back of the reef in the open ocean and conditions can be subject to wind, swell, currents and tides. On tour, as duty of care, we have the right to refuse entry into the water. On these occasions we cannot provide a refund.
The age limit for a child’s ticket is 2-16 years. 17 years and over are classified as an adult. Children aged under 2 are free of charge.
All children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a swimming adult on all Ningaloo Discovery tours. Every child under the age of 12 must have an adult in the water with them for in water whale shark and humpback whale interactions (ie; 1 adult to 1 child ratio).
All of our tours include:
Most definitely! We encourage you to bring any equipment of your own if you prefer. We do provide quality mask, fins and wetsuits but if you are more comfortable wearing your own gear then bring it along.
As our gift to you, all guests, including those not swimming, will receive all of the professional photographers photos of the day free of charge! A wonderful keepsake for you to remember the whole experience. Our photographers are very experienced using high quality underwater camera gear to give fantastic clear photos both from above and below. After the tour you will be given a Flickr link, which will allow you to access and download any photos provided.
Ningaloo Discovery operates from Tantabiddi Boat Ramp on the western side of Exmouth Cape, right in the middle of where the Whale Sharks and Humpback Whales congregate around Ningaloo Reef. Our travel time between picking you up and being in the area where the Whale Sharks and Humpback Whales are is the absolute shortest possible. We arrive in the area early and can stay there longer due to our short travel times. The western side where we operate from is also the location of the Ningaloo Reef snorkel sites and home to all other wildlife such as turtles, dolphins, and manta rays! Anything around on the day will also be part of your tour.
Our tour departs Exmouth from 7:45am and returns at approximately 4pm. We make the absolute most of the day to ensure we maximise our time on the water to get you interacting with amazing marine life!
There are endless beautiful snorkel sites on Ningaloo Reef. Our Skipper and crew will determine the best location on the day based on the wind, tide and visibility. You will see coral gardens and hundreds of beautifully coloured fish. Keep your eyes open for a friendly turtle or a sleepy reef shark too. You never know what you will see.
We provide so much that all we recommend you bring is the following:
As an alternative, you can also join the tour as an Observer. Observers on Whale Shark and Humpback Tours are encouraged to participate in all activities such as snorkelling the reef, relaxing on board, use of the Glass Bottom Kayaks and Stand Up Paddle Boards or even swimming with a Manta Ray if we find one. An Observers only restriction is that they will not enter the water with a Whale Shark, but rather observe the action from the comfort of our vessels. If an Observer were to decide on the day that you would like to try swimming with a Whale Shark or Humpback Whale after all, just have a chat to the crew. If there are spaces available you can upgrade! *Please note that there are only limited spots available for swimming with Whale Sharks and Humpback Whales. If these are all filled, Observers will not be able to upgrade on the day.
*To participate in any in-water activities on an Eco Tour however, Observers must purchase a swimmer ticket.
Ningaloo Discovery prides itself on 5 star service, quality and experiences. Here are a few things that make us special:
Please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of our website.
From our point of view – most definitely! Babes in bellies tend to love floating in the ocean and being on the water, but we do always recommend that you speak with your doctor as we don’t know the particular details of your pregnancy. Keep in mind that sometimes even the hardiest of tummies can feel queasy on the ocean with a babe onboard, so pop into the pharmacy and see what they recommend taking.
















Don’t take our word for it! Check out our Tripadvisor Page and see what other travellers have said. We pride ourselves on all our amazing reviews and would love you to take a look for yourself!