If you haven’t had any luck finding Nemo, then we’ll give you a bigger target to look out for. The largest fish in the entire world – the gentle whale shark – has been spotted at Western Australia’s heritage-listed Ningaloo Marine Park, marking the official start of the 2024 season.
Whale sharks – harmless filter feeders that can grow up to 18 metres in length – migrate to the shores of Ningaloo Reef (the world’s largest fringed reef) every year between February and July to feed on plankton and krill. Last week, Ningaloo Aviation owner Tiffany Kelin spotted the season’s first visitor, and has since seen three on her last two scenic flights over Ningaloo and Cape Range National Park.
“Although the numbers vary throughout the season, it's common for us to see more than 30 whale sharks in a day,” said Klein.
Swimming with these super-sized spotted sharks is a bucket list adventure for Aussie locals and tourists alike, with Ningaloo Marine Park being one of the only places on Earth where you can have a face-to-fin encounter. However, protecting these gentle giants is the top priority, with only 11 whale shark tour operators granted licenses to run tours for a maximum of ten swimmers at a time.
This year, shark spotting tours officially kick off in Exmouth on February 28 and run through to late July, with tours from Coral Bay starting on March 1 and running through to late June. These tours work in tandem with spotter planes that scope out the best positioning for groups to swim with the sharks.
Sarah Ellis from The Ningaloo Discovery Team said, “What makes it even more special is how mysterious these creatures are. Little is known about the whale shark. A human has never seen a female whale shark give birth; and where they give birth, as well as where the young pups hang out remains a mystery. Adults are often found feeding at the surface, but they dive to depths of 1,000 metres.”
If you’re lucky enough to swim with the spectacular sharks, also be on the alert for Exmouth’s other visitors like humpback whales (July to November), giant manta rays, dugongs and spinner dolphins who drop by all year round.