Best Places to Swim or Dive with Whale Sharks: Our Top 6
August 4, 2025|Author: Adam Lucia|Reading time: 15 mins
Swimming with whale sharks is one of the ocean’s most remarkable experiences. These gentle giants—reaching up to 12 m in length—are filter feeders and pose no threat to snorkellers. Whether you’re seeking a classic liveaboard expedition or a day-trip snorkel, this guide helps you choose the right destination, season, and operator for a safe and awe-inspiring encounter.
Best Places to Swim or Dive with Whale Sharks: Our Top 6
Quick Overview
Swimming or scuba diving with whale sharks is a bucket-list marine experience. This article highlights the top 6 destinations worldwide—such as the Galápagos (Wolf & Darwin Islands), Socorro (Mexico), Isla Mujeres, La Paz, Oslob (Philippines), and Bahia de los Angeles—where conditions, seasons, and regulations make these encounters possible. For each location, you’ll find the ideal time to visit, whether swimming or diving is allowed, and what to expect underwater.
You’ll also get a quick decision guide: if you want a more natural, less crowded experience, you might opt for Galápagos or Socorro; for the easiest access and high encounter rates (with some trade-offs), Oslob or La Paz may work best.
Top spots include Wolf & Darwin (Galápagos) and Socorro (Mexico) for scuba diving, and Isla Mujeres, La Paz, Bahía de los Ángeles (Mexico) and Oslob (Philippines) for swimming or snorkelling.
Most tourist encounters are snorkel-based and do not require scuba certification; some dive hotspots (Wolf & Darwin, Socorro) allow scuba dives with whale sharks and require appropriate certification and experience.
Choose operators that follow published codes of conduct, limit group sizes, brief guests, avoid feeding, use trained guides, contribute to research/conservation, and have local permits and good reviews.
Bring your mask/snorkel and fins (if not provided), a reef-safe (biodegradable) sunscreen or a rash guard, a towel, water, seasickness remedies if needed, and a waterproof camera if you want photos.
Best Liveaboard Destinations for Beginner Scuba Divers
Thailand
Liveaboards can seem daunting if you've never been on one, and even more so to newer divers. We've rounded up the best liveaboard destinations suitable for beginner scuba divers, with options ranging from the nearby Caribbean to the Red Sea and Indian Ocean. Read on to find the best liveaboard destination for you!
Join us as we explore unique destinations around the world. Each video showcases a recent dive adventure with a Bluewater team member, customer, or a Travel with Bluewater group in an exotic location!
Exploring the underwater world doesn't always require scuba certification or bulky gear as snorkeling provides a simple and equally stunning way to experience marine life in its natural environment. Snorkeling travel is booming in 2025, with high demand for liveaboard snorkel options in the Maldives and Raja Ampat. We've added more itinerary flexibility to help travellers access remote reefs with shallow, clear-water drop-offs.
Introduction
Swimming with whale sharks is an extremely humbling experience that ranks high on most scuba divers' bucket lists. We've traveled the world to find the best places to swim & dive with whale sharks in 2025.
If you're new to marine megafauna or looking for tips on your first encounter, ourBeginner’s Guideis a great place to start. Here is our list of the top six destinations where you can get in the water up close with these majestic and graceful giants of the ocean, in their natural habitats:
Wolf & Darwin Islands, Galapagos - Dive
Socorro Islands, Mexico - Dive
Isla Mujeres, Mexico - Swim or Snorkel
La Paz, Mexico - Swim or Snorkel
Oslob, Philippines - Dive, Swim, or Snorkel
Bahia de Los Angeles, Mexico - Snorkel
Note: In this guide, "dive" means that scuba diving with whale sharks is possible, "swim" means you can swim with the whale sharks, and "snorkel" means you can leisurely snorkel around the whale sharks.
From June to November, the weather and water temperatures in the Galapagos get colder. Plankton starts to bloom thanks to natural upwelling currents,and whale sharks come to the area to feed. This explosion of nutrients also attracts a huge diversity of fish activity, which makes scuba diving with whale sharks in the Galapagos even more awesome! The Galapagos Whale Shark project is trying to learn more about why these adult whale sharks come to Wolf and Darwin.
Wolf and Darwin are the northernmost islands in the Galapagos, and the water there is warmer than the other islands. Whale sharks can appear suddenly out of the blue, and a strenuous swim often occurs if you want to keep up with them. The marine life in these islands is unlike anywhere else in the world, earning them a spot in the top 5 of our best shark diving article and our scuba diving bucket list article.
"Everything is bigger in the Galapagos, and the whale sharks are no exception! Swimming with these gentle giants is always an incredible experience, but the 40 - 50-foot long whale sharks we saw in the Galapagos were nearly double the size of those I've encountered elsewhere." - Katie Yonker, Travel Agent & Trip Leader
"My favorite whale shark destination is the Socorro Islands, Mexico. Also known as the Revillagigedo Islands, this remote archipelago consists of 2 volcanic islands, San Benedicto Island and Socorro Island, and a seamount known as Roca Partida, arguably my favorite dive site anywhere on the planet. Whale sharks are known to visit Socorro starting in May and stay until December. Socorro is my top destination for whale shark diving because they are often accompanied by large schools of jack, dolphins and manta rays." - Tim Yeo, Travel Agent and Trip Leader
Whale sharks gather during the summer in two areas around Isla Mujeres. Most operators will snorkel off Isla Holbox, where the whale sharks gather to feed on plankton and krill. Other operators will take snorkelers way off Isla Mujeres to clear blue water, where whale sharks and mantas feed on bonito eggs after spawning events.
"Although this is a snorkel-only destination, the opportunity to snorkel and swim with whale sharks, particularly in July/August, is about as near of a guarantee as you'll find for marine life. Plankton-rich waters & breading tuna eggs draw in hundreds of whale sharks (and manta rays) to this location every year, resulting in a consistent (and fully natural) event. Over the years, the knowledge of this event has grown, so you can expect to see a massive amount of boats and other snorkelers, but thankfully, there are a number of regulations now set with how close you can get to the animal, only 2 snorkelers at a time allowed to be in the water, etc. to help regulate the tourists and protect the animals. Also, with the abundance of whale sharks, you still commonly have your own shark to swim by & admire." - Adam Gibson
"Whale sharks in La Paz have the wonderful distinction of being predictable but wild. No one is feeding these sharks! Because of this, they have very little interest in people, and it can be a hectic affair trying to keep up with their breakneck speeds. Don't get me wrong, when you're in the water with them, they look slow and majestic. But when something the size of a bus is being majestic, they're really traveling at speeds much faster than you can swim. So it can be better to be smart than physical - position yourself where you think the whale shark might go next and be careful not to get in its way. With any luck, you'll find yourself in a surreal world where the celestial patterns across the whale's back cruise under you as the hot sun and desert mountains shine above." - Nirupam Nigam, Editor-in-Chief Underwater Photography Guide
Oslob, located at the tip of Cebu, is a mere two hours from Moalboal and Dauin, which are both breathtaking diving destinations. Resorts in these two areas offer swimming with whale sharks in Oslob as an optional day activity, where snorkeling tours are common and locally regulated.
Local fishermen have been authorized to feed the whale sharks daily in Oslob, which is why the sharks are spotted here so regularly. As one of the most reliable places to see whale sharks year-round, Oslob often attracts large crowds, which might dampen the enjoyment for some.
Nonetheless, whale shark swimming in Oslob remains a great experience for all ages. If you do choose to take the side trip there you won't be disappointed!
"In Oslob, Philippines, a day trip from Dumaguete, there is a whale shark experience different from the most others in the world. Dozens of full-grown 40ft whale sharks arrive in (usually) clear blue water to be fed by fisherman. A multitude of boats brings guests, most without fins, in a circle to visit and swim with the whale sharks" Scott Gietler, Bluewater Travel Owner and Trip Leader
Bahia de Los Angeles, also known as the Bay of Los Angeles, is in the northern Sea of Cortez, Mexico. It is accessible via a long drive from Southern California or via a liveaboard such as the Rocio del Mar. Liveaboard trips often involve flying into Phoenix, Arizona and taking a van ride down to the northern tip of the Sea of Cortez.
Prime months for this experience are July, August, and September. Local fishermen take you out in their pangas, picking you up from either the shore or directly from the liveaboard boat. The whale sharks are here to feed on plankton, and if you are lucky one will be remaining still feeding vertically in the water column. There is also goodscuba diving in this area, with colorful fish, many different nudibranch species and a good variety of macro subjects.
When the wind is calm, finding the whale sharks is usually not difficult, but if the water is choppy it can take a while and get a little rough if you are in a small boat.
Already booked your trip? Pack your bags efficiently, and don't forget a thing with Bluewater's packing lists!
Scuba & Snorkel Gear
You can now buy dive gear and snorkeling equipment with Bluewater! Check out our wide selection of the top rated gear, including Tusa dive masks, the best scuba fins, and more!
Frequently Asked Questions — Swim with Whale Sharks
1. Which are the best places to swim or dive with whale sharks?
2. When is the best time of year to swim with whale sharks?
Season depends on the location: for example, Ningaloo (Australia) is busiest March–July, the Caribbean / Isla Mujeres region is strongest June–September, and other areas have different windows — always check the local season before booking.
3. Do I need scuba certification or can I snorkel?
4. Are whale sharks dangerous?
Whale sharks are gentle filter-feeders and are not predators of people, but their huge size means accidental collisions can cause injury. Always follow the guide’s instructions and the code of conduct.
5. What are the interaction rules — how close can I get and can I touch them?
Do not touch or chase whale sharks. Recommended distances vary by region, but common rules are to keep roughly 3 metres from the body and several metres from the tail, approach from the side, and obey boat speed and time limits set by local regulations and operators.
6. I've heard about Oslob — is that ethical?
Oslob uses provisioning (feeding) to guarantee close encounters; conservationists have raised concerns that this changes shark behaviour and poses risks. If ethics matter to you, ask operators whether they feed sharks and prefer locations that follow non-provisioned, science-based practices.
7. How do I choose a responsible operator?
8. What should I bring and wear?
9. Can children or pregnant people join whale shark tours?
Policies vary by operator and location. Many operators restrict swimmers under roughly 5–12 years old (or require parental discretion) and commonly advise against participation by pregnant guests — check the operator’s rules before booking.
10. Are sightings guaranteed?
Sightings are never 100% guaranteed — success depends on season and ocean conditions. Some reputable operators report high success rates and may offer replacement trips or guarantees during peak season.
Looking to start your scuba diving journey in the Caribbean? This guide highlights the region’s best beginner-friendly dive sites—calm waters, vibrant marine life, and easy access make them perfect for first-time divers.
Bluewater Travel’s 2025 Cozumel Photo Workshop at Iberostar featured vibrant reefs, warm water, and expert photo instruction, with highlights including splendid toadfish, turtles, and sharks.
