Repost This ArticleI was snorkeling off the Pacific Coast of Mexico with my friend and former dive instructor, Ceci, when I saw what looked like a spiny tetherball with a beak spiraling from the depths towards the surface. I lifted my mask and Ceci lifted hers, preempting my question.
“It’s a blowfish,” she said, matter-of-factly. Then, “All fish are weird.”
To wit: the whale shark. Not a whale at all, and only technically a shark (with a cartilaginous skeleton, gill slits, and pectoral fins it belongs to the shark family of fish), the whale shark has an enormous mouth with up to 350 rows of tiny teeth and 10 filter pads. Like baleen whales, they’re filter-feeders and eat by straining algae, plankton, and krill from the seawater, but their name more likely derives from the fact that at sizes of up to 40 feet long and 47,000 pounds, they are the largest fish on the planet, and can live for up to 80 years. Weird, right?
Whale sharks live in all tropical and warm temperate seas, so the regions where you can swim with them — they’re known to be gentle with divers — are numerous. Whale shark numbers, however, are dwindling; the animal is on the endangered species list.
The migration patterns of whale sharks aren’t fully understood, but there are ways to increase your chances of a sighting. Where you catch up with the whale sharks will depend on the time of year and the region you’re in. 
Puerto Ayora, Galapagos, Ecuador
When: May - October; best month is JulySkill: Depends on the dive but strong currents make this region unsuitable for beginners
Do it: Aqua-Firma, Academy Bay Diving, Galextur, Scuba Galapagos
Photo: pats0n
Ari and Baa Atolls, Maldives
When: May - December on the western side; December - April on the eastern sideSkill: Beginner to experienced; no SCUBA required
Do it: Maldives Dive Travel
Photo: Rory Moore
Isla Mujeres, Mexico
When: May - September; the annual Whale Shark Festival typically takes place in mid-JuneSkill: Beginner to experienced. SCUBA not permitted; snorkels only
Do it: Enrique’s Unique Dives, Searious Diving, Ceviche Tours
Photo: kozyndan
Intermission
Ningaloo Reef, Australia
When: April - JulySkill: Beginner to experienced
Do it: Three Islands Whale Shark Dive, Ningaloo Dreaming, Ningaloo Blue Dive
Photo: Brendon & Keryn
Belize Barrier Reef, Belize
When: March - JuneSkill: Beginner to experienced
Do it: Splash Dive Center, Hamanasi Adventure and Dive Resort, Seahorse Dive Shop
Photo: Martin Spragg Photography
Tofo, Mozambique
When: November - AprilSkill: Beginner to experienced
Do it: SCUBA Mozambique, Diversity SCUBA
Photo: Whale Shark Conservation, Mozambique
Donsol Bay, Philippines
When: February - AprilSkill: Beginner to experienced. SCUBA not permitted in the bay; snorkels only
Do it: Donsol EcoTour
Photo: Darren A.
Mahe, Seychelles
When: August - OctoberSkill: Beginner to experienced
Do it: Aqua-Firma, Dive Seychelles, Big Blue Divers
Photo: Joe Daniels - Underwater Photography
Richelieu Rock, Thailand
When: Feb - MaySkill: Intermediate to experienced
Do it: Blue Guru Diving, Sunrise Divers, Sharkey Scuba
Photo: Marcel Waldis Underwater Photography
Utila Bay, Honduras
When: Year round, but Utila Dive Lodge and the Whale Shark and Oceanic Center partner each year to offer "Whale Shark Weeks," during which divers can participate in whale shark research, photo ID, DNA sampling, and tagging (pictured).Skill: Beginner to experienced
Do it: Utila Dive Lodge, Whale Shark and Oceanic Research Center
Photo: Vladimir Levantovsky - Effervescent Photography
Keph Senett
Keph Senett is a Canadian writer who's currently in transit. She’s a blogger who writes about travel, soccer/football, human rights, LGBT and gender issues, world politics, community, culture and her own folly.
Cool stuff! I’ll add #11 – Bahia de los Angeles, Baja, California. They come into the shallow southern part of the bay in the early fall to feed. Take your sea kayak too, lots of islands in the bay to explore. Nice photos too, Keph.
Amazing. I saw one at Ari Atoll, but I’d like to cross off every other place on this list
Diving is more fun in the Philippines… Donsol Bay number 7 diver is my Brother Marcel Crespo!
This is definitely on my “to do soon” list! Great photos!
It’s awesome! Isla holbox is near isla mujeres in Mexico and there they reportedly observe better standards for swimming with the sharks. we were there in August and it was out of this world. Snorkel only but the sharks swim at the surface to feed, so it makes sense.
Great photos! You should include Oslob Cebu Philippines, its been a year now since they do the whale shark interaction.
Going to Mozambique in January, really hoping to swim with them then.
Thanks, great article.