Diver’s bucket list: 6 rare marine creatures and where to see them

Photo: Trodel

1. Whale Shark

The largest fish in the ocean, a whale shark can grow to 14 meters or more — about the size of a typical Manhattan apartment. The whale shark population is decreasing, thanks in large part to the shark-fin trade. So far, the whale shark is “only” listed as a vulnerable species.

Wolf Island or Darwin Island, Galapagos, Ecuador
When: June – November
Get there: The Galapagos are 620 miles off the coast of Ecuador. Tourism is strictly but randomly controlled and regulations change frequently. Easiest is to book a live-aboard dive boat, well in advance. Otherwise, take your chances with dive shops on San Cristobal Island, who may or may not be able to get you to Wolf and Darwin Islands.

Flights from Quito or Guayaquil to San Cristobal run frequently during high season and cost a few hundred dollars. Try AeroGal, Tame, and LAN Airlines. Book early!

Zanzibar, Tanzania (Manta Reef)
When: November – March
Get there: Zanzibar is an island off the coast of Tanzania in southeast Africa. Ferries from Dar es Salaam, the capital, run frequently and take about 1.5 hours. Flights are more expensive, especially with added baggage fees if you bring your own gear.

Photo: Christian Steen

Thailand (Hin Daeng or Richelieu Rock)
When: March – May
Get there: Dive shops on Koh Phi Phi and Koh Lanta run day trips to Hin Daeng. Richelieu Rock, in the Surin Islands, can only be reached by live-aboards out of Phuket, Khao Lak, or Ranong.

AirAsia has cheap flights from Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur to Phuket and Krabi (for ferries to Koh Lanta and Koh Phi Phi), though baggage overage will add to the cost if you bring your own.

Exmouth, Australia (Ningaloo Reef)
When: March – April
Get there: During tourist season, buses run from Perth (about 15 hours) and Broome (about 16 hours) in Western Australia. If you’re in a rush, SkyWest does daily two-hour flights from Perth.

Placencia, Belize (The Gladden Cut)
When: April – June
Get there: Tropic Air and Maya Island Air have flights from Belize City. Flights are often canceled if they aren’t full enough, but this shouldn’t be a problem during tourist season.

The Seychelles
When: August – October
Get there: The Seychelles, a 115-island nation, sits just north of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. The cheapest flights are on Emirates and Qatar Airways.

Donsol, Philippines (snorkeling only)
When: November – May
Get there: Philippine Airlines flies from the capital of Manila to Legaspi City. From Legaspi to Donsol, either take a cheap private van (aircon, leaves right away), or a ridiculously cheap public van (chickens, open windows, leaves when overstuffed).

Photo: KimNowacki

2. Great White Shark

Great Whites are teeny compared to whale sharks. They only grow to about 6 meters, a mere 3.5 times bigger than I am. But as they are extremely aggressive, the only rational choice for seeing them underwater is from within a cage.

Like many sharks, Great Whites are on the list of vulnerable species.

Gansbaai, South Africa
When: Year round; best March – September
Get there: Contact your shark-dive operator to arrange transport to Gansbaai, a two-hour drive from Cape Town.

Port Lincoln, Australia
When: August – November, January – March
Get there: Port Lincoln is an eight-hour drive from Adelaide, in southeastern Australia. Most divers take a puddle-jumper from Adelaide on Regional Express or Quantas.

Farallon Islands, California
When: September – November
Get there: Most dive trips leave from San Francisco and the Bay Area.

3. Hammerhead Shark

There are nine known species of hammerhead, most of which are either endangered (scalloped and great hammerheads) or vulnerable. The only kind of shark that schools, these relatively shy creatures typically run around 4 meters long.

Wolf Island and Darwin Island, Galapagos
When: Year round; best June – November
Get there: See info for the whale shark above.

Photo: Erik Charlton

Layang Layang, Malaysia
When: February – October
Get there: Layang Layang is a small island off the northern coast of Malaysian Borneo. There’s one place to stay, and the only thing to do is dive.

A daily charter flies guests in from Kota Kinabalu. AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines have cheap flights from Kuala Lumpur to KK.

Malpelo Island, Colombia; Cocos Island, Costa Rica
When: June – November; July is best
Get there: These two islands are about 380 miles apart, situated in the Pacific Ocean between Costa Rica and Colombia. Live-aboards originating in Colombia, Panama, and Costa Rica can include stops at one or both.

In theory, a day trip to Malpelo can be arranged from Guapi, Colombia, though given the distance (235 miles) I imagine it would be a long, frustrating day.

KwaZulu Natal, South Africa (Protea Banks)
When: Year round; June is best
Get there: Most divers fly into Durban. The only direct international flight from outside Africa is on Emirates, from Dubai. Otherwise, Kulula Airlines flies from Johannesburg.

Tahiti, French Polynesia (Rangiroa atoll)
When: January – February
Get there: Air Tahiti connects Rangiroa to other parts of the archipelago, including the capital of Papeete on Tahiti island.

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