How to spot the Whale shark when scuba diving

Rhincodon typus

Found globally in all tropical and warm temperate seas (roughly 30°N to 35°S latitude), inhabiting both the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific oceans. They are primarily pelagic (open ocean) but form predictable coastal aggregations for feeding.

When to spot

Seasonality is key and varies by location, often linked to plankton blooms. Examples include March-June (Ningaloo Reef, Australia), November-May (Mexico), October-March (Mozambique), March-April (Thailand), August-November (Seychelles).

Water

Warm waters, generally above 21°C (70°F).

How to spot

Look for known aggregation sites often relatively nearshore during specific seasons (e.g., Ningaloo, Holbox, Donsol, Djibouti) or around offshore islands/seamounts. Many encounters happen while snorkeling or diving in the top 10-15 meters.

Worldwide observation of the Whale shark

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Data sources

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