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.

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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.

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