Whale Sharks in the wild

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Where to see whale sharks

The ocean's biggest fish — seasonal aggregations you can plan a whole trip around.

14 destinations match this pick.

Underwater and coastal scenery of Costa Rica — Cocos Island and Pacific big animals.

Americas

Costa Rica

Cocos Island liveaboards for hammerhead schools; Caño & Bat Islands from the mainland.

Underwater and coastal scenery of Indonesia — The most biodiverse ocean on Earth.

Asia

Indonesia

From Komodo mantas to Lembeh muck and Bali mola-molas — Indonesia has it all.

Whale shark and snorkelers at Isla Mujeres, Mexico — Whale shark aggregation capital.

Americas

Isla Mujeres

Home to the world's largest whale shark aggregation each summer, plus sailfish action in winter.

Sea lions at Los Islotes near La Paz, Mexico — Sea lions, whale sharks and mobulas.

Americas

La Paz

Base for whale shark season, sea lion colonies at Los Islotes and mobula ray migrations.

Underwater and coastal scenery of the Maldives — Atoll diving with big animals.

Asia

Maldives

Manta cleaning stations, whale sharks year-round, and reef shark walls — from resort or liveaboard.

Underwater and coastal scenery of the Philippines — 7,000 islands of easy Coral Triangle diving.

Asia

Philippines

Thresher sharks in Malapascua, sardine runs in Moalboal, and whale sharks in Donsol.

Underwater and coastal scenery of Roatan, Honduras — Big-drop reefs at a small-island price.

Caribbean

Roatan

Part of the Mesoamerican Reef, with vertical walls minutes from shore and a laid-back island feel.

Giant oceanic manta ray at Socorro, Mexico — Mexico's Galápagos, on a liveaboard.

Americas

Socorro

Giant Pacific mantas, humpback whales, dolphins and sharks — accessible only by liveaboard.

Underwater and coastal scenery of Cancun, Mexico — Easy Caribbean diving base.

Americas

Cancun

Reefs, cenote day trips and the MUSA underwater sculpture park — plus whale sharks in summer.

Underwater and coastal scenery of Mozambique — Manta ray and whale shark hotspot.

Africa

Mozambique

Tofo Beach delivers year-round whale sharks and manta rays plus humpback whales in season.

Aerial and underwater scenery of Panama — Two oceans, one country.

Americas

Panama

Coiba National Park on the Pacific for hammerheads; Bocas del Toro on the Caribbean for chill reefs.

Underwater and coastal scenery of the Seychelles — Granite pinnacles and whale sharks.

Africa

Seychelles

Iconic granite formations, whale sharks in Aug–Nov, and healthy reefs across Mahé & the outer islands.

Underwater and coastal scenery of Thailand — Andaman Sea and Similan Islands.

Asia

Thailand

Similan Islands liveaboards for manta and whale shark encounters plus warm, easy reefs near Phuket & Koh Tao.

Whale shark over the reef wall at Utila, Honduras — Budget diving with whale sharks.

Americas

Utila

The smallest of the Bay Islands — legendary for backpacker training and year-round whale shark encounters.

Keep exploring

Schools of Fish

Underwater Photography