We’ve had four to eighty year olds come out on our whale shark tours, and have a truly amazing and enjoyable day out with us. So if you are prepared to give it a go, can swim unassisted, and have no medical conditions that could stop you enjoying yourself, we will be doing everything we can to help you experience the wonder of swimming with a whale shark yourself (and hopefully have the photos to prove it!)
You don’t need to be an Olympic swimmer to swim with a whale shark, and you don’t have to have snorkelled before either (although it does help!). Our crew includes numerous trained Dive Instructors with years of experience teaching people how to snorkel and dive. Our team specialises in helping less confident, nervous and less experienced swimmers into the water, and swimming with a whale shark. We do everything we can to give each of our guests the experience of swimming with a whale shark, including using flotation devices (noodles, wetsuits, life jackets) and even tow-ropes to help as needed.
Big hint: If you’re feeling at all nervous, please let your swim guide know – we’ll take extra care to support you as much as possible. Your guide will keep an eye on you throughout the swim and do what they can to make your experience as easy and enjoyable as possible.
Each group of swimmers has their own in‑water guide with them from start to finish. Every guide tows a life‑saving float, which guests are welcome to rest on if needed.
If the opportunity arises, your guide may even use the float to gently tow you closer to the whale shark for a better look!
Importantly, we can’t guarantee this tow for every guest, and no guest can be towed onto the whale shark more than once per tour – as we want to ensure everyone has the chance to experience this truly majestic creature in all its beauty.
Children six years or younger are not usually allowed to swim with a whale shark unless the child has previous experience swimming in the ocean, and the parent is confident in the child’s ability in the water. (regardless, parents must at all times assume full responsibility for their children whilst on tour for safety reasons.)
For those who don’t want to swim with a whale shark, our Whale Shark Observer tickets provide a great way of experiencing people swimming with a whale shark, and seeing this magnificent creature in its nature habitat as it glides effortlessly through the pristine water of the Ningaloo without an apparent care in the world. Whilst still getting to enjoy everything else about the tour, including all other water-based activities.
