Diving With Whale Sharks: Three Destinations for an Unforgettable Encounter

With Whale Shark Day approaching, RegalDive is highlighting three destinations where divers and snorkellers can experience encounters with the world’s largest fish.

Whale sharks can reach lengths of up to 18 metres and, despite their size, are docile filter feeders that feed on plankton and krill in tropical and subtropical waters.

RegalDive has highlighted the Maldives, Mafia Island in Tanzania and the Galapagos Islands as three destinations offering opportunities to encounter whale sharks.

Maldives

The Maldives is one of the best-known destinations for whale shark encounters, with opportunities to see the animals while diving and snorkelling.

South Ari Atoll is a particular hotspot, while the plankton-rich waters of Baa Atoll can also attract whale sharks. Whale sharks can be encountered year-round, with peak sightings in South Ari Atoll between December and March and larger gatherings in Baa Atoll between June and September.

RegalDive currently offers a seven-night trip from £1,496 per person, including seven nights’ full-board liveaboard accommodation aboard Maldives Master in a premium twin/double cabin and up to three dives per day. Flights are available on request.

Find out more at www.regal-diving.co.uk/diving-holidays/maldives

Mafia Island, Tanzania

Located away from Tanzania’s main tourist trail, Mafia Island offers another opportunity to encounter whale sharks.

Seasonal plankton blooms attract whale sharks to feed close to the surface, with conservation-led snorkelling excursions providing opportunities to enter the water alongside them. The island also offers access to uncrowded reefs and a quieter alternative to some of Tanzania’s better-known destinations.

Whale sharks can be seen around Mafia Island between December and March each year.

RegalDive’s eight-day package starts from £2,445 per person, including flights to and from the UK, transfers, one night in Dar es Salaam, seven nights at Basecamp Mafia Island Eco Resort and 10 dives.

Find out more at www.regal-diving.co.uk/location/mafia-island

Galapagos Islands

For experienced divers, the remote waters around Wolf and Darwin Islands in the Galapagos offer the chance to encounter whale sharks alongside a range of other pelagic species.

Nutrient-rich waters attract some of the world’s largest whale sharks to the area. Many of the whale sharks encountered around Wolf and Darwin are believed to be pregnant females, although their birthing grounds remain unknown.

The best time to see whale sharks in the Galapagos is between June and November, when the Humboldt Current is at its strongest. Encounters can also include hammerhead sharks, rays and other pelagic marine life.

RegalDive currently offers a seven-night liveaboard trip from £3,705 per person, including transfers, seven nights’ full-board accommodation aboard Aqua Galapagos in a twin cabin and three to four dives per day. Flights are available on request.

Find out more at www.regal-diving.co.uk/diving-holidays/galapagos-ecuador

RegalDive also offers a range of other diving holidays, liveaboard trips and special offers in destinations including the Red Sea, Maldives, Philippines and Indonesia. Find out more at www.regaldive.co.uk.