Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim
Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim
5
Scuba & SnorkellingShark DivingBoat ToursEco ToursDolphin & Whale Watching
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Full view
About
Experience wonder with us! Each day we have the privilege of taking guests from all over the world out to swim with the amazing whalesharks, and or humpback whales and or mant rays, and experience the marine wonderland that is the Ningaloo Reef. We are all about whaleshark tours the way they are meant to be - safe, fun, full of wonder and truly memorable. Our aim is simple : to give each and every one of our customers one of the best tours they have ever been on. Because we own and operate our own spotter plane to find you whalesharks to swim with, for the last 10 years our guests have spent longer actually swimming with a whaleshark than guests on any other tour. (And isn't that why you go on a whaleshark tour in the first place?)
Exmouth, Western Australia, Australia
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2024
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingRevenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Similar Experiences
Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim
Booking unavailable on Tripadvisor
Want other options you can book now?
Show optionsTravellers talk about
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
5.0
1,288 reviews
Excellent
1,196
Very good
61
Average
14
Poor
9
Terrible
8
2Adults1C
Perth, Australia89 contributions
Apr 2021
Awesome experience from start to finish. Kate in the office was wonderful, waitlisted us and allayed our fears after a bad experience in 2007 with a different company. We were so lucky that places became available and the weather held out.
Good bus, boat and crew and all the gear was supplied, we used their stinger suits but took our own snorkels, masks and fins. Plenty of water and sunscreen on board. Shanae, photographer Jaz, Jordan and Skipper Josh did a great fun job explaining what would happen and answering all our questions.
After a snorkel in the inner reef and photos we had morning tea and went outside reef where almost immediately we raced to our first location and before long we were in luck! Difficult to describe the first moments of seeing the whale shark looming out of the blue, as if by magic, and lazily swimming by with a cohort of slipstreaming fish. We raced after it, a scramble of fins and bubbles and managed to keep up for a while and then, exhausted but elated, dropped back to be picked up by the boat. We had the opportunity for five swims with 4 different juvenile whale sharks, 5 to 7m long. Then back to the inner reef and lunch and another snorkel where we saw a feeding turtle and heaps of fish and coral. Then champagne was served (not to the kids) as we returned to shore (take sea sickness tablets beforehand, if remotely needed).
Jaz’s photos are amazing, she did a brilliant job and has a great eye. We chose the $50 complete day’s photo package which was well worthwhile, although a small number of shots are included in the standard swim package.
Good bus, boat and crew and all the gear was supplied, we used their stinger suits but took our own snorkels, masks and fins. Plenty of water and sunscreen on board. Shanae, photographer Jaz, Jordan and Skipper Josh did a great fun job explaining what would happen and answering all our questions.
After a snorkel in the inner reef and photos we had morning tea and went outside reef where almost immediately we raced to our first location and before long we were in luck! Difficult to describe the first moments of seeing the whale shark looming out of the blue, as if by magic, and lazily swimming by with a cohort of slipstreaming fish. We raced after it, a scramble of fins and bubbles and managed to keep up for a while and then, exhausted but elated, dropped back to be picked up by the boat. We had the opportunity for five swims with 4 different juvenile whale sharks, 5 to 7m long. Then back to the inner reef and lunch and another snorkel where we saw a feeding turtle and heaps of fish and coral. Then champagne was served (not to the kids) as we returned to shore (take sea sickness tablets beforehand, if remotely needed).
Jaz’s photos are amazing, she did a brilliant job and has a great eye. We chose the $50 complete day’s photo package which was well worthwhile, although a small number of shots are included in the standard swim package.
Written 5 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Deborah y
Adelaide, Australia261 contributions
May 2022 • Couples
OMG the best experience of my life. We were picked up in time from our accommodation. On the bus ride marine biologist Sharm filled us with whale shark facts. A tender took us to our boat. Once on board we were quickly and professionally fitted with snorkel, fins and a spring suit. We went for a quick snorkel on the reef just to make sure everyone was confident in the water. Then we headed out to sea. Spotter plane was up. Excitement builds, then Jordan shouts there’s a whale shark in the water. 10 of us jump in, waited then the magic happened . This awesomely huge ( the biggest fish in the ocean) fish cruised past. We were all gibbed smacked in awe at this creature and forgot to swim with it. Only 10 people + supervisory are allowed in the water at a time with the animal. We had 7 swims with the whale shark. We all got better at swimming alongside him, looking the animal in the eye was a most wonderful experience. After a beautiful lunch of cold meat and salads we had 1 last snorkel on the reef. There is also an option to scuba dive for an additional fee. We stopped in clear turquoise blue water. The reef had an abundance of fish and coral, it was a good way to finish a very special day.
All staff on the boat were very professional. Sharm and Fiona, one was always in the water with us, making sure we enjoyed the experience and were safe. If you get tired they can pull you along. The deckhand Jordan was very enthusiastic and got us all excited. Dan the boat driver had us in the perfect position to see the whale shark.
Tea coffee milo and cordial were available all day. All dietary requirements were catered for. Jaz was the underwater photographer- she was amazing managing to take some fantastic photographs
All staff on the boat were very professional. Sharm and Fiona, one was always in the water with us, making sure we enjoyed the experience and were safe. If you get tired they can pull you along. The deckhand Jordan was very enthusiastic and got us all excited. Dan the boat driver had us in the perfect position to see the whale shark.
Tea coffee milo and cordial were available all day. All dietary requirements were catered for. Jaz was the underwater photographer- she was amazing managing to take some fantastic photographs
Written 26 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for writing such a descriptive review! You have summed up our tours perfectly.
We are happy to hear that you felt looked after and pleased with your experience swimming with the biggest fish in the sea!
All the best!
Written 31 May 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Casey Bee
Brooklyn, NY1 contribution
July 2021 • Family
I took three teen children on this whale shark tour and it’s possibly the best thing we’ve ever done. The water was beautiful and the snorkelling was fabulous. The actual whale sharks swims were amazing with their own spotter plane to pinpoint exactly where to go so no o e missed out. I highly recommend upgrading to the photo package as the photographer gets the best possible shots for you - you’re too busy trying to swim along with the whale shark to take photos. The food served was delicious and there was something for all tastes. A highlight was the whale watching we did in the afternoon. We weren’t even expecting it but they were flexible to change course so we could enjoy seeing them breaching the water. A special mention to “Little Kieran” who was our guide in the water for the day. I have an autistic girl who he went above and beyond with to help swim along and get great photos which helped immensely with myself and my other children also getting to experience it. Lovely crew and worth every single cent we paid :)
Written 10 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Donna
Port Macquarie, Australia3 contributions
June 2021 • Friends
Our family of 5 (3 teens) had an amazing day out and loved every minute.
The team were friendly, well organised and professional, our in the water guide was Geoff and he was fantastic and made sure we were exactly in the right spot to see the whalesharks.
We were luck enough to swim with 5 different Sharks that day and have over 6 drops in the water.
Humpback whales came past just as lunch was being served, the whole day was absolutely perfect and couldn’t recommend more highly.
The team were friendly, well organised and professional, our in the water guide was Geoff and he was fantastic and made sure we were exactly in the right spot to see the whalesharks.
We were luck enough to swim with 5 different Sharks that day and have over 6 drops in the water.
Humpback whales came past just as lunch was being served, the whole day was absolutely perfect and couldn’t recommend more highly.
Written 3 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rjarvis2021
Mandurah, Australia1 contribution
May 2021
From the moment of pick up, throughout the day, through to the very last second of our bus drop off, I never ceased to be amazed with the professionalism, the area knowledge, and the sheer hard work of every single team member. My husband and I were the only passengers on that trip. The team kept the swimmers entertained, safe, well fed and nurtured as they all fulfilled their own dream of sighting a whale shark. As an observer, I managed to fulfil my own dream of an exciting day out on the water in a luxury boat with all my needs being met. We particularly appreciated Amy as she treated us like family. However the entire team were friendly, helpful and most keen to ensure every guest had the best day of their lives. Thank you to you all. You made our stay in Exmouth a most memorable occasion.
Written 15 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David S
Greater Adelaide, Australia104 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
Picked Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim after reading reviews and swayed by fact they have their own spotter plane and offer a scuba dive option (not with whale sharks), very happy we chose them. On time pick up comfy bus, roomy and comfortable boat given its a dive boat basically. I am sure providing you get to swim with whale sharks any of the operators have satisfied customers but the staff here were just fantastic, they work really hard to make sure you are having a great and safe time and do it with a sense of fun. It gets pretty frenetic getting in and out of the water as they maximise your swims with whale sharks, we got 4 separate swims with the sharks and some nice snorkelling and an easy dive plus a huge pod of spinner dolphins on the surface. Lunch was simpler than what some operators offer but plenty of it and tasty. Very well organised from booking to final drop off. This is not a cheap experience but well worth the money, add on such as a photo package (get this you are unlikely to get better photos without really good gear) or a scuba dive are very reasonably priced.
Written 2 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to leave such a positive review reflecting our tour!
We're so happy to hear you had a wonderful day out with our crew, and got to experience the wonders of the Ningaloo - including dolphins!
Written 21 April 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
JetSB
Perth, Australia10 contributions
Sept 2020
The confidence that the crew imparted to all of us was just reassuring and amazing. David, Josh, Jasmine, Laura and the rest were all very attentive about our wellbeing and safety.
Feeling assured that we were in safe hands, the reef and its marine life were there to be enjoyed and savour. And that we did! We had 3 swims with the whale shark, lasting many minutes each. Laura, particularly, ensured that we had the best chance of being as close as permissible and as long as possible. A very big tick on our bucket list.
That was the highlight, but the other activities with this tour are not mere time fillers. We had 2 great snorkelling areas that we visited, each offering different and varied marine life only the Ningaloo Reef can give. We sailed with humpback whales, a pod of about 7 in total. Best whale watching tour we've done.
We were also looked after as far as nutrition is concerned. We had a nice tea and a filling lunch. All very good and as much as one can take.
It was truly the highlight of our trip to Exmouth! Thanks Ningaloo Whale Shark Swim.
Feeling assured that we were in safe hands, the reef and its marine life were there to be enjoyed and savour. And that we did! We had 3 swims with the whale shark, lasting many minutes each. Laura, particularly, ensured that we had the best chance of being as close as permissible and as long as possible. A very big tick on our bucket list.
That was the highlight, but the other activities with this tour are not mere time fillers. We had 2 great snorkelling areas that we visited, each offering different and varied marine life only the Ningaloo Reef can give. We sailed with humpback whales, a pod of about 7 in total. Best whale watching tour we've done.
We were also looked after as far as nutrition is concerned. We had a nice tea and a filling lunch. All very good and as much as one can take.
It was truly the highlight of our trip to Exmouth! Thanks Ningaloo Whale Shark Swim.
Written 24 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DinoSydney
Sydney24 contributions
Apr 2022
We went on the Blue Strike boat yesterday on a fantastic adventure to swim with the whale sharks. It did not disappoint. The crew; Sarah, Esther. Jess. Ricardo and Geoff were just amazing!!! The conditions were quite rough but seeing these magnificent creatures up close and personal was brilliant Could not recommend this cruise highly enough. The cost also includes the pics from the day and the only disappointment here was that we weren’t told to bring a USB. Not to worry we bought one in town. This is definitely a must do! 10/10
Written 30 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James W
7 contributions
Sept 2020
We did the Humpback swim in September.
We had an incredible time and I would massively recommend this trip with this company. The snorkelling points they take you to are great, we saw huge turtles, sharks and loads of fish.
They have a spotter plane linked to them only who spends the day looking from above. They quickly found us a humpback to swim with which was an incredible experience. They were very efficient at getting everyone in the water and in position for the whale and were on standby to help if you were struggling to keep up. We were lucky, and they then had spotted a Whaleshark, so we spent time with this also. I then tried my first ever Scuba Dive with one of their instructors. I was a bit nervous about attempting this, but Jordan and Kieran were great at explaining it to me and guiding me through it - I had a great time and felt safe and comfortable the whole way.
Overall, cant believe how much we packed into one day. All crew members were fantastic. Food was good too!
We had an incredible time and I would massively recommend this trip with this company. The snorkelling points they take you to are great, we saw huge turtles, sharks and loads of fish.
They have a spotter plane linked to them only who spends the day looking from above. They quickly found us a humpback to swim with which was an incredible experience. They were very efficient at getting everyone in the water and in position for the whale and were on standby to help if you were struggling to keep up. We were lucky, and they then had spotted a Whaleshark, so we spent time with this also. I then tried my first ever Scuba Dive with one of their instructors. I was a bit nervous about attempting this, but Jordan and Kieran were great at explaining it to me and guiding me through it - I had a great time and felt safe and comfortable the whole way.
Overall, cant believe how much we packed into one day. All crew members were fantastic. Food was good too!
Written 28 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
steely67
Maroochydore, Australia646 contributions
July 2024 • Family
What an incredible day we had yesterday to celebrate my wife’s 60th birthday. Firstly the crew are an amazing bunch of professionals, Jordan the skipper, Cousin Pete the decky, Jazz the photographer/bus driver, Rommie our superb group one snorkeling guide/ bus commentator, Sian the group two guide and the 2 volunteers.
The day started with our pick up in Exmouth and we travelled to the boat ramp for our tender to the main boat. The wind eased and the water glassed off and the sun came out. We had an easy morning snorkel on the inner reef to make sure all the gear fitted and worked before the main event, Whalesharks.
Within minutes of hitting the outer reef we got the call that the spotter plane had their eyes on a Whaleshark, get ready to go, go go!!!! Jordan positioned the boat in the perfect position for us to enter the water and Cousin Pete organising the entry into the water .With Rommie in the water we were lined up and there was this magnificent Whaleshark right in front of us, this happened 5 times during the morning. Not only did we get to swim with Whalesharks there were numerous Humpback whales breaching and preforming tail slaps. We saw a pod of dolphins feeding close to the boat and a turtle cruising by. We had a second inner reef snorkel which was nice as well, lots of coral, fish and a turtle.
The food during the day was fresh and delicious and the champagne and birthday song for my wife topped off the day perfectly.
We would recommend Ningaloo Whaleshark tours to anybody heading this way. You guys rock!!!!!
Cheers Mark, Mary and Ani.
The day started with our pick up in Exmouth and we travelled to the boat ramp for our tender to the main boat. The wind eased and the water glassed off and the sun came out. We had an easy morning snorkel on the inner reef to make sure all the gear fitted and worked before the main event, Whalesharks.
Within minutes of hitting the outer reef we got the call that the spotter plane had their eyes on a Whaleshark, get ready to go, go go!!!! Jordan positioned the boat in the perfect position for us to enter the water and Cousin Pete organising the entry into the water .With Rommie in the water we were lined up and there was this magnificent Whaleshark right in front of us, this happened 5 times during the morning. Not only did we get to swim with Whalesharks there were numerous Humpback whales breaching and preforming tail slaps. We saw a pod of dolphins feeding close to the boat and a turtle cruising by. We had a second inner reef snorkel which was nice as well, lots of coral, fish and a turtle.
The food during the day was fresh and delicious and the champagne and birthday song for my wife topped off the day perfectly.
We would recommend Ningaloo Whaleshark tours to anybody heading this way. You guys rock!!!!!
Cheers Mark, Mary and Ani.
Written 24 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for sharing your incredible experience with us! It sounds like your wife's 60th birthday celebration was nothing short of magical. We're thrilled to hear that you had such an exceptional day out with us.
It's fantastic to know that you found our crew to be professional and amazing. Jordan, Cousin Pete, Jazz, Romie, Sian, and our volunteers are all dedicated to making sure every moment on the tour is memorable and enjoyable.
We're glad that the champagne and birthday celebration added an extra touch of joy to the occasion.
Your kind words mean the world to us, and we look forward to welcoming you back someday for another unforgettable adventure!
Written 25 July 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hi there, what can I expect to see if I'm lucky on your trip in early October please?
Written 8 August 2022
We are looking at come over early July, perhaps middle of July. Are the whale sharks still around by then?
Written 11 October 2019
They are usually there till the end of July and even later, we saw them in the middle of August, and we were told they can be there even later than August
Written 11 October 2019
We are thinking of booking the whale shark tour around the end of March, beginning of April next year, but is that too early to have a good chance of swimming with whale sharks? We are going especially for this so don't want to be disappointed. Is it more likely at certain times of the year? Also what times does the boat leave and return?
Written 8 November 2018
thanks for asking:)
we start our tours 15th march annually and have managed a swim on our first tour for the last six years. by end of march, likelihood of swimming with a whaleshark >92% based on last five years.
and our no sighting guarantees mean even if u r one of the very unlucky few who dont get to swim with a whaleshark on your scheduled tour, you get to either come out again free on our next available tour, or get a voucher valid for 3 years (sellable too!) if u have to leave before you can.
tour pickups from where u r staying start 7am, and most days u will be back at your accom by 4:30pm.
hope this helps, if can more help with your tour, or your trip in general if a bit of local knowledge may help, just email us
matt and the ningaloo whaleshark swim team
Written 8 November 2018
Ours was $410 per person. Absolutely well worth every cent.
But if I were you I would check the website.
Prices change and they may do group/family rates.
They are all similar pricing.
Written 10 July 2018
Is Feb a good time to see the whale sharks? I have been on many trips to see whales, dolphins etc and have been disappointed to spend a lot of money and see nothing. I am planning to do this for my 50th in Feb 18 but would rather know if this is not a suitable time. How many guests do you have on your boat? How many guests allowed to swim with the whale sharks at one time and for how long? What is the cost please for two adults at this time? Thank you
Written 10 October 2017
February is too early, late April is the beginning of the season, we swam on the 29th and saw two smaller sharks but they were amazing. Our boat had 20 I think, two teams of 10 and we were in and out 4-5 times over the time slot, you are in the water for about 5-10 minutes each time as they move pretty fast. Not sure of cost as it was a present but over 400 for the day is pretty standard. The information on the websites should be read carefully to avoid disappointment.
Written 11 October 2017
gmwardle
Redcliffe, Australia
Hi, just wondering if you take the early flight from Perth and arrive at Lermouth at 7.25 in the morning, would you be there in time to do the swim with the whale sharks that day? Also I am looking at around the 20th September 2017, i know nothing is certain, but is there any chance of whale sharks then?
Written 10 July 2017
I find the local marine calendars helpful. Google "Ningaloo marine calendar" and a few come up. Looks like you might be in luck with whale sharks, and there also a few other things you have a chance of seeing.
Written 11 July 2017
we are proudly Advanced Ecotourism certified with Ecotourism Australia - the very first company in Western Australia to achieve this. also ATAP certified.
Written 8 September 2018
We will be in Ningaloo at the beginning of April. I noticed in the review that somebody got stung by a jelly fish. Do you recommend (and supply) stinger suits at this time of year?
Written 3 March 2016
Hi ML and thanks for enquiring about this.
Ningaloo is very fortunate in that visitors are very,very unlikely to be stung by a jellyfish.
The jellyfish rarely visit the Ningaloo - though there is no set month that they do, as it more relates to the currents, wind, weather events etc.
When there is a confirmed sighting, we provide guests with stinger suits or full-length wetsuits to use, and also full-face snorkelling masks to protect their faces. (At the time of this review, we are the only company to have one of these onboard for every customer as required.)
In our efforts to absolutely minimise the very small possibility one of our guests will be stung, we also fully brief our crew as soon as jellyfish are sighted on how to deal with this threat, and cease operating anywhere in the vicinity where such jellyfish have been seen.
Please let us know if we can provide any further assistance.
Written 24 April 2016
Showing results 1-10 of 16