Swim with Humpback Whale

How do we run our Whale Shark and Humpback Eco Sea Life Tour?

All guests will be encouraged to enjoy a snorkel on the inner reef before The Whale Shark and Humpback Interaction. This allows us to assess your confidence and ability in the water while also showing you the many wonders located on the coral reefs close to shore.

Swim with Humpback Whale Exmouth

We have special permission here on the Ningaloo Reef to approach a Humpback Whale within 50 metres from our boat the Magellan. This is half the distance of any other whale watching cruise in Australia, allowing those not wanting to swim also to enjoy the whales as they display their playful antics and relax in the warm tropical waters of Exmouth.

The swimmers (restricted group sizes to a maximum of 5 passengers per group) under the careful watch of their snorkelling guide, will slide into the water and approach the Humpback Whale within just 30m. This will provide you with an amazing surface view of the large bodies and fins of the whales as they move through the water, and perhaps experience their whale-song up very close too.

All swimmers taking part in a Swimming Interaction must have a minimum level of snorkelling ability and fitness to participate in the tour and over the age of 13, to ensure their own safety and to maximise the chance the group will get to swim with a whale.

Ultimately the quality and duration of the swim are solely dependent on the whale’s willingness to be a part of our tour. (We are legally unable to approach pods with humpback calves, to ensure the mothers and calves are not disturbed.) If a particular pod is not comfortable with our presence, our spotter plane will continue searching to find something that is more cooperative, with the help of our spotter plane.

Whale Shark Swim Exmouth

When you swim with a Whale Shark, it is an experience you will never forget. Kings Ningaloo Reef Tours were one of the first and is considered one of the most experienced quality tour operators in Exmouth to swim with a Whale Shark. Whale Sharks are one of the largest creatures on this planet and the biggest fish in the world.

The largest confirmed individual had a length of 12.65 metres (41.50 ft) and a weight of more than 21.5 tonnes (47,000 lb), but unconfirmed claims report considerably larger whale sharks. To get the opportunity to dive or swim with a whale shark makes you realise how beautiful nature can be, their size is insignificant to their gentle and inquisitive nature.

Every year, they visit the Ningaloo Reef from March until August. They are filter feeders and eat enormous amounts of plankton, krill and anchovies as they swim. Whale sharks are slow swimmers and move their entire bodies from side to side. They swim on the surface, so all you need to swim with them is a mask, snorkel and fins. Even though they are a shark, they are totally harmless and seem to enjoy the interaction with people.

We only have ten people or less in the water with a Whale Shark at any given time, enabling a high vantage point of these gentle giants. Each group is carefully guided by one of our experienced spotters.

All interactions are on the animal’s terms and in agreement with our licence conditions.

What we Supply:

• Complimentary transfer service to and from your accommodation.
• All professional snorkel gear and wetsuits for adults and children.
• Morning and afternoon snorkel with exquisite marine life & magical reef for you to explore.
• Morning Tea, delicious buffet lunch, afternoon tea and refreshments included.
• Skipper with more than 35 years of experience.
• Marine Biologist on board at all times.
• Spotter plane.
• Snorkel tutor – if required.
• Floating noodle – if required.
• Life jackets for adults & kids.
• Professional videographer/photographer to capture your Ningaloo Reef encounter.
• DVD’s can be ordered at the end of the tour and picked up from our office the next morning for $60 per copy.

No Sighting Policy:
NO refund given if there are no sightings of- or swims with Whale Sharks or Humpback Whales.
The no sighting policy is not transferable between companies.

All you need to Bring:

• Hat,
• Sunscreen
• Bathers
• Beach towel
• Lightweight jacket/jumper, or change of clothes
• If you experience motion sickness please seek advice from a pharmacist

The little things that make a difference:

• Owner / Operator business, giving you an exceptional personalised experience.
• Our purposes built 20m vessel is not only luxurious; it has a spacious shaded deck, low marlin board and stairs for entering and exiting the water and is environmentally friendly.
• Our Humpback Whale Swim departs from the West Side, rather than the Exmouth Marina. West Side / Eco Sea Life Cruises are much more likely to encounter the Ningaloo’s stunning wildlife.
• Experienced, professional and local friendly staff with a passion and enthusiasm for the ocean and the conservation of its inhabitants. Some of the staff members are also multilingual, so if English is not your first language just let us know.
• Professional videographer and photographer on board to capture your experience during the whole day.
• Extra in-water support if required e.g. buoyancy noodles, snorkel tuition.

Complimentary gift pack for all passengers.