With the 2024 whale shark season at Ningaloo imminent, the first sighting of these majestic marine animals was made on Wednesday 14 February by light-aircraft operator Ningaloo Aviation. And the timing is perfect as Exmouth operator Ningaloo Discovery ran a private tour on Friday 16 February that saw the first whale shark swim of the season.
Ningaloo Discovery will then begin running whale shark tours daily from today, Monday 26 February, with other whale shark operators commencing their tours from Coral Bay and Exmouth over the coming days and weeks. The start of the 2024 Whale Shark Season at Ningaloo between March and July, coincides with the annual coral spawning taking place during the full moon in March. The 2023 season at Ningaloo was one of the best on record with approximately 40,000 whale shark swims taking place, a significant increase on the 2022 season.
Australia’s Coral Coast CEO, David O’Malley, attributes the success of the region’s whale shark swim season to a specialist group of licensed and passionate professionals consistently providing a sustainable and memorable tour experience.
“The first sighting is a good indication of a really good whale shark season ahead, and we are hoping for another record season at Ningaloo, offering the best whale shark interaction experiences in the world” Mr O’Malley said.
The UNESCO Ningaloo Coast World Heritage-Listed Area, situated at the northern end of the Australia’s Coral Coast region, is home to Australia’s largest fringing reef system, the Ningaloo Reef, stretching 300km from Red Bluff, just north of Carnarvon, to the Muiron Islands off the coast of Exmouth. It continues to be a sanctuary for marine biodiversity, with whale sharks playing a crucial role in the balance of this delicate ecosystem. This area stands as one of the few places globally where whale sharks reliably congregate each year, and is the sole location in Australia where you can encounter the “Marine Big 3” – whale sharks, manta rays (year-round), and humpback whales (June to October) – all in one place.
Swimming with whale sharks at Ningaloo is a unique and once in a lifetime opportunity. It’s advised that those who are interested should book their tour and accommodation early to avoid disappointment. Children aged over 5 years old and who can swim can join a tour accompanied by their parents. For more information and travel itineraries, visit Australia’s Coral Coast – www.australiascoralcoast.com
