If you want to see whale sharks, now is the time. The peak season is beginning to wind down for the year. The largest fish in the sea has become a big tourist attraction in many parts of the world. The animal is a shark, but its large size and the fact that it feeds in a way similar to baleen whales give it its name.
The docile creatures are popular for viewing by divers and others as they slowly make their way through tropical waters. Their unique spotted bodies and lengths that can easily reach 40 feet make them even more of an attraction. While this may be good for awareness of the creature, too many tourists and some tour guide companies are unfortunately putting the animals at risk.
This past summer, some videos went viral showing huge crowds swimming above whale sharks. This has prompted a number of conservationists and other divers to speak out on the issue and share videos to help people better understand where they can find safe and ethical ways to see whale sharks.
Mélanie Ba is a travel influencer with more than 100,000 followers. In this recent post, she outlines the countries to avoid and the ones to see. The issue with many of the countries is the lack of regulations regarding feeding the large animals and other problems.
You can see her complete list of go-to spots, which range from Mexico to Oman and Australia, in her post, along with additional advice for the areas she recommends.
Also, many websites outline tips to keep in mind to help preserve these wild animals that are listed as endangered.
Rules to See Whale Sharks
- No touching the animals, even if they swim close.
- Keep a safe distance to help avoid stressing the whale sharks.
- Avoid chumming, or feeding the animals.
- Choose educated tour guides who have a good understanding of whale sharks and follow best practices.