The verdict
Best places to dive with whale sharks
Rhincodon typus
The most reliable place to dive with whale sharks is Cancun / Riviera Maya, from June to August.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January: 6 of 10 at peak | February: 6 of 10 at peak | March: 8 of 10 at peak | April: 8 of 10 at peak | May: 8 of 10 at peak | June: 8 of 10 at peak | July: 8 of 10 at peak | August: 8 of 10 at peak | September: 6 of 10 at peak | October: 6 of 10 at peak | November: 6 of 10 at peak | December: 6 of 10 at peak |
Most sites at peak Some at peak
Based on 8,507 OBIS records of whale shark (Rhincodon typus) within 60 km of 45 dive destinations.
Top destinations to dive with whale sharks
Ranked on how reliably they turn up, then on how long the record runs.
| # | Destination | Country / area | Season | Reliability | Evidence | Dive type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cancun / Riviera Maya | Mexico Caribbean | Jun–Aug | Near-guaranteed | 24 of 27 years | Day boat |
| 2 | Donsol | Philippines | Mar–May | Near-guaranteed | 17 of 19 years | Day boat |
| 3 | Ticao / Manta Bowl | Philippines | Mar–May | Near-guaranteed | 17 of 19 years | Day boat |
| 4 | Isla Mujeres | Mexico Caribbean | Jun–Aug | Near-guaranteed | 25 of 29 years | Day boat, Snorkel |
| 5 | Apo Island | Philippines | All year | Near-guaranteed | 14 of 18 years | Day boat |
| 6 | Dumaguete / Dauin | Philippines | All year | Near-guaranteed | 14 of 18 years | Day boat |
| 7 | Moalboal | Philippines | All year | Near-guaranteed | 14 of 18 years | Day boat, Shore |
| 8 | Bohol / Panglao | Philippines | All year | Near-guaranteed | 14 of 19 years | Day boat |
| 9 | Oslob | Philippines | All year | Near-guaranteed | 14 of 19 years | Day boat |
| 10 | Koh Tao | Thailand | All year | Near-guaranteed | 18 of 25 years | Day boat, Shore |
Also on record at Ningaloo, Utila, Tofo, Roatan, Southern Leyte, Sea of Cortez / La Paz, Nosy Be, Tubbataha, Mafia Island, Darwin & Wolf, Galapagos, Djibouti, Cairns, Ribbon Reefs, Similan Islands, Gladden Spit, Belize, Derawan / Sangalaki, Perhentian, Redang, Richelieu Rock, Coiba, Baa / Hanifaru, Maldives, Phuket, Malpelo, Ponta do Ouro, Seychelles, Aliwal Shoal, SS Yongala, Galapagos Central, Protea Banks, Big Island / Kona, Daymaniyat Islands, Strait of Gubal / Thistlegorm, Sharm el-Sheikh / Ras Mohammed, Koh Phi Phi and Musandam.
When to dive with whale sharks
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cancun / Riviera Maya | Jan: Not common | Feb: Not common | Mar: Not common | Apr: Not common | May: Not common | Jun: Peak season | Jul: Peak season | Aug: Peak season | Sep: Possible | Oct: Not common | Nov: Not common | Dec: Not common |
| Donsol | Jan: Possible | Feb: Possible | Mar: Peak season | Apr: Peak season | May: Peak season | Jun: Not common | Jul: Not common | Aug: Not common | Sep: Not common | Oct: Not common | Nov: Not common | Dec: Not common |
| Ticao / Manta Bowl | Jan: Possible | Feb: Possible | Mar: Peak season | Apr: Peak season | May: Peak season | Jun: Not common | Jul: Not common | Aug: Not common | Sep: Not common | Oct: Not common | Nov: Not common | Dec: Not common |
| Isla Mujeres | Jan: Not common | Feb: Not common | Mar: Not common | Apr: Not common | May: Not common | Jun: Peak season | Jul: Peak season | Aug: Peak season | Sep: Possible | Oct: Not common | Nov: Not common | Dec: Not common |
| Apo Island | Jan: Peak season | Feb: Peak season | Mar: Peak season | Apr: Peak season | May: Peak season | Jun: Peak season | Jul: Peak season | Aug: Peak season | Sep: Peak season | Oct: Peak season | Nov: Peak season | Dec: Peak season |
| Dumaguete / Dauin | Jan: Peak season | Feb: Peak season | Mar: Peak season | Apr: Peak season | May: Peak season | Jun: Peak season | Jul: Peak season | Aug: Peak season | Sep: Peak season | Oct: Peak season | Nov: Peak season | Dec: Peak season |
| Moalboal | Jan: Peak season | Feb: Peak season | Mar: Peak season | Apr: Peak season | May: Peak season | Jun: Peak season | Jul: Peak season | Aug: Peak season | Sep: Peak season | Oct: Peak season | Nov: Peak season | Dec: Peak season |
| Bohol / Panglao | Jan: Peak season | Feb: Peak season | Mar: Peak season | Apr: Peak season | May: Peak season | Jun: Peak season | Jul: Peak season | Aug: Peak season | Sep: Peak season | Oct: Peak season | Nov: Peak season | Dec: Peak season |
| Oslob | Jan: Peak season | Feb: Peak season | Mar: Peak season | Apr: Peak season | May: Peak season | Jun: Peak season | Jul: Peak season | Aug: Peak season | Sep: Peak season | Oct: Peak season | Nov: Peak season | Dec: Peak season |
| Koh Tao | Jan: Peak season | Feb: Peak season | Mar: Peak season | Apr: Peak season | May: Peak season | Jun: Peak season | Jul: Peak season | Aug: Peak season | Sep: Peak season | Oct: Peak season | Nov: Peak season | Dec: Peak season |
Peak season Possible Not common
Whale shark month by month
- January
- Best at Apo Island, Dumaguete / Dauin and 4 more.
- February
- Best at Apo Island, Dumaguete / Dauin and 4 more.
- March
- Season starts at Donsol. Also good at Ticao / Manta Bowl, Apo Island and 5 more.
- April
- Best at Donsol, Ticao / Manta Bowl and 6 more.
- May
- Last peak month at Donsol. Also good at Ticao / Manta Bowl, Apo Island and 5 more.
- June
- Season starts at Cancun / Riviera Maya. Also good at Isla Mujeres, Apo Island and 5 more.
- July
- Best at Cancun / Riviera Maya, Isla Mujeres and 6 more.
- August
- Last peak month at Cancun / Riviera Maya. Also good at Isla Mujeres, Apo Island and 5 more.
- September
- Best at Apo Island, Dumaguete / Dauin and 4 more.
- October
- Best at Apo Island, Dumaguete / Dauin and 4 more.
- November
- Best at Apo Island, Dumaguete / Dauin and 4 more.
- December
- Best at Apo Island, Dumaguete / Dauin and 4 more.
What to expect in the water
Water temperature and the suit to pack at the top sites, in the months whale sharks are there.
| Destination | Season | Water | Suit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancun / Riviera Maya | Jun–Aug | 28–29 °C | Skin or 3 mm shorty |
| Donsol | Mar–May | 27–29 °C | 3 mm full suit |
| Ticao / Manta Bowl | Mar–May | 27–29 °C | 3 mm full suit |
| Isla Mujeres | Jun–Aug | 29 °C | Skin or 3 mm shorty |
| Apo Island | All year | 27–30 °C | 3 mm full suit |
What else you'll see with whale sharks
Animals at their peak in the same places and months.
Diving with whale sharks: common questions
- Where is the best place to dive with whale sharks?
- The most reliable place to dive with whale sharks is Cancun / Riviera Maya, from June to August.
- When is the best time to dive with whale sharks?
- March to August, when 8 of the 10 best-evidenced destinations are at their peak. It varies by place: Cancun / Riviera Maya peaks June to August; Donsol peaks March to May; Ticao / Manta Bowl peaks March to May.
- What wetsuit do you need to dive with whale sharks?
- At Cancun / Riviera Maya from June to August, the water is 28 °C to 29 °C, so bring a skin or 3 mm shorty.
- How many places can you dive with whale sharks?
- besttimetodive.com has whale sharks on record at 45 of the destinations it scores. Not an exhaustive list — these are the sites we hold verified data for.