The verdict
Best places to dive with whitetip reef sharks
Triaenodon obesus
The most reliable place to dive with whitetip reef sharks is Mabul / Kapalai, from All year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January: 0 of 10 at peak | February: 0 of 10 at peak | March: 0 of 10 at peak | April: 0 of 10 at peak | May: 0 of 10 at peak | June: 0 of 10 at peak | July: 0 of 10 at peak | August: 0 of 10 at peak | September: 0 of 10 at peak | October: 0 of 10 at peak | November: 0 of 10 at peak | December: 0 of 10 at peak |
Possible only
Based on 5,187 OBIS records of whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus) within 60 km of 51 dive destinations.
Top destinations to dive with whitetip reef sharks
Ranked on how reliably they turn up, then on how long the record runs.
| # | Destination | Country / area | Season | Reliability | Evidence | Dive type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mabul / Kapalai | Malaysia | All year | Near-guaranteed | 19 of 23 years | Day boat |
| 2 | Sipadan | Malaysia | All year | Near-guaranteed | 19 of 23 years | Day boat |
| 3 | Galapagos Central | Ecuador | All year | Near-guaranteed | 24 of 31 years | Liveaboard, Day boat |
| 4 | Cairns | Australia | All year | Near-guaranteed | 24 of 32 years | Liveaboard, Day boat |
| 5 | Lombok | Indonesia | All year | Near-guaranteed | 14 of 19 years | Day boat |
| 6 | Oahu | USA | All year | Near-guaranteed | 20 of 29 years | Day boat, Shore |
| 7 | Komodo North | Indonesia | All year | Near-guaranteed | 15 of 22 years | Liveaboard, Day boat |
| 8 | Komodo South | Indonesia | All year | Near-guaranteed | 15 of 22 years | Liveaboard |
| 9 | Coiba | Panama | All year | Near-guaranteed | 15 of 22 years | Day boat |
| 10 | Tulamben / Amed | Indonesia | All year | Near-guaranteed | 14 of 21 years | Day boat, Shore |
Also on record at Bligh Water, Fiji, Ribbon Reefs, Lembeh Strait, Nusa Penida, Gili Islands, Malapascua, Taveuni, Fiji, Palau, Malpelo, Bunaken, Seychelles, Rowley Shoals, Tubbataha, Cano Island / Drake Bay, Beqa Lagoon, Fiji, Fakarava, French Polynesia, Big Island / Kona, Dampier Strait, Raja Ampat, Abu Dabbab, Marsa Alam, Guanacaste / Catalinas, Socorro / Revillagigedo, Maui / Molokini, Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon, Cocos Island, Western (Isabela/Fernandina), Galapagos, North & Central Atolls, Maldives, Roca Partida, Socorro / Revillagigedo, Yap, Darwin & Wolf, Galapagos, Misool, Raja Ampat, Menjangan, Ningaloo, Okinawa, Bohol / Panglao, Moalboal, Oslob, Moorea / Tahiti, French Polynesia, Rangiroa, French Polynesia, Dumaguete / Dauin and SS Yongala.
When to dive with whitetip reef sharks
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mabul / Kapalai | Jan: Possible | Feb: Possible | Mar: Possible | Apr: Possible | May: Possible | Jun: Possible | Jul: Possible | Aug: Possible | Sep: Possible | Oct: Possible | Nov: Possible | Dec: Possible |
| Sipadan | Jan: Possible | Feb: Possible | Mar: Possible | Apr: Possible | May: Possible | Jun: Possible | Jul: Possible | Aug: Possible | Sep: Possible | Oct: Possible | Nov: Possible | Dec: Possible |
| Galapagos Central | Jan: Possible | Feb: Possible | Mar: Possible | Apr: Possible | May: Possible | Jun: Possible | Jul: Possible | Aug: Possible | Sep: Possible | Oct: Possible | Nov: Possible | Dec: Possible |
| Cairns | Jan: Possible | Feb: Possible | Mar: Possible | Apr: Possible | May: Possible | Jun: Possible | Jul: Possible | Aug: Possible | Sep: Possible | Oct: Possible | Nov: Possible | Dec: Possible |
| Lombok | Jan: Possible | Feb: Possible | Mar: Possible | Apr: Possible | May: Possible | Jun: Possible | Jul: Possible | Aug: Possible | Sep: Possible | Oct: Possible | Nov: Possible | Dec: Possible |
| Oahu | Jan: Possible | Feb: Possible | Mar: Possible | Apr: Possible | May: Possible | Jun: Possible | Jul: Possible | Aug: Possible | Sep: Possible | Oct: Possible | Nov: Possible | Dec: Possible |
| Komodo North | Jan: Possible | Feb: Possible | Mar: Possible | Apr: Possible | May: Possible | Jun: Possible | Jul: Possible | Aug: Possible | Sep: Possible | Oct: Possible | Nov: Possible | Dec: Possible |
| Komodo South | Jan: Possible | Feb: Possible | Mar: Possible | Apr: Possible | May: Possible | Jun: Possible | Jul: Possible | Aug: Possible | Sep: Possible | Oct: Possible | Nov: Possible | Dec: Possible |
| Coiba | Jan: Possible | Feb: Possible | Mar: Possible | Apr: Possible | May: Possible | Jun: Possible | Jul: Possible | Aug: Possible | Sep: Possible | Oct: Possible | Nov: Possible | Dec: Possible |
| Tulamben / Amed | Jan: Possible | Feb: Possible | Mar: Possible | Apr: Possible | May: Possible | Jun: Possible | Jul: Possible | Aug: Possible | Sep: Possible | Oct: Possible | Nov: Possible | Dec: Possible |
Possible
Whitetip reef shark month by month
- January
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Mabul / Kapalai.
- February
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Mabul / Kapalai.
- March
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Mabul / Kapalai.
- April
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Mabul / Kapalai.
- May
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Mabul / Kapalai.
- June
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Mabul / Kapalai.
- July
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Mabul / Kapalai.
- August
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Mabul / Kapalai.
- September
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Mabul / Kapalai.
- October
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Mabul / Kapalai.
- November
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Mabul / Kapalai.
- December
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Mabul / Kapalai.
What to expect in the water
Water temperature and the suit to pack at the top sites, in the months whitetip reef sharks are there.
| Destination | Season | Water | Suit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mabul / Kapalai | All year | 29–30 °C | Skin or 3 mm shorty |
| Sipadan | All year | 29–30 °C | Skin or 3 mm shorty |
| Galapagos Central | All year | 22–27 °C | 5 mm full suit |
| Cairns | All year | 25–30 °C | 3 mm full suit |
| Lombok | All year | 28–29 °C | Skin or 3 mm shorty |
What else you'll see with whitetip reef sharks
Animals at their peak in the same places and months.
Napoleon wrasse
At Mabul / Kapalai, Sipadan and 2 more
Humpback whale
At Galapagos Central, Cairns and 2 more
Reef manta
At Lombok, Komodo North and 2 more
Ocellated eagle ray
At Lombok, Komodo North and 2 more
Bigeye trevally
At Komodo North, Komodo South and 2 more
Grey reef shark
At Mabul / Kapalai and Sipadan
Diving with whitetip reef sharks: common questions
- Where is the best place to dive with whitetip reef sharks?
- The most reliable place to dive with whitetip reef sharks is Mabul / Kapalai, from All year.
- What wetsuit do you need to dive with whitetip reef sharks?
- At Mabul / Kapalai from All year, the water is 29 °C to 30 °C, so bring a skin or 3 mm shorty.
- How many places can you dive with whitetip reef sharks?
- besttimetodive.com has whitetip reef sharks on record at 51 of the destinations it scores. Not an exhaustive list — these are the sites we hold verified data for.