Gentle Giants: The Whale Sharks of Ningaloo Reef

Gentle Giants: The Whale Sharks of Ningaloo Reef

Whale sharks are the largest sharks on the planet, growing up to 40 feet in length and weighing more than 11 tons full grown. Surprisingly, little is known about these giant creatures other than the fact that their ancestors probably swam in prehistoric seas some 65 million years ago. By the mid-1980s fewer than 350 were known to roam the tropical and warm oceans of the world. Today the population is thought to be larger, though no one knows exactly how many remain, and the shark is still listed as "vulnerable" by several conservation organizations.

Every year around March, the whale sharks congregate in large numbers close to the shore along the Ningaloo Reef Marine Park, drawn by the annual mass spawning of coral. This gathering offers a rare treat for visitors, who can take a boat out into the calm waters and go overboard with mask, flippers, and snorkel while the whale sharks gently glide by, close to the surface. You don't need to be an experienced diver to take the plunge (but you should be moderately fit and able to swim).

Though they're massive animals, and are known to float through the water with their enormous mouths wide open, there's no need to fear the sharks—they're not carnivorous. Rather, they are what's known as filter-feeders; like certain whales, they eat by sucking vast quantities of sea water into their mouths, to filter out the plankton, krill, and other small sea creatures.

Masks, flippers and snorkels are provided by tour operators who visit the sharks; these include Ningaloo Blue Charters (1800/811338 www.ningalooblue.com.au), which has tours from A$350 per person, and Coral Bay Adventures (08/9942-5955, www.coralbayadventures.com.au), with all-inclusive tours from A$330 per person.