Where To Find Whale Shark Indonesia?
It is not often for a whale shark Indonesia to approach you, but when one does. You should treasure the opportunity since it is not only humbling but also a once-in-a-lifetime event. Whale shark sightings are common in Eastern Indonesia, these gentle sea giants spread out regularly.
Whale sharks enjoy warmer climes and can be found in tropical oceans all over the world, and West Papua is a suitable habitat.This region is home to more marine organisms than anywhere else on the planet, including 75 percent of the world’s coral species and over 1,700 fish species.
How to find Whale shark Indonesia?
The majority of whale shark sightings occur in a few known coastal feeding locations for the species when the sharks congregate on the surface to take advantage of seasonal productivity like fish spawning or zooplankton blooms. As a result, whale shark Indonesia tourism has become a lucrative business. Helping local populations such as those in Teluk Cendrawasih National Park and Saleh Bay to earn more money. Tourists can swim with the whale sharks here, but there is a code of behavior that must be followed when dealing with them. Knowing whale shark season in Indonesia is important so that your trip is not in vain.
Cendrawasih Bay, Papua
Cendrawasih Bay, on the north coast of West Papua, is Indonesia’s largest marine national park, as well as a study and conservation center for whale sharks.
Head to Kwantisore village for whale shark sightings, where whale sharks have been spotted emerging from the water and even socializing with the people surrounding the community’s 8 bagan, or fishermen’s floating huts.
When: Throughout the year.
Bentar beach, Probolinggo – East Java
Bentar is a beach in Probolinggo, a city about 2 hours south of Surabaya. Although the water in this location is murky and not suitable for diving, you may still see them when they rise to the surface.
When: Between January and March (some still see them around April)
Batubarani, Gorontalo
This is where the whale shark Indonesia can be found in the maximum abundance. You don’t even need to dive to see them; all you need to do is be on the boat, barely a few meters from the beach. Having said that, tourism in this area has spiraled out of control, with an annual increase in the number of visitors (many of them not knowing how to properly interact with the whale sharks).
The location is also excellent for diving, with well-preserved coral reefs and a diverse underwater ecosystem.
When: Between December and April. Almost every morning, the whale sharks surface.
Derawan, East Kalimantan
Derawan Island is an island city in East Kalimantan that is part of the Derawan Islands archipelago, which also includes the similarly popular Maratua and Kakaban.
The area is home to some of Indonesia’s most beautiful underwater fauna, including gigantic turtles, dolphins, manta rays, dugongs and barracudas, stingless jellyfish, and whale sharks, albeit they are not as frequent as the other sites.
Derawan is only second to Papua’s Raja Ampat Islands in West Papua in terms of coral diversity.
Whale Shark diving Indonesia Tips
When going out to visit these gentle giants, we strongly advise you to hire a local guide. They are dangerous not because humans are dangerous to them, but because humans can be dangerous to them.
Reckless tourism can endanger the species by disrupting their feeding and causing sharks to be hurt by boat propellers.
Before diving with whale shark, follow these guidelines:
- Do not feed them
- Do not touch them
- No flash photography
- There should be no more than 7 persons diving near the whale shark at any given time (including the guide)
- Only travel with whale shark guides who approach the area in non-propeller boats.
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