Snorkeling With Whale Shark in Koh Tao Thailand

Did you know you can go snorkeling with a whale shark on Koh Tao? Swimming alongside the largest fish in the sea is an ultimate bucket list experience for snorkelers and divers, and Thailand is one of the best destinations to make such dreams come true. These gentle giants can be spotted at several sites across the country’s surrounding waters, and the tiny island of Koh Tao in the Gulf of Thailand is where you have the best chance of seeing one. In this article, we share the story of where and how we encountered a whale shark in Koh Tao without even going on a tour just by casually snorkeling. Let’s dive into the details!

Where Can You See Whale Shark In Koh Tao?

The tiny island of Koh Tao is an underwater paradise featuring rich coral gardens and rich marine life, making it one of the best places to go snorkeling in Thailand. There are several beaches and boat-accessible sites around its diverse coastline where you can observe rich marine life, including unique spots where fresh plankton accumulates and attracts whale sharks.

The first four spots are deeper dive sites and are visited primarily by scuba divers, but most operators also accept snorkelers joining their tours (ask around some dive centers if you want to sign up for a trip). Whale sharks often swim close to the surface, so even snorkelers can spot them despite the deeper waters at these sites.

But the last one, Shark Island, is different. It is a shallow, rocky islet that is easily accessible from the shore and has shallower waters, so we think this is the best place for snorkeling with whale sharks on Koh Tao.

When Is The Whale Shark Season In Koh Tao?

Diving and snorkeling are possible in Koh Tao year-round and whale sharks can be spotted any time, but the best time to see them is between March and June. This period is called the ‘whale shark season’ when the chance of sightings is the highest. These gentle giants are also present around the island between October and December.

How We Swam With A Whale Shark In Koh Tao At Shark Island – Our Experience

We spent one week exploring Koh Tao’s snorkeling beaches, but due to some bad weather days, we didn’t have time to go for a full-day boat tour to look for whale sharks. Still, we were lucky enough to encounter one near Shark Island.

Although whale shark sightings are never guaranteed, we heard from local divers that they are regularly spotted at this point, so we decided to check it out.

Shark Island is a good place for snorkeling, so we thought even if we didn’t see a whale shark, we could check the surrounding reef, but shortly after arriving at the site, this gentle giant appeared near us. It was on the island’s southeast side, where the water is deeper.

Whale sharks can dive into chilly waters hundreds of meters deep, but they need to return to the surface from time to time to warm up, and this is when you can experience how magical it is to swim near such a huge, elegant creature. Sadly, she didn’t stay near the surface for too long and returned to the deep after ~10 minutes, but it was still an experience we will never forget.

How To Get To Shark Island?

Shark Island is just 800 meters from Sai Daeng Beach. You can rent a kayak or hire a long-tail boat driver to get there. Renting services are available at the beach.

We decided to get there by kayak, which took about 10-15 mins. The distance between the beach and the island is not too big, but you need to pay attention to the boat traffic when crossing the channel, as it can get intense.

Shark Island is not a typical island but rather just a rocky islet with no actual beach on it, so you need to bring a rope with you to secure your kayak to the rocks while you go snorkeling. Or, one of you needs to stay in the kayak, and you go snorkeling in turns.

Also, make sure to check the weather before heading to Shark Island. If the forecast predicts bad weather or you see dark clouds approaching, it is better to skip the trip as you might have difficulties returning to the shore if you get caught by a storm. Don’t forget, it’s a tropical climate; conditions can change in seconds, bringing heavy rain and strong wind! Visit Shark Island only if the weather is sunny days and the sea is calm.

Where Can You See Whale Sharks In Thailand?

Whale shark sightings can occur anywhere in the world’s oceans, but these gentle giants are still rare animals. Thailand is famous for regular sightings and is perfect for diving or snorkeling with whale sharks.

The number of whale sharks in Thailand has been decreasing slightly since 1998, but the trend turned lately, and the last few seasons have been pretty good with many encounters, both in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand.

The official Thailand whale shark season runs from February/March till April. According to dive operators, the overall highest chance to see them is at Richelieu Rock, which is on the schedule of most Similan Islands trips, and around Koh Tao.

Are Whale Sharks Dangerous?

Diving and snorkeling with whale sharks is completely safe. Although these creatures might seem to be scary at first sight because of their massive size (the largest confirmed individual measured 12.65 meters (41.50 ft) in length), they are harmless to humans.

To explain a bit better, let’s see what these gentle giants eat so you won’t be afraid if you encounter a whale shark in Thailand or any other place around the world. Whale sharks are filter feeders; they eat plankton and small fish that they filter from the water. Moreover, they also feed on clouds of eggs during the mass spawning of fish and corals.

Despite conservation programs, the global whale shark population is declining and this species is considered vulnerable by ICUN. Therefore, encountering one becomes rarer, so consider yourself luck if it happens to you!

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