A paradise inhabited by one of the ocean's most colossal, enigmatic and astonishing creatures: the waters of Ningaloo Reef, a coral reef stretching nearly 300 km, serve as the hunting ground for the whale shark (Rhincodon typus), the largest known shark and the biggest fish in Earth's fresh or salt waters.
From the air, we could already discern the formidable reef in detail - a monumental feat achieved by fragile, tiny coral polyps. Slowly and patiently over centuries, these small invertebrates have won a battle seemingly lost from the outset, constructing a coral jungle in the open ocean that shelters thousands of other species, both animal and plant.
A Shark That Feeds on Plankton
The true giant among giants is the blue whale, exceeding thirty metres and weighing up to a hundred tonnes. Yet both it and our protagonist, the whale shark, have grown to such sizes thanks to privileged marine conditions: their diet of one of life's most primitive forms - plankton - places them near the base of the food chain. Predators like great white sharks require far greater energy intake, as this dissipates across trophic levels. Our giants have undoubtedly optimised energy consumption. Being massive in the ocean represents the ultimate survival strategy - the larger the organism, the fewer potential enemies and the greater available prey. Moreover, underwater, large organisms are nearly always more energy-efficient in movement.
The whale shark remains shrouded in mystery. Few scientists have ever located one. Many have spent years diving in tropical waters without such an encounter.
The Whale Shark: That Great Unknown
Almost everything about whale sharks remains unknown - from population numbers to biological aspects like reproduction and migration. One certainty exists: they're nowhere abundant. So what draws these giants to Ningaloo Reef annually?
Their arrival coincides with coral polyps spawning explosively in February, when fertilised eggs saturate the reef waters. Millions of nutrient-rich larvae create a veritable soup, irresistible to filter-feeders like manta rays and whale sharks. Ningaloo also converges two distinct water currents: warm, crystalline northern waters providing ideal temperatures, and nutrient-rich cold currents from the south guaranteeing colossal food supplies. These currents are so distinct that within mere hundreds of metres, diving visibility can shift from thirty metres to barely seeing one's hand.
Exmouth: The Prime Encounter Location
To meet these marine giants, travel between March-May to Exmouth, a small northwest Australian town. Reach Perth via international flights from Europe (Qantas, Thai, British, Singapore Airlines), then fly Ansett via Geraldton, Denham and Carnarvon. En route you'll pass remarkable sites like Shark Bay, famed for Monkey Mia's friendly dolphins and dugong populations.
From Exmouth, spectacular dives await in Ningaloo's waters and Murion Island, where tiger, hammerhead and whale sharks abound. Diving these wild depths offers endless thrills: beyond every imaginable shark species, the pelagic life is extraordinary.
Shoals of diverse fish, sea snakes, turtles, rays and colossal groupers accompany every dive. The sole drawback is shifting water conditions from tides and suspended nutrients. While these often reduce visibility, they create unparalleled marine richness.
