Coral Bay: Whale Shark Swim & Reef Snorkel Tour with Photos

Swim with whale sharks in Coral Bay plus reef snorkeling and lunch

You’ll swim beside gentle whale sharks off Coral Bay, guided by locals who know these waters inside out. Snorkel vibrant coral gardens, share laughs over lunch onboard, and take home a full photo package — plus those moments when time slows down underwater.

What’s included

• Your day includes a short transfer from Coral Bay Ecotours office to the jetty before boarding your vessel.
• all snorkel gear.
• morning tea.
• a full lunch served onboard.
• afternoon tea.
• champagne.
• coffee or tea throughout.
• plus a complete photo package so you can relive every moment later.

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Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Whale Shark Safari and Snorkeling

• Meet at Coral Bay Ecotours office 7:30 am
• Bus transfer to jetty
• Board vessel
• Snorkel at coral gardens
• Morning tea break
• Spotter plane searches for whale sharks
• Boat heads to whale shark location
• Swim with whale sharks in two groups
• Snorkel at second reef site

The Experience

Already barefoot on the jetty before I realized how salty the air felt — that dry, sun-baked kind of morning you only get in Western Australia. We’d met the crew at the Coral Bay Ecotours office just after sunrise, everyone a bit quiet except for our guide, Sarah, who seemed to know every fish by name. The short bus ride to the boat was mostly nervous chatter about whale sharks (“they’re not actually whales,” someone said — I pretended I already knew). Then suddenly we were out on the water, wetsuits half-zipped, trying to remember how to breathe through a snorkel.

The first reef snorkel was way more colorful than I expected — parrotfish darting around like they owned the place, and these tiny blue things that looked electric under the sun. Someone spotted a reef shark but honestly I was too busy trying not to swallow half the ocean. Morning tea tasted better than it should’ve (maybe saltwater makes everything sweeter?) and then we heard over the radio that our spotter plane had found something big. There was this weird hush as we motored out further — even Sarah got quiet for a minute. When it was finally our group’s turn to slide into the water next to a whale shark… well, it’s hard to describe. You see its spots first, then realize how slow and gentle it moves. Not scary at all — just huge and sort of peaceful.

I tried saying “whale shark” in Mandarin because Li from our group suggested it (she laughed so hard at my pronunciation I nearly choked on my snorkel). We only got an hour with it but time went strange; sometimes you forget you’re even swimming. On the way back there was champagne and lunch — chicken wraps if you wanted specifics — and everyone kept swapping photos like kids comparing trading cards. Last stop was another reef site where I floated until my fingers wrinkled up. Still think about that view when I close my eyes at night.

Top questions

When is whale shark season in Coral Bay?

Whale sharks appear annually in Coral Bay between March and June.

How long do you swim with the whale sharks?

You can spend up to one hour swimming with the whale shark during the tour.

Is lunch included on this tour?

Yes, lunch is included along with morning tea and afternoon tea onboard.

Are transfers provided from Coral Bay town?

A short bus transfer from Coral Bay Ecotours office to the jetty is included.

Is this tour suitable for people with limited mobility?

The tour is wheelchair accessible but requires at least moderate physical fitness for swimming.

Do you get photos from your day trip?

A photo package is included so you'll receive images from your experience.

What else might you see besides whale sharks?

You may encounter numerous fish species, reef sharks, and other marine life while snorkeling.

How many people are in each swim group?

Guests are split into two groups of ten for swimming with the whale shark.