Duration:
10h
Hire the boat for just you and your family and friends. Includes plane, bus, crew, catering, license fees etc, and us working with you to come up with the best possible itinerary for your group’s day out.
Operated By:
An exclusive whaleshark or humpback whale tour with just your family and/or friends onboard is truly special – shared memories of the will last a lifetime!
Includes everything our normal whaleshark and humpback whale tours do.
Under our license conditions your party can include up to 20 whaleshark or humpback whale swimmers, plus 3 additional whaleshark or whale observers. (These people do everything on tour but swim with a whaleshark or whale.)
*Please note humpback whale swimmers must be 12 years of age or older.
Includes everything our normal whaleshark and humpback whale tours do.
Under our license conditions your party can include up to 20 whaleshark or humpback whale swimmers, plus 3 additional whaleshark or whale observers. (These people do everything on tour but swim with a whaleshark or whale.)
*Please note humpback whale swimmers must be 12 years of age or older.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Please refer to our Terms and Conditions online
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Matthew Winter, General Manager at Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim, responded to this review - 2026-08-11
Thank you Jennifer for your 5* review!
We are pleased that you celebrated a birthday with us and had a great day.
We hope to welcome you on board another time!
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JenniferKworld
11 Aug 2026
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Matthew Winter, General Manager at Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim, responded to this review - 2026-08-11
Thank you for your 5* review!
Glad you got to tick off your bucket list the whale shark swim with us!
We hope to welcome you or your friends on board Seazone in the future!
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Damian
10 Aug 2026
Would highly recommend this company and if you can, get a crew together and hire the whole boat for yourselves!
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Matthew Winter, General Manager at Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim, responded to this review - 2026-08-11
Thank you Kylie for your 5* review!
We are so pleased you enjoy your experience with the whole boat charter!
We hope to welcome you and more of your friends on board SeaZone again!
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kyliec85
09 Aug 2026
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Matt Winter, Owner at Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim, responded to this review - 2026-08-09
We are so pleased we could make your daughters birthday that special! Thank you for taking the time to write this review. We hope to have you onboard Seazone again in the future!
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Scenic08684331224
06 Aug 2026
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Matt Winter, Owner at Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim, responded to this review - 2026-08-09
Than you so much for your kind review! We are thrilled you had such a great day out with us!
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Louise
05 Aug 2026
Had the most incredible day!! Jumped in the water and swam with whale sharks 5 times, and saw humpback whales, reef sharks and manta rays as an added bonus. A bucket list experience for sure that was enhanced by just stunning conditions which we were lucky to get. Felt so safe and looked after the entire time by the fabulous crew - Christie, Sharn, KJ, Derek and the captain Pete who were all so fun and knowledgeable. Great food provided for lunch too. It was a 10/10 trip that was super ethical and passionate about preserving the uniquely beautiful Ningaloo Reef and respecting the sea creatures in it.
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Amber
18 Jul 2026
Absolutely perfect tour! The crew was incredibly friendly, professional, and attentive. Everything was very well organised while still feeling relaxed. Snorkelling with the whale sharks was an unforgettable experience and handled perfectly. The information about the animals and the ocean was extremely interesting, and the crew did an excellent job of spotting and showing us different wildlife. Outstanding was Derek. We felt safe and well looked after at all times. Overall, it was a fantastic experience that I would highly recommend.
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Expendables46
11 Jul 2026
The most breathtaking experience on our family trip with Ningaloo Whalesharks! We were picked up in town at 7:15am and made the 30 minute trip out to Tantabiddi jetty with Sammi and Sharn. A smooth transfer on a tender out to Seazone and we were all fitted with wetsuits, snorkels and fins by the accomodating crew. We had a snorkel in the inner reef where we could test out our gear and by 10:30am we were out in the outer reef jumping in with our first whaleshark! The instructions and support of the crew were outstanding and we felt safe and comfortable in the water the whole time (even the weaker swimmers!)- a huge shoutout to Derek! We swam multiple times with 5 different whalesharks over the course of 2 - 3 hours. An incredible awe-inspiring experience swimming alongside these majestic gentle giants! Dugong, sea snake, turtles, rays, tiger shark, dolphins, reef sharks and playful humpbacks simply topped off the day! It just got better and better. The food was excellent and boat was comfortable. Stunning photos from Sharn arrived on our phone on the bus ride back to town. Outstanding service from the knowledgeable crew at all times, could not fault them. Highly recommend this very professional tour!
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Ada
07 Jul 2026
I would highly recommend Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim. The staff are knowledgeable and enthusiastic about Ningaloo. The day was meticulously planned and it was so lovely to see such a happy workplace. I was so impressed to see everyone pitching in wherever possible with even the captain drying dishes! The photographer was unbelievable and we have lifelong memories to keep with amazing photos. I would not hesitate in booking with these guys, we had the most magical and memorable day. Thank you.
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Tamara
06 Jul 2026
What a fabulous day, from the on-time bus pickup to the lovely food, and of course the very cooperative stars of the show - one suitably slow swimming whale shark and a pair of frolicking humpback whales! The crew are fabulous, friendly and informative and swimming in the warm water inshore and offshore with interesting and colourful denizens all one could ask for
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Steve
02 Jul 2026
The best experience you could ever ask for. The entire team of staff on our day out were second to none. The 2 whale sharks and the blue whale made our trip even better. Trust me, the Ningaloo Whale Sharks company is the only one you’ll need for a truely amazing experience.
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Mark
15 Jun 2026
Such an awesome experience!! Got to swim with the whaleshark 4 or 5 times. The crew were confident and knowledgeable whilst also being very fun!! The photo package was well worth it, Sharn went above and beyond to get incredible photos of everyone and did some very impressive diving!!! Would highly recommend
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Marika
28 May 2026
Today we did the whale shark swim with the crew of Jordan Kristy Derek Tropy and Sian
We had the most amazing time the crew and skipper were so accomodating to make us have the best experience. The passengers were split into 2 groups making sure that you were put into your group. They looked after all people that needed extra care to ensure everybody had this majestic experience. Our group had Derek … he was amazing can’t believe how caring and engaging all the staff were to make our day so special.
We had a lovely morning tea , delicious healthy lunch and after our last snorkel lovely fruit platter bubbles, beer and soft drinks.
Thank you for a memorable day
John and Deborah
We had the most amazing time the crew and skipper were so accomodating to make us have the best experience. The passengers were split into 2 groups making sure that you were put into your group. They looked after all people that needed extra care to ensure everybody had this majestic experience. Our group had Derek … he was amazing can’t believe how caring and engaging all the staff were to make our day so special.
We had a lovely morning tea , delicious healthy lunch and after our last snorkel lovely fruit platter bubbles, beer and soft drinks.
Thank you for a memorable day
John and Deborah
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Debbie
28 May 2026
I was feeling a little nervous about taking my 7 and 10-year-olds on a whale shark tour, but I couldn’t have asked for a better experience! From start to finish, the entire crew was professional, fun, and great at making everyone feel at ease. Their instructions were clear, which made the whole process seamless.
A massive shout-out to Derek, who was so patient and helpful with the kids in the water. We loved all the fascinating facts and knowledge he shared throughout the day.
If you are looking for a fantastic team to guide your whale shark adventure, look no further. Highly recommended—thanks again to the whole crew for such a memorable and fun day!
A massive shout-out to Derek, who was so patient and helpful with the kids in the water. We loved all the fascinating facts and knowledge he shared throughout the day.
If you are looking for a fantastic team to guide your whale shark adventure, look no further. Highly recommended—thanks again to the whole crew for such a memorable and fun day!
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Skye
26 May 2026
Must do in your lifetime!
We have just got back from a week in the Ningaloo and the highlight of our trip was definitely the experience we had with these guys from Ningaloo Whaleshark swim. From the moment we got on the boat the crew were awesome. Seemed genuinely invested in making sure we had a good time and they did their very best to find us some whale sharks to swim with. We were very lucky to have swam with 3 different WS and did 4 separate swims. The boat was spacious and comfortable, the food was also very good. I would highly recommend theses guys for your tour. Our in the water guide was Sian, she was friendly and very clear when in the water which made our experience excellent. An unforgettable experience and memories we will treasure forever.
Pearson & Bibb families.
We have just got back from a week in the Ningaloo and the highlight of our trip was definitely the experience we had with these guys from Ningaloo Whaleshark swim. From the moment we got on the boat the crew were awesome. Seemed genuinely invested in making sure we had a good time and they did their very best to find us some whale sharks to swim with. We were very lucky to have swam with 3 different WS and did 4 separate swims. The boat was spacious and comfortable, the food was also very good. I would highly recommend theses guys for your tour. Our in the water guide was Sian, she was friendly and very clear when in the water which made our experience excellent. An unforgettable experience and memories we will treasure forever.
Pearson & Bibb families.
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Lyndsay
16 May 2026
I would especially like to thank Sian (I think - sorry if that's wrong!), the English lady who patiently helped my partner overcome her extreme nerves with snorkelling in the sea. She stayed with her and reassured her throughout. If it hadn't been for her, Debbie would have missed seeing the whale shark, and we are so grateful for this amazing life experience. All of the staff stayed enthusiastic and energetic throughout, despite the early start and the long day.
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Matthew Winter, General Manager at Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim, responded to this review - 2025-12-05
Well done on the spelling, Sian is correct! (She'd be very happy about that) We're so glad Debbie decided to get in and give it a go, we'd hate for anyone to miss out after being so close! Thank you for leaving us a lovely review.
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minsk2048
17 Nov 2025
The tour was so professional, even the lunch was great!
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Matthew Winter, General Manager at Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim, responded to this review - 2025-12-05
Our crew is certainly one of the most experienced and knowledgeable on the reef, so we're glad you got to experience that on your tour. We're so glad you enjoyed all aspects of our tour and thank you for leaving a kind review.
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Astrid
28 Oct 2025
We did a trial snorkel and saw lots of different species of fish. Then to the real thing there were around 4 opportunities to swim with the whale sharks, which was very hood as it is shoder season. The crew team were fantastic Davy, Lilly, Chrissy, Jen, Jaz just an outstanding team, very helpful, patient, fun, sociable and extremely safety conscious. Did not hesitate to protect the shark from the one idiot who tried to get too close.
Finished the day off with a final snorkelling opportunity on the ningaloo reef
Food was excellent and a glass of fizz or beer at the end finished off the day nicely.
If you have the opportunity to go do it!!!
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Karen
21 Oct 2025
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Priscilla
19 Oct 2025
Incredible crew, made for a great (albeit long) experience The crew was incredible, it was a long day out on the ocean and towards the end of whale shark season made it difficult. But they were determined to give us our whale shark experience and with their fantastic spotter managed to find 2!read moreread less
Jess
18 Oct 2025
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Matt Winter, Owner at Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim, responded to this review - 2025-10-14
Thank you so much for your kind words! We are so thrilled you enjoyed your day out on Seazone with us!
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Peter
08 Oct 2025
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Matt Winter, Owner at Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim, responded to this review - 2025-10-14
Thank you so much for your lovely review!
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Connector303845
07 Oct 2025
I was fortunate enough to have done this three straight days, and I was so very much pleased with the individuals who made the trip such a delight. Jordan, the skipper, captained our boat each of the three days, and was fun, helpful, charming, and all around a nice guy. Charn was our photographer for the first two days, followed by Jazz, and they are both extremely impressive athletes, but also lovely people who were kind enough to create great photos for everyone. Lilly, Lucy, Heather, and Derek did wonderful work as in-water guides, keeping everyone nice and safe, often towing several inexperienced swimmers at once, and working past language barriers. Christie made everything work as a deckhand for two days, and then Derek switched roles again, and absolutely crushed it in that role as well.
I had a wonderful experience, and will be taking a large group of friends all the way across the world next summer to experience the sharks, whales, and - underrated - incredible reef life, healthy coral, and turquoise water. Come with them if you can!
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Matt Winter, Owner at Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim, responded to this review - 2025-10-14
Wow! Thank you so much for your amazing review! We are so thrilled you enjoyed all your days out on Seazone and your kind words about the crew are very much appreciated! We hope to have you onboard again in the future!
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Ben
05 Oct 2025
As a child I almost drowned so my fear has never been of what’s in the water, but of the water itself.
The crew on NWSS were so professional and caring from start to finish.
I’d like to send a big ‘shout out’ to my ‘Lilly Angel’ who took extra good care of me and made sure I was supervised and safe at all times, allowing me to tick off this ‘bucket list’ adventure.
To all those out there that think they can’t - with NWSS you can! 10/10
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kerisdale
03 Oct 2025
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Voyager58009486009
30 Sep 2025
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Hank
28 Sep 2025
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Bella
28 Sep 2025
The crew made sure we had many opportunities to get in the water with the magnificent whale sharks!
All the crew were fabulous:
The bus pick up with Jazz & Christie was perfectly on time & we were given lots of info. Over to the big boat with No 1 skipper Davy. Thanks Derek for an awesome scuba dive!
Thanks to Keiren for being so helpful and informative.
And thanks to Broccoli up in the sky for spotting the beautiful whale sharks for us and giving us so many swims with them.
Small numbers & big boat. Plenty of room to move around on board.
This is a must do, cannot recommend it highly enough.
Thanks to all of you for a fabulous day!!
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Matt Winter, Owner at Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim, responded to this review - 2025-09-26
Thank you so much for this glowing review, we are very touched you had such a great day out with us on Seazone!
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368leesab
25 Sep 2025
Magical! Words cannot describe how beautiful this experience was for us! The whole crew skipper Jordan, deckhand Kieran, plane spotter Ben, swimming guides Kristy and Sian and of course Jazz for getting the pics for us! We had the most amazing time all day from the snorkel to the 5 massive swims with the whale sharks!!! Huge shout out must go to Sian for being patient with me when the last swim ended up being a bit much with the waves! Jazz how you swim and take those pics for everyone is hugely impressive! Thanks guys you have truely made lifetime memories for our family ❤️
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Christie
23 Sep 2025
What an amazing experience!
Everybody was super helpful, the food was great and of course we saw a whale shark whom we followed around and got to swim with 4 times!
We also saw lots of colourful fish during our snorkelling trips and even spotted some humpback whales!
It was a truly remarkable experience!
Especially shout out to Derek who was super helpful on board and Chrissy who kept her cool even when one passenger got a bit scared with the waves during our first dive.
We had lots of wind initially so conditions were not easy but everyone of the staff members kept calm and Chrissy was extremely helpful when one lady panicked and took her back to the boat. Well done!
All in all a fantastic experience- thanks to everyone really!
Everybody was super helpful, the food was great and of course we saw a whale shark whom we followed around and got to swim with 4 times!
We also saw lots of colourful fish during our snorkelling trips and even spotted some humpback whales!
It was a truly remarkable experience!
Especially shout out to Derek who was super helpful on board and Chrissy who kept her cool even when one passenger got a bit scared with the waves during our first dive.
We had lots of wind initially so conditions were not easy but everyone of the staff members kept calm and Chrissy was extremely helpful when one lady panicked and took her back to the boat. Well done!
All in all a fantastic experience- thanks to everyone really!
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Susanne
19 Sep 2025
What an amazing experience.
We had the most incredible time on the boat and in the water.
The snorkeling was beautiful and swimming with the whaleshark was unlike anything I've ever done in my life.
The crew was great, kept us entertained, informed and well fed.
Had a great yarn with Davie and Pete. It was so cool to see the passion everyone had for their job and the ocean.
The photos Jas took are incredible and it's nice to get one picture for free.
We had the most incredible time on the boat and in the water.
The snorkeling was beautiful and swimming with the whaleshark was unlike anything I've ever done in my life.
The crew was great, kept us entertained, informed and well fed.
Had a great yarn with Davie and Pete. It was so cool to see the passion everyone had for their job and the ocean.
The photos Jas took are incredible and it's nice to get one picture for free.
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Luca
01 Sep 2025
Amazing day, seven swims with the whale sharks, also saw Tawny sharks, octopus, cuttlefish, turtles, and multitudes of different fish. Crew were all amazing Skye with an informative commentary and humour on the bus, Sian in the water with group 2 photographer Jasmine, Kieran the deckhand and Jordan the skipper. Will add some photos when we go through them. Oh and the snacks and lunch were pretty good also.
Thanks
Russell N
Thanks
Russell N
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Russell
29 Aug 2025
We had an amazing experience with the crew. Chrissy was our group lead who was fantastic at getting us in the water and getting us in the best spot to see the whale shark. Jazz made sure we had incredible pictures. Special shout out to broccoli the pilot for spotting the sharks!
The day was well structured from start to finish, the team made sure everyone was safe and having fun. They provided snacks, lunch and constant beverages through the day. They gave plenty of information about the whales shark, Ningaloo reef and exmouth. We seen not only a whale shark multiple times, but other whales, stingrays, turtles, and loads of different species of fish.
This was easily one of the best days of my life! I can’t recommend enough :)
The day was well structured from start to finish, the team made sure everyone was safe and having fun. They provided snacks, lunch and constant beverages through the day. They gave plenty of information about the whales shark, Ningaloo reef and exmouth. We seen not only a whale shark multiple times, but other whales, stingrays, turtles, and loads of different species of fish.
This was easily one of the best days of my life! I can’t recommend enough :)
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Amy
13 Aug 2025
Amazing experience. At first I was hesitant because of price, but you really get the full experience and service for what you paid for.
Amazing team, from the moment we boarded the tour bus, the team gave us a nice background tour around ningaloo. Once we boarded, we set sailed for a morning snorkel, which was a great trial run for a first time swimmer in open ocean like myself.
Then we finally got to meet the majestic creature- the whale shark. The whole reason for our trip across the continent ❤️
He was a gentle giant, swam slowly and calmly for us, not hard to catch up. We got 3 amazing swims. The whole process was not hard, and very well and entertainingly explained by our amazing crew.
Even though we had to reluctantly say good bye to our beautiful giant, we got to tie up the day with a beautiful relaxing snorkel around a lovely site.
The ride back was so enjoyable with a delicious and nutritious lunch.
I can’t rate this whole experience high enough. If you’re thinking about it, just book it. You’ll thank yourself later.
Oh and don’t hesitate to get the photo package. You will not regret this.
Thank you to the amazing team - brocoli, Davy, Pete, Kira, Kristy, jazz & amazing volunteers for a fun and memorable experience ❤️
Amazing team, from the moment we boarded the tour bus, the team gave us a nice background tour around ningaloo. Once we boarded, we set sailed for a morning snorkel, which was a great trial run for a first time swimmer in open ocean like myself.
Then we finally got to meet the majestic creature- the whale shark. The whole reason for our trip across the continent ❤️
He was a gentle giant, swam slowly and calmly for us, not hard to catch up. We got 3 amazing swims. The whole process was not hard, and very well and entertainingly explained by our amazing crew.
Even though we had to reluctantly say good bye to our beautiful giant, we got to tie up the day with a beautiful relaxing snorkel around a lovely site.
The ride back was so enjoyable with a delicious and nutritious lunch.
I can’t rate this whole experience high enough. If you’re thinking about it, just book it. You’ll thank yourself later.
Oh and don’t hesitate to get the photo package. You will not regret this.
Thank you to the amazing team - brocoli, Davy, Pete, Kira, Kristy, jazz & amazing volunteers for a fun and memorable experience ❤️
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Jacklyn
10 Aug 2025
What an experience!!! This was such an amazing, magical, spectacular day. The crew were phenomenal. They made us feel welcome, excited, safe and comfortable. From the booking to the food and the solid crew, would highly recommend! We seen whale sharks up close, manta rays, turtles and so many fish and coral species. Thank you Ningaloo Whale Shark Swim for an epic day!
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Kirsten
20 May 2025
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sharonbY3624LP
10 Oct 2024
Our family rented out the boat for the day and had the best time. We were all able to swim with the Whalesharks and the photographer made sure to get photos for all of us. The whole crew could not do enough to help us, the skipper was skilled and made sure that we could see dolphins alongside the boat. The lunch was filling and delicious. Those of us that dived in the afternoon were well taken care of and the snorkelers said the same. Thank you to the crew for a great day, I couldn't recommend this experience enough!
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Chelsea
30 Sep 2024
We had been out on the water for around 15 mins when one of the staff spotted the Whaleshark and for the next few hours everyone got to swim and experience this beautiful creature up close. And also see humpbacks jumping out of the water all around you. Truly Magical.
The dive itself is a little on the pricey side (397 each) but for a experience like this it doesnt matter.
We were picked up from our caravan park and taken to the boat which is about a 30 min drive from Exmouth. Before you get in the water with the shark you have a practice swim to get comfortable with the snorkels, goggles, flippers etc - these are all supplied but you can take your own. The staff on the boat are amazing so super friendly and helpful. Lunch and afternoon tea are supplied.
HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND. THIS IS A MUST DO
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ExperienceWonderG, Front Office Manager at Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim, responded to this review - 1970-01-01
Thank you so much for your incredible review! We’re thrilled to hear that your experience was unforgettable and truly magical. Swimming with the whale shark and witnessing humpbacks in action is something special, and we’re glad our team made it enjoyable for you. It’s great to know that you found the practice swim helpful and appreciated the lunch and snacks. Your recommendation means the world to us! We hope to welcome you back for more adventures in the future!
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boof1969
24 Sep 2024
Swimming with the whaleshark was obviously the highlight of our day. It was just amazing to be able to swim with these gentle giants.
Snorkelling, seeing an abundance of sea life, including rays, reef sharks, turtles, and lots of different fish, was amazing. We also saw lots of humpbacks with calves and quite a few whales breaching.
The spinning dolphins also kept us entertained with the antics as they swam beside us.
The crew was amazing. Nothing was too much trouble, and they also made the day special and fun.
Would totally recommend Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim
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ExperienceWonderG, Front Office Manager at Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim, responded to this review - 1970-01-01
Thank you for your incredible review! We’re overjoyed to hear that your whale shark tour was such a memorable experience and a big tick off your bucket list! Swimming with those gentle giants is truly magical, and it’s fantastic that you also got to enjoy the vibrant marine life and the playful dolphins.
Our crew strives to make every day special, and your kind words mean so much to us. We appreciate your recommendation and can’t wait to welcome you back for more amazing adventures in the future!
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Pauline
17 Sep 2024
Swim with whale shark for 3-4 times, see lots of dolphins jumping, see the huge humpback whale, the arrangement is perfect, but just to be aware of saving some energy in the first snorkel trial as we need to swim much quicker when we meet the whale shark afterwards.
P.S. the photographer is super professional that it is worth to pay for the photo as she did take beautiful photo and she made sure that the photo is included you and the gorgeous whale shark, excellent work!!!
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ExperienceWonderG, Front Office Manager at Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim, responded to this review - 1970-01-01
Wow, thank you for the fantastic five-star review! We’re so happy to hear you had an amazing experience swimming with the whale sharks and seeing dolphins and humpback whales. Your tip about saving energy is super helpful for future guests! We’re glad you loved the photos—our photographer truly has a talent for capturing those incredible moments. We appreciate your recommendation and can’t wait to have you join us again for more unforgettable adventures!
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Road14321165835
17 Sep 2024
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ExperienceWonderG, Front Office Manager at Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim, responded to this review - 1970-01-01
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that your humpback whale swim tour was such a memorable experience. Our team works hard to ensure everyone feels safe and cared for, and it’s great to know that shone through during your adventure. Your recommendation means the world to us! We can’t wait to welcome you back for another unforgettable day on the water. Thanks again for joining us!
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Natalie
14 Sep 2024
Terrific staff .. delicious food .. most importantly the magic happens in the water
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ExperienceWonderG, Front Office Manager at Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim, responded to this review - 1970-01-01
Hi Fiona, thank you for your kind words about our team! I'll be sure to pass this along to everyone. Glad to hear you had such a memorable tour with us!
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Fiona
12 Sep 2024
I should preface this over-written review with two things I've learned. 1. Nature doesn't always deliver us what we want, but when it does, it's something you never expected. 2. When you pay for a tour company to help you access something wonderful in nature that might not deliver, you should just consider yourself lucky if you get to experience anything. So now, on with the review (story).
After a smooth bus pickup in town, we had a great spiel from one of the crew, and the best advice of the day: take your seasickness meds now. This will factor in later.
We began our day with a practice snorkel. I've done a little bit of diving, and quite a bit more snorkelling in my 40 something years, and was happy to use the company's better fins (I call them flippers), and clean mask. The wetsuit fit, and they found a size to fit our 8 year old as well, for whom things sometimes don't fit well. The crew were really communicative and helpful. They had a Spanish speaker on board, so that covered an extra language too.
After the practice snorkel inside the reef, we hit the open ocean. And the swell was big. I don't know how big, but it looked like 2 metres. Here is when I was thankful we had taken those seasickness pills. Buy them. Take them. I wish we'd taken a second pack for later in the day!
It being late in the season, there were no whalesharks straight away, so our captain (Dave?) cruised for a while, and then we saw the whales. A pod of humpbacks....I will tell a fishing tale here and say 15...started splashing around, chatting and playing maybe 50 metres off the bow. Dave slowed the engines, and for what felt like an hour, we got to float there watching this pod of whales just BE around us. It was the beginning of the magic.
Our two kids went wild, and were running from port to starboard, then up to the bow, screaming and yelling...and I hope no one minded too much. We had paid for the photo package, so for us there was no desperation around capturing moments: their brilliant photographer was doing her work.
Then we joined the other boats on the whaleshark race. Because these guys have their own spotter plane, I think it gave them a little edge at the end, but at first, we just joined the queue of boats. The way the snorkel worked was the boat stopped, we edged down to the splash deck or whatever you call the bit where you get in and out of the water, then when Pete said "go go go", we followed our snorkel guide in. It's all very rushed because the whaleshark doesn't give two f***s about us, and it moves...like a shark. Then the guide pointed us to where to look underwater, and as it swam past, we got to join it.
It's a pretty magical thing to swim next to something so big.
On our tour we swam 5 times with two different sharks. I was too exhausted after the 4th time. The one hard part was hoisting our kids back up on the splash deck in the big swell: it lifted up quite high off the water sometimes, and then smacked back down hard. However, don't be put off if you're not the best swimmer: the guides and crew hoisted in all types out of the ocean on our tour.
After the whalesharks, the part where nature delivered unexpected magic was seeing a whale and a pod of dolphins playing together. We stopped and they swam around the boat for half an hour or so. It was staggering. I imagine you will find a photo of this somewhere on their website soon.
The lunch at the end was excellent and plentiful, although I think they should provide some gluten free wraps as well as the cornthins for the GF folk!
I cannot recommend this company enough. Even though the group was big, because we were out on the wild ocean, having 20 other people with us made the whole thing feel a bit safer, as well as the fact the bigger boat meant less of the rocking from side to side.
All up, a magical day with a great bunch of people. I'll be doing this again if I can ever afford it!
After a smooth bus pickup in town, we had a great spiel from one of the crew, and the best advice of the day: take your seasickness meds now. This will factor in later.
We began our day with a practice snorkel. I've done a little bit of diving, and quite a bit more snorkelling in my 40 something years, and was happy to use the company's better fins (I call them flippers), and clean mask. The wetsuit fit, and they found a size to fit our 8 year old as well, for whom things sometimes don't fit well. The crew were really communicative and helpful. They had a Spanish speaker on board, so that covered an extra language too.
After the practice snorkel inside the reef, we hit the open ocean. And the swell was big. I don't know how big, but it looked like 2 metres. Here is when I was thankful we had taken those seasickness pills. Buy them. Take them. I wish we'd taken a second pack for later in the day!
It being late in the season, there were no whalesharks straight away, so our captain (Dave?) cruised for a while, and then we saw the whales. A pod of humpbacks....I will tell a fishing tale here and say 15...started splashing around, chatting and playing maybe 50 metres off the bow. Dave slowed the engines, and for what felt like an hour, we got to float there watching this pod of whales just BE around us. It was the beginning of the magic.
Our two kids went wild, and were running from port to starboard, then up to the bow, screaming and yelling...and I hope no one minded too much. We had paid for the photo package, so for us there was no desperation around capturing moments: their brilliant photographer was doing her work.
Then we joined the other boats on the whaleshark race. Because these guys have their own spotter plane, I think it gave them a little edge at the end, but at first, we just joined the queue of boats. The way the snorkel worked was the boat stopped, we edged down to the splash deck or whatever you call the bit where you get in and out of the water, then when Pete said "go go go", we followed our snorkel guide in. It's all very rushed because the whaleshark doesn't give two f***s about us, and it moves...like a shark. Then the guide pointed us to where to look underwater, and as it swam past, we got to join it.
It's a pretty magical thing to swim next to something so big.
On our tour we swam 5 times with two different sharks. I was too exhausted after the 4th time. The one hard part was hoisting our kids back up on the splash deck in the big swell: it lifted up quite high off the water sometimes, and then smacked back down hard. However, don't be put off if you're not the best swimmer: the guides and crew hoisted in all types out of the ocean on our tour.
After the whalesharks, the part where nature delivered unexpected magic was seeing a whale and a pod of dolphins playing together. We stopped and they swam around the boat for half an hour or so. It was staggering. I imagine you will find a photo of this somewhere on their website soon.
The lunch at the end was excellent and plentiful, although I think they should provide some gluten free wraps as well as the cornthins for the GF folk!
I cannot recommend this company enough. Even though the group was big, because we were out on the wild ocean, having 20 other people with us made the whole thing feel a bit safer, as well as the fact the bigger boat meant less of the rocking from side to side.
All up, a magical day with a great bunch of people. I'll be doing this again if I can ever afford it!
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Ric
28 Aug 2024
We had the best day with the Ningaloo Whale Shark Swim team yesterday ❤️ all of the staff were fantastic and they have the routine down to a T. It was so well structured without ever feeling rushed. I want to especially shout out our swim guide Abi, she has such a positive attitude and is always smiling.
It was such a special day on the water, we were given a performance by some rowdy male humpback whales, then had 5 or 6 amazing swims with a juvenile whale shark, finishing our tour with watching an orca pod attempting to hunt some whales.
Truly unforgettable day, thanks so much again.
It was such a special day on the water, we were given a performance by some rowdy male humpback whales, then had 5 or 6 amazing swims with a juvenile whale shark, finishing our tour with watching an orca pod attempting to hunt some whales.
Truly unforgettable day, thanks so much again.
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cs
26 Aug 2024
We really enjoyed our humpback whale tour with Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim. We got to briefly snorkel with 2 humpback whales and had a bonus snorkel with 2 whale sharks! We also got to see tons of humpbacks and some dolphins from the boat. The company and crew felt very safe and the lunch and snacks were delicious. We would do this tour again if we have more time in Exmouth in the future!
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Cara
09 Aug 2024
What an amazing experience! I have had my fair share of experiences with charter boats, and this company was by far the best charter I have ever been on. The professionalism, friendliness, organization, and kindness of the team were beyond expectations. From the initial morning shuttle pick-up right through to the end of the journey, the team made sure that you experienced the best day possible. The vessel was extremely organized, clean, and the food provided throughout the day was well-executed and catered to all types of dietary requirements. Great quality full wetsuits and snorkels were provided, with complementary advice for beginners. The organization between the plane spotter, the boat skipper, and the staff in the water was absolutely spot-on to ensure you got in the perfect lane, aligning and swimming alongside the whalesharks. DO NOT SKIP THE PHOTO PACKAGE ADD ON it is well worth it; the most beautiful professional photo shot! I would use these guys again in a heartbeat.
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Jonathan
05 Aug 2024
Yesterday I did the Humpback whales swim and I could swam three times successfully, I have no words yet to describe the experience 😱😍 also two days before I did the Whale sharks too and it was amazing! I could see them 6 times and had a shot from Jazz with them ❤️ Speechless experiences both, really really great! They make the difference, no doubts, all the crew and the girl at the airplane. Thank you, thank you and a thousand times thank you 🙌🔝🥰
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Jaume
04 Aug 2024
We spent the day with this fantastic company today, - professional , fun and friendly from start to finish ! The crew went over and above for each guest. Thorough explanation of the days activities and the seamless process, giving a world class experience ! The Whale Sharks are the main attraction- four magnificent swims later each of the group had been given an experience of a lifetime. Added to this Hump Back Whales, Bronze Whaler shark , turtles and a snorkelling drift dive , our day was complete . The catering is excellent , safety standards top rate, professional photography and a sense of fun permeates the day. This company and crew are first rate, highly recommended.
Thanks you ! Matt and Jules .
Thanks you ! Matt and Jules .
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Matthew
12 Jul 2024
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Bill
05 Jul 2024
I’ve recommended the tour to several friends coming your way.
Thanks very much
Michelle & Nick Smail
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Michelle
04 Jul 2024
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experiencewonder, Front Office Manager at Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim, responded to this review - 2024-07-01
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you had a fabulous day with us and enjoyed your experience swimming with the whale sharks. We hope to welcome you back again soon for another memorable adventure!
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Carol
29 Jun 2024
We managed to swim with the whale sharks 3 times! Jaz was fantastic at the photographs, getting all the angles, its definitely worth getting the photography package! and our swim guide sian was brilliant. We also stopped a few times to do some snorkeling along the reef and saw so much amazing sea life!
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experiencewonder, Front Office Manager at Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim, responded to this review - 2024-06-29
Thank you for the fantastic review! We're thrilled you had such a remarkable experience with us. It's wonderful to hear you enjoyed swimming with whale sharks and encountering humpback whales. We appreciate your kind words about our crew, especially Davey, Jaz, and Sian. Looking forward to welcoming you back for more adventures in the future!
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Bubble_el
24 Jun 2024
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experiencewonder, Front Office Manager at Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim, responded to this review - 2024-06-29
Thank you so much for sharing your amazing experience! We're glad to hear that you had an awesome day swimming with the whale sharks in Exmouth. Jordan and Abi will be thrilled to receive your special thanks! We hope to welcome you back again soon for more unforgettable experiences!
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KENNETH
22 Jun 2024
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experiencewonder, Front Office Manager at Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim, responded to this review - 2024-06-29
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that you had a fabulous day with us. It's fantastic to know that we could help tick off a bucket list item for your family. We hope to welcome you back again soon for more smiles and memorable moments!
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gemmawM4691GC
22 Jun 2024
My wife, son and I did the whale shark tour with this company on 2 Jun 2024. A very impressive company dedicated to top class customer experience. For starters, a question hung over whether the tour would commence due to weather conditions. Rather than cancel the days’ tour like a lot of other companies did, this company held its decision until the last moment - guess what? Conditions were t as bad as forecast and we were able to make the swim - this was important as we had travelled from Canberra. However, I didn’t feel they had made the decision based on purely financial considerations, everything they did suggested a high level of safety consideration. True to their promise, they located a whale shark and deployed swimmers while adhering to WA legislative requirements. It was AMAZING!
Two swims completed, the company called it quits due to worsening conditions and we moved back into a sheltered area where we completed a drift snorkel over coral. Lunch was served and it was tasty, filling and of excellent quality. Plenty of vegan, vegetarian and GF fare as well as everything that would make an omnivore happy.
I don’t know what the other companies are like, but I can definitely recommend Ningaloo Whale Shark Swim.
Two swims completed, the company called it quits due to worsening conditions and we moved back into a sheltered area where we completed a drift snorkel over coral. Lunch was served and it was tasty, filling and of excellent quality. Plenty of vegan, vegetarian and GF fare as well as everything that would make an omnivore happy.
I don’t know what the other companies are like, but I can definitely recommend Ningaloo Whale Shark Swim.
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Steve
03 Jun 2024
Incredible, friendly crew. Well organized and communicative trip. Clean & maintained shuttle, tender, vessel & equipment. Delicious food. And of course the amazing whale sharks and gorgeous snorkeling - including a leopard shark & sea snake!
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Julie
27 May 2024
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NingalooWhalesharks, Manager at Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim, responded to this review - 2023-09-28
Thanks for your review! Your kind words will be past on to the crew!
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Amy
26 Sep 2023
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NingalooWhalesharks, Manager at Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim, responded to this review - 2023-09-28
The Ningaloo has lots to offer! Great to hear you had a good time out with us!
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BertMatthews
23 Sep 2023
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NingalooWhalesharks, Manager at Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim, responded to this review - 2023-09-22
We'll let Pete know to work on his jokes 😅 Thanks for your review!
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Pat
22 Sep 2023
Excellent service and funny crew u will ever meet, as well as great knowledge.
And a life time of memory’s I will never forget.
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NingalooWhalesharks, Manager at Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim, responded to this review - 2023-09-22
Great to hear you had such a fantastic day!
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805carmenj
22 Sep 2023





























