“It was just like on TV”, exclaimed our 12-year-old as we got back on the boat. She wasn’t wrong. Swimming with whale sharks in Oman was exactly what we expected after watching David Attenborough documentaries. Except we were there. In the picture!
It was serendipitous that we got to see these gentle giants during our last visit to the Daymaniat Islands. We’d tried and failed on at least four other trips during the whale shark season. And hopefully gazed out into the blue of the Arabian Gulf in the off season, just in case.
Now, right at the end of May, we had the hugest of privileges to swim with more than 10 of the season’s early arrivals.
Our adventure began in Al Mouj Marina, like many snorkelling trips from Muscat
We had booked a boat trip with Daymaniat Shells - the company with which we did our very first excursion to the Daymaniat Islands back in 2023. It seemed fitting to be making our last voyage with them.
Captain Fahad told us that whale sharks had been spotted in the past few days, so we might be lucky. But, as always, he could not make any promises. We’d been disappointed before so knew not to get our hopes up.
What is guaranteed is turtles and tropical fish at the islands, which is always magical.
Spotting whale sharks
Captain Fahad and his team had their eyes peeled but told us and our group of friends to keep a look out too. The sea state was calm and the water clear, so it might be possible to see the whale sharks’ dorsal fins and the tips of their tails above the surface.
Fifteen minutes into our crossing to the islands, the engines were cut. With our hearts in our mouths we looked ahead of the bow. And there they were.
Whale sharks are filter feeders and skim the surface of the water for plankton. So if boats spot them they should immediately reduce their speed.
Sadly there were signs that the sharks we saw had been hit. Chunks were missing from their dorsal fins and tails where less careful vessels had ploughed over them.
None of them seemed in distress and I have since read that whale sharks are able to heal their wounds to some extent.
Preparing to swim with giant fish
One of the main reasons we use and recommend Daymaniat Shells is because of their affinity with the sea and its residents. They always thoroughly brief their guests about how they should behave in the water, for their safety and to protect marine life.
Touching turtles, coral and other creatures is not allowed as you can cause them harm.
When we reached the sharks, Captain Fahad told us the plan.
We would quietly enter the water and follow him. It’s important not to touch the whale sharks, or make loud noises or fast movements as you don’t want to frighten them. They are the world’s biggest fish, and while they wouldn’t intentionally harm a human, they are very powerful.
The best action you can take when faced with an oncoming whale shark is to not panic but to move out of its way. I found the second part of this more easily said than done.
I got a closer than expected encounter when this shark swam past a few people in our group. By the time it got to me it had had enough of detours.
All I could do was spread myself wide on the surface of the water to avoid contact and let it skim underneath me.
It was so surreal. It took my breath away.
Sadly I had a total GoPro fail and accidentally recorded the two-minute event as a Timelapse video. The images above and below are stills from this.
Our 12-year-old, who was not far from my side, was super cool about our brush with a shark.
Props to both our girls for taking it all in their stride. From getting ready to enter the water to watching eight metre plus sea giants sailing by, they made us so proud.
To be fair, I’m not sure I would have gotten in the water with whale sharks 2.5 years ago. Oman has brought out the adventurers in us!
When is Whale Shark season in Oman?
If you want a chance to see whale sharks in Oman you need to visit in the hottest months of the year, which can make it difficult to combine with other sightseeing activities.
Seeing whale sharks can never be guaranteed and the season shifts depending on their migration. This is altering every year with climate change.
The most likely months to see them are between June and September. However, we met our whale sharks at the very end of May and have heard of them being sighted as late as November.
Find out more about the best times to visit Oman depending on your interests.
Final thoughts on seeing whale sharks in Oman
This goes down as one of our most magical experiences while living in Oman. It's one we'd been chasing for some time.
I've lost count of the number of trips we have taken to the Daymaniat Islands but it's between four and five a year since we have been here. So the chances of seeing whale sharks are not high.
The odds are greatly increased over the summer, so if you do want to try to swim with these incredible creatures plan your visit then.
And, if you are not lucky enough to see a group, you still get to experience swimming with turtles when you reach the islands. They are a generous consolation prize.
More wildlife experiences in Oman
Not all wildlife experiences in Oman are made the same and animal welfare is not given the same importance as you'd expect in the UK and Europe.
From what I have seen, visiting the Daymaniat Islands on a boat trip is the best way to see turtles in Oman. Go with a reputable company, rather than the cheapest.
You can also see turtles laying eggs and hatching at Ras Al Jinz. Read my honest opinion on this nature experience.