Whale sharks are found around the world in tropical and warm temperate oceans although they are notably absent from the Mediterranean. We now see whale sharks every year in the Andaman Sea off Thailand. They appear to migrate North from the Malay border during January and February and to reach Thailand's northern border with Myanmar during February and March. In Thailand they have been seen at Koh Phi Phi, Anemone Reef, and one spent a week in the harbor at Patong Beach, undeterred by the snorkelers who paddled out to swim with it. They are observed in the Seychelles in August and November, Mozambique and the northern coast of South Africa from October to March, the West coast of Mexico from March to August, Belize in May and Queensland, Australia, in November and early December.
Whale sharks have substantial economic value.
They are a major value to Thailand and other tropical dive areas as a tourist attraction. Many divers come to Thailand, the Seychelles and Australia specifically to see them. You can help by reporting whale sharks you see, whether or not tagged. If you see a tag at the base of the first dorsal fin, please read and record it, but do not remove it. We provide free descriptive reporting forms, and will update you on the results of this research.