Sumbawa whale sharks congregate at Saleh Bay’s floating fishing platforms to feed, giving divers and snorkelers a rare chance to see the biggest fish in the world.
Whale sharks, Sumbawa, Indonesia, June 2025 © [email protected]
Saleh Bay is a huge body of water located on Indonesia’s island of Sumbawa. There are fishing platforms called bagans in the Bay which attract whale sharks who come to feed under the platforms.
Pook and the Whale shark, Sumbawa, Indonesia, June 2025 © [email protected]
Divers and snorkellers can get in the water and see the whale sharks up close and personal. Don’t get too close or you might get thumped by a tail – the whale sharks are 4 to 7 metres long – they are unarguably chunky.
Two Whale sharks, Sumbawa, Indonesia, June 2025 © [email protected]
If you’re lucky, the whale sharks will stay around for several hours, meaning you get to spend as long as you want with them. If you’re on a liveaboard, you’ll probably dive for over an hour as it’s quite shallow, head back for a surface interval and then return.
Two whale sharks feeding, Sumbawa, Indonesia, June 2025 © [email protected]
Most groups tend to have had enough after two dives. That all depends on how many whale sharks show up. I’ve seen up to five whale sharks together under one bagan so it can get crazy.
Two whale sharks feeding, Sumbawa, Indonesia, June 2025 © [email protected]
A few select Komodo liveaboards come to Saleh Bay on some of their trips – check itineraries to see if it’s on the schedule.
Whale sharks, Sumbawa, Indonesia, June 2025 © [email protected]
Speedboats for snorkellers drive from Lombok overnight to arrive at the bagans first thing in the morning to snorkel with the whale sharks.
Pook and Sandro with feeding whale shark, Sumbawa, Indonesia, June 2025 © [email protected]
Whale sharks, Sumbawa, Indonesia, June 2025 © [email protected]
Whale sharks, Sumbawa, Indonesia, June 2025 © [email protected]
For more info and photos, see my Saleh Bay Whale Sharks page where I wrote up the experience the first time I went there in 2024. It was so good I went back again in 2025.
Whale sharks, Sumbawa, Indonesia, June 2025 © [email protected]
Saleh Bay is not the only whale shark hotspot in Indonesia – see Where To See Whale Sharks In Indonesia for other locations.
Komodo Dive Sites
- Manta Alley
- Cannibal Rock
- Yellow Wall
- Batu Bolong
- Pengah Kecil
- Castle Rock
- Crystal Rock
- Mawan
- Siaba Besar (Turtle City)
- Sebayur Kecil
- Tanjung Batu Besar
- Galley Rock
- Saleh Bay Whale Sharks
- Komodo Dive Sites Overview
Komodo Liveaboard And Resort Trip Reports
- Kalimaya Dive Resort Trip Report July 2025
- Komodo Liveaboard trip report August 2022 - MSY Damai 2
- Komodo Liveaboard trip report November 2009 - MSY Damai 1
- Komodo Liveaboard trip report September 2008 - Indo Siren
- Komodo Liveaboard trip report December 2006 - Komodo Dancer
Komodo Diving Podcasts
Komodo Dive Site Locations
Indonesia Liveaboard Deals
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