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Where To See Whale Sharks In Indonesia

Here are three places in Indonesia where you’re almost guaranteed to come face to face with a whale shark, the biggest fish in the world

Whale shark, Saleh Bay, Sumbawa
Whale shark, Saleh Bay, Sumbawa, August 2024 © chris@divehappy.com

Whale sharks are at the top of every diver’s and snorkeller’s bucket list, but they’re usually quite elusive. Despite their size – from 3 to 4 metres for juveniles up to a gigantic 12 metres for mature adults (the biggest ever recorded whale shark was 18 metres), they are not frequently seen at dive spots around the world.

Bagan (Fishing Platform) at Kwatisore, Cendrawasih Bay, Indonesia
Bagan (Fishing Platform) at Kwatisore, Cendrawasih Bay, Indonesia, August 2012 © chris@divehappy.com

In Indonesia, the local fishermen have inadvertently created a tourist attraction. Their floating fishing platforms, called bagans, have big nets underneath which the whale sharks like to approach and hoover using their huge mouths. Despite their size, whale sharks are filter feeders and so are only interested in plankton and tiny bits of fish meat – the leftovers of the leftovers from the fishermen’s catch.

Whale shark next to fisherman's boat, Saleh Bay, Sumbawa
Whale shark next to fisherman’s boat, Saleh Bay, Sumbawa, August 2024 © chris@divehappy.com

As such, there’s now several places in Indonesia where you can go to the bagans and have a good chance of seeing whale sharks, although, as with everything in nature, there’s no guarantee. But it’s better odds than hoping one simply shows up on a dive.

Selah Bay

Diver and feeding whale shark, Saleh Bay, Sumbawa
Pook and the whale shark, Saleh Bay, Sumbawa, August 2024 © chris@divehappy.com

Located at the island of Sumbawa, Selah Bay is perhaps the most accessible place to have the chance to see whale sharks in Indonesia – but it’s still quite a trek to get there. Liveaboards and day boats alike come from Lombok, Bima and Komodo so it can get quite busy. You can compare and book whale shark day trip tours online.

More details about the day I spent diving with whale sharks in Saleh Bay

Five Whale Sharks underneath Bagans (Fishing Platforms) at Kwatisore, Cendrawasih Bay, Indonesia
Five whale sharks, Cenderawasih Bay, August 2012 © chris@divehappy.com

Cenderawasih Bay

Selah Bay is vast – Cenderawasih Bay is even vaster. Indonesia is a huge country and the word “bay” doesn’t really do justice to how big these bodies of water are. Cenderawasih Bay is quite remote – further east than Raja Ampat at the top of Papua island, and diving in Cenderawasih is fascinating in its own right. The bagans located several days’ sailing into the Bay at Kwatisore have provided some spectacular whale shark encounters the couple of times I’ve been there.

See my detailed report on diving with whale sharks in Cenderawasih Bay

Whale Shark, Triton Bay, Indonesia

Triton Bay

More famous for its immensely rich coral reefs, Triton Bay is also home to whale sharks looking for free food from the fishermen. The reefs are so rich here as the water is so dense with nutrients, which can make for challenging visibility. But as a contrast to exploring Triton Bay’s reefs, spending time at the bagans looking out for whale sharks is pretty epic.

See my write up of diving with whale sharks in Triton Bay.

Obviously, whale sharks can show up anywhere, any place in Indonesia – these are just three places where you have a better than average chance of seeing them. And if you like big stuff, check my other page Where To See Manta Rays In Indonesia.

Beyond Indonesia, there’s a small chance to see whale sharks in Thailand, although it won’t be the same, prolonged encounters as described above.

Indonesia Liveaboard Deals

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Diving And Travel Insurance

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Start Planning Your Indonesia Dive Trip Now!

:: Check the availability and pricing of liveaboards in Indonesia and book online.


:: Find the cheapest flights to Indonesia - one search will show you the prices and times from scores of airlines for your trip. A real timesaver. You'll typically need to fly into Jakarta and then get a connecting flight to Sorong (SOQ) for Raja Ampat, Labuan Bajo (LBJ) for Komodo, Biak for Cenderawasih Bay (BIK) - but check with your liveaboard operator on optimum flights


:: Make sure you don't forget to bring any of the essentials for your scuba diving trip with our comprehensive Liveaboard Packing List


:: World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world.


:: Find available places to stay in Indonesia on Booking.com - usually you can reserve a room with no upfront payment. Pay when you check out. Free cancellations too. The Jakarta Airport Hotel, located in Terminal 2, is convenient for a transit stayover.


:: Need inspiration? See our Best Places To Dive In Indonesia for ideas of where to go and what to do.


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