With some of the whalesharks reaching up to about 12 metres in length, and unofficial reports having them reach 18 metres in length, it is no wonder that people are fascinated in these creatures that feed entirely on plankton.

Whaleshark sightings are pretty common during April-June, with interactions to these creatures managed by the Conservation and Land Management (CALM), who regulate the number of snorkellers in the water with a shark to a maximum of 10. Other restrictions include no flash photography and how long a single interaction with a whaleshark may last. Contact the Exmouth office of CALM for more information.
 

Other sharks you can expect to see around Exmouth include reef sharks (white tip reef sharks), grey nurse, tawny nurse, cat shark, oceanic white tip, grey shark, bronze whaler, wobbegong shark and the tiger shark (which is very shy). The wobbegong shark is nocturnal and spends most of the day sleeping on the bottom, although those found at Navy Pier, seem to prefer a more elevated position amidst the pylons. Having a motley colouring makes them very well camouflaged, as they blend into the background. They are easily identified by the beard-like frills around their mouth, but care must be taken, as despite their inertia, the shark has a very fast reflex and can deliver a nasty bite.

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