It’s not every day that you come eye to eye with a creature bigger than your car.
I still remember the exact moment I first saw it—a 10-meter whale shark, gliding gracefully under my feet in the open water of Saleh Bay, Sumbawa. I wasn’t in a cage. There were no barriers. Just me, a snorkel, and a living, breathing giant of the sea.
I had joined a Sumbawa whale shark tour after hearing whispers of how magical the encounters there could be. What I got wasn’t just a tour—it was a deep, personal moment that stirred something wild inside me.
Let me take you there.
It Began with Stillness
We started before sunrise. The bay was quiet, wrapped in a soft layer of morning mist. I stood at the edge of the boat, squinting into the gray-blue water, wondering if this was really such a good idea.
The guide, a local named Agus, had told us to be patient. “They come when they want,” he said with a grin. “This isn’t a show.”
That already felt different from other marine experiences I’d heard of. It wasn’t about us. It was about waiting—for something ancient to rise from the deep.
The First Sign
We were near a traditional bagan—a local fishing platform used to attract small fish with lights. Agus turned off the engine, and suddenly, everything was still.
Then someone whispered, “There’s something moving.”
And there it was.
A shadow, long and wide, growing more visible with each passing second. The whale shark was swimming slowly, almost lazily, under the platform. It moved like it was floating on thought alone.
In the Water
“Go ahead,” Agus said, calm but excited.
I barely remember putting on my fins. I just remember slipping into the water and hearing only my breath and the soft whoosh of the ocean.
The visibility was crystal clear. And suddenly—there it was. The 10-meter whale shark.
It felt unreal. Not just because of its size, but because of its calm energy. You’d think something that big would feel overwhelming, but instead, it felt oddly soothing. Like being in the presence of something that didn’t need to prove anything.
That Moment: Face to Face
I floated as still as I could. The whale shark turned slowly and began to swim toward me—not aggressively, just on its own path.
And then it looked at me.
At least, that’s what it felt like. Its eye, dark and glimmering, met mine for just a second. That second stretched forever.
It didn’t speed up. Didn’t turn away. It simply passed me by, just two meters to my left. I saw the pattern of its spots. The slight flutter of its gills. The rough texture of its skin.
And I realized: this animal has probably lived longer than most things I’ve ever seen in the wild. It carries the ocean with it.
Multiple Encounters
That wasn’t the only whale shark we saw that day. A total of four showed up—different sizes, different behaviors.
One swam deep below us, like a submarine barely visible in the blue. Another lingered near the surface, letting the sunlight dance across its back. Each one had a kind of presence I still can’t fully explain.
The best part? They weren’t baited or fed. They came naturally, drawn to the plankton stirred up by the bagan and the rising sun.
Saleh Bay Is a Hidden Gem
What makes swimming with whale sharks in Sumbawa so different is how untouched it feels.
There are no massive tour boats crowding the space. No tourists yelling. No underwater speakers blasting sounds. Just you, the sea, and the occasional wooden platform bobbing in the water.
And Saleh Bay itself? It’s stunning. Towering cliffs. Water that shifts from jade green to sapphire. The kind of place you dream about when you want to disappear from the world.
The Whale Sharks Are Gentle Giants
I used to think of whale sharks as intimidating. I mean, they’re the largest fish in the sea. But the truth is, they’re nothing short of gentle.
Watching a Sumbawa whale shark swim past is like watching a sky full of stars drift silently across a black night.
They move slowly, deliberately. They’re curious, but not aggressive. Massive, but never threatening. Being in the water with them felt more like meditation than adventure.
Respectful and Ethical Tourism
Another thing that truly impressed me about this whale shark Sumbawa experience was how responsibly it was managed.
Agus briefed us beforehand—no touching, no flash photography, no getting too close. We gave them space, and in return, they gave us everything.
No one fed them. No one coaxed them. This was as wild as it gets.
If you’re looking for an experience that honors these creatures and doesn’t exploit them, this is it:
<a href=”https://whalesharksalehbay.com/”>Saleh Bay whale shark tour</a>
What I Took Home With Me
I went into this expecting a cool story. Maybe a few good photos. But what I got was something I didn’t know I needed—stillness, humility, and a reminder that there are worlds underwater we may never fully understand.
Now, whenever life feels loud and fast and overwhelming, I close my eyes and think of that 10-meter whale shark moving silently beneath the surface, with me floating beside it, suspended in awe.
