Kilindoni Whale Shark Grounds
Depth is the range from the top of the site to its usual maximum; "recommended cert" is the mainstream-agency level operators usually ask for, not a legal rule. Currents and visibility change daily, so treat everything here as planning ranges.
The waters off Kilindoni host one of the Indian Ocean's most dependable whale shark operations, built on an unusual fact: many of Mafia's juvenile sharks appear resident, feeding on dense plankton in the island's calm lee rather than merely passing through. From roughly October to February they surface-feed within a short boat ride of town, and encounters run as guided snorkels: no scuba, small groups, distance rules, boats at idle. The water is often green with the very plankton that makes the sightings possible, so this is about proximity to a feeding six-meter fish, not gin-clear photographs. Between seasons the sharks remain in the area but feed deeper, and surface sightings largely stop.
The moment you come for: Surface-feeding resident juvenile whale sharks, met on snorkel
Topography: Shallow, plankton-rich coastal water over sand off Kilindoni town
Current: Calm inshore water in the island's lee; encounters happen at the surface.
Know before you splash
Hazards: Boat propellers around surfacing sharks and low visibility in plankton blooms.
Conservation: Follow the code of conduct exactly: three-meter distance, no touching, no flash, limited swimmers per shark; boat strikes are the animals' main local threat.
Who you'll meet
"Charted here" species were listed by our editors from the sources on this page. Counts are GBIF occurrence records: observations logged within about 5 km of the charted position since 1990, matched only against the species in our catalogue. They show what has been seen there, not a promise of what you will see.
For photographers
Wide angle: ★★★★☆ · Macro: ★☆☆☆☆ (editors' 1–5 rating of what this site gives each style of shooting)