Most people who travel to Santa Maria to get in the water come for the mobula rays of Baixa do Ambrósio. In late summer, though, the island offers something even fewer visitors expect to find in the middle of the North Atlantic: the whale shark (Rhincodon typus), the largest fish in the world.
Santa Maria is not the Maldives or Mexico, and nobody can promise you an encounter. But over the last fifteen years whale sharks have become a regular summer visitor to the Azores, and the waters around Santa Maria are where they are seen most often. This guide explains why they come, when your chances are best, what a trip with us looks like, and how to behave in the water so the encounter stays good for you and for the animal.
Whale sharks are tropical and warm-temperate animals. The Azores sit right at the edge of the water temperatures they like, which is why their presence here is seasonal and varies from year to year.
The best study on the subject was published by researchers from the University of the Azores in PLoS ONE in 2014 (Afonso, McGinty and Machete, "Dynamics of Whale Shark Occurrence at Their Fringe Oceanic Habitat"). They analysed 16 years of observer records (1998–2013) from the Azorean pole-and-line tuna fleet and found that:
The authors also suggest that, as the ocean warms, the Azores may become more important for the Atlantic whale shark population. In other words, Santa Maria is one of the few places in Europe where seeing a whale shark in the wild is a realistic possibility.
Whale sharks follow the warm water, so the window is late summer. In most years the best months are August and September, when the sea around Santa Maria is at its warmest. Some seasons start earlier or run later; others are quieter. Because it depends on the ocean, not the calendar, we can only tell you how the current season is going, not guarantee a sighting.
Practical advice:
Our whale shark snorkelling trips leave from the Marina de Vila do Porto and last on average about four hours. Whale sharks are found offshore, often in deep blue water, so a large part of the trip is searching: the skipper and the crew scan the surface for fins, feeding activity, birds and tuna boils. Along the way it is common to see dolphins, sea turtles and seabirds.
When a whale shark is found, the boat positions itself ahead of the animal and slowly, and the group enters the water quietly with mask, snorkel and fins (included in the price). You stay at the surface and watch the shark pass, often just a few metres away. This is snorkelling, not scuba diving: no certification is needed, but you should be comfortable swimming in open ocean, with no bottom in sight and some swell.
A wetsuit is strongly recommended. Even at the warmest time of year, Atlantic water is cooler than tropical water, and you may spend several short sessions in the sea.
Whale sharks are filter feeders that eat plankton and small fish. They are completely harmless to people. They are also listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, and how we behave around them matters. Our guides will brief you on the boat, but these are the basic rules:
If the shark changes direction or dives, the encounter is over. We do not chase animals.
Whale shark snorkelling is a good choice for:
If you get seasick, take something before the trip: it is a long time on a boat, often in open-ocean swell.
| Activity | Price per person | Minimum group |
|---|---|---|
| Snorkelling with whale sharks (about 4 h) | €84 | 8 people |
| Snorkelling at Ambrósio with mobula rays | €70 | 6 people |
| Snorkelling along the coast | €46 | 6 people |
| Snorkelling at the Formigas | €84 | 10 people |
Mask and snorkel are included in all snorkelling trips. Fins, wetsuits and other equipment can be rented. All activities depend on a minimum number of participants and on weather and sea conditions, and payment is made before the activity.
To book, or to ask how this season's sightings are going, contact us at info@mantamaria.com, call +351 918 685 447, or visit us at the Marina de Vila do Porto. We are open every day from 8:30 to 18:00.
Is a whale shark sighting guaranteed? No. Whale sharks are wild animals and their presence in the Azores depends on the water temperature each year. August and September give you the best chances.
Do I need to be a diver? No. This is a snorkelling trip at the surface. You just need to be a confident swimmer in open water.
Are whale sharks dangerous? No. They feed on plankton and small fish. The only real precaution is to keep clear of the tail.
Can I also see the mobula rays on the same holiday? Yes. Late summer is also mobula season at Baixa do Ambrósio, about 3 miles off the north coast of Santa Maria, and you can snorkel there too.
Source: Afonso P., McGinty N., Machete M. (2014). Dynamics of Whale Shark Occurrence at Their Fringe Oceanic Habitat. PLoS ONE 9(7): e102060.