Let’s be real for a second.
The idea of swimming next to a creature that can grow up to 12 meters long, has a mouth wide enough to fit a grown man, and looks like something straight out of a sci-fi movie… sounds terrifying, right?
That’s exactly what I thought when I signed up for the Saleh Bay whale shark tour.
Whale shark Sumbawa—those three words made my stomach do backflips. I had seen the videos, the Instagram posts, the drone shots—but none of them showed what it actually feels like to be in the water with one.
So, was it scary?
Let me tell you the whole story. And I promise, I’ll be brutally honest.
The Night Before: Butterflies and Regret
I couldn’t sleep. Not really. I kept picturing it over and over—me jumping into the ocean, a massive shadow swimming beneath me, and then… what?
What if it bumped into me? What if I panicked? What if I hated it?
I almost backed out.
I’m not even a strong swimmer. And this wasn’t a pool or a reef. This was open water, in a remote part of Sumbawa, surrounded by fish the size of minibuses.
But something told me to go. To just see what would happen.
Boarding the Boat
We left early—before sunrise.
The sky was still a deep blue, and the water was like glass. The guides didn’t hype anything up. They didn’t say “you’re about to have the best experience of your life.” They just handed us masks, fins, and snorkels. Quietly. Calmly.
That helped.
The boat glided toward the deep part of Saleh Bay, where the whale sharks were known to pass through. I remember watching the horizon, feeling the wind pick up slightly, and telling myself: You don’t have to get in. You can just watch.
But of course, that’s not what happened.
First Glimpse: The Giant Appears
Someone on the boat gasped and pointed.
And there it was.
A shadow, slowly surfacing near the front of the boat. Bigger than I expected. Slower too. The guide simply said, “Mask on. Let’s go.”
And just like that, people started jumping in.
My heart was pounding.
My palms were sweating.
And then—I jumped.
The First 10 Seconds Underwater
It’s surreal.
You hit the water and everything changes. The noise of the boat disappears. It’s just you, your breath, and the vast blue beneath you.
I looked down and froze.
There it was.
A whale shark. Swimming right below me. Huge, calm, and beautiful. Another one appeared behind it, moving in the opposite direction.
I forgot how to breathe. Then remembered I had a snorkel in my mouth and gasped, sucking in seawater and coughing into my mask. Smooth.
Still… I couldn’t stop looking.
So… Was It Scary?
Yes.
For about five seconds.
And then—no. Not at all.
That’s the thing no one tells you. The fear melts away because of the whale sharks. Their movement is so slow, so gentle, that it feels impossible to panic. You realize very quickly that they don’t care about you. They’re not there for you. They’re just passing by.
They don’t lunge. They don’t circle. They glide.
I had one swim directly underneath me. I could see the patterns on its back, the bubbles escaping its gills. It didn’t flinch. Didn’t even look at me. And in that moment, I felt calm.
Like… weirdly calm.
What My Mind Was Doing the Whole Time
At first: What are you doing in the ocean with a giant fish? Get back on the boat!
Then: Oh my God. It’s right there. It’s huge. It’s beautiful. Is this real?
And finally: This is the most peaceful thing I’ve ever experienced.
Your brain switches from fear to awe in a matter of minutes. It’s like your senses just… surrender.
And that’s when it hits you—this isn’t just an “activity.”
This is a once-in-a-lifetime connection with something ancient.
What Makes the Sumbawa Experience Special
I’ve snorkeled in other places—Thailand, Australia, even Komodo. But this was different.
The whale shark Sumbawa experience feels raw and honest. There’s no feeding frenzy. No chasing. No bait thrown into the water. These animals come here because it’s part of their migration path. You’re entering their space.
That’s why I trusted this company. Everything about the <a href=”https://whalesharksalehbay.com/”>Saleh Bay whale shark tour</a> felt respectful. No yelling. No crowds. Just a handful of people, moving quietly, observing.
You don’t interact with whale sharks here. You witness them.
And that makes all the difference.
Is It Safe?
Yes.
But it’s also the ocean. It’s wild, open, and full of surprises.
That said, I never felt unsafe.
The guides were watching from above, there were clear safety rules, and we all kept a respectful distance. There was no moment where I felt in danger.
Scared for a second? Sure.
But never unsafe.
So Should You Do It?
Only if you’re okay with feeling small.
Only if you’re open to being completely overwhelmed (in a good way).
This isn’t a Disneyland ride. You won’t get a souvenir photo with a peace sign.
What you’ll get instead is an internal shift. A sense of humility. And a wild story that doesn’t even need exaggeration.
I came back to the boat shaking—not from fear, but from the kind of energy your body holds after doing something extraordinary.
It’s not the whale shark experience that’s scary.
It’s the moment you realize you’ve been living too long without awe.
Final Thoughts You Didn’t Ask For
Would I do it again?
Absolutely.
Would I still feel a little nervous? Probably. But now I know… that’s part of the magic.
If you’re wondering whether the whale shark Sumbawa experience is scary, here’s the truth:
Only for a moment. Then it becomes one of the most peaceful, grounding, and heart-opening things you’ll ever do.
And if you’re looking for a place to do it right, do it respectfully, and do it in a way that honors the animal, start here: Saleh Bay whale shark tour