The Ultimate Guide to Swimming with Whale Sharks in Sumbawa’s Saleh Bay

Looking for one of Indonesia's most extraordinary marine wildlife encounters? Swimming alongside the world’s largest fish in Sumbawa is an experience unlike any other.

Unlike many famous global hotspots where whale shark sightings are strictly seasonal, Saleh Bay offers the rare opportunity to swim with these gentle giants almost all year round. Spanning a massive 1,459 square kilometers and connecting to the Flores Sea near Moyo Island, Saleh Bay is a vast body of water. So, how exactly do you find a whale shark in such a massive bay? The secret lies in local knowledge.

Why Saleh Bay is a Global Conservation Hotspot

The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) can grow over 12 meters long and live up to a century. Despite their massive size, they are harmless filter feeders surviving on plankton and tiny fish. Globally listed as Endangered by the IUCN and fully protected under Indonesian law since 2013, these creatures are treated with utmost respect here.

Between 2024 and 2025, Conservation International discovered neonatal (newborn) whale sharks in the bay. This groundbreaking finding suggests that Saleh Bay isn't just a feeding ground, but a crucial nursery for baby whale sharks, making it a highly protected and globally significant ecosystem.

The Legend of the "Pakek Torok" (The Deaf Shark)

Long before eco-tourism arrived, local Sumbawa fishermen had a unique nickname for these giants: Pakek Torok, which translates to "the deaf shark."

For decades, whale sharks have gathered around the traditional floating fishing platforms known as Bagan. Every morning, as fishermen haul up their nets filled with small fish, the whale sharks arrive for a free breakfast. In the past, fishermen considered them a nuisance and tried to shoo them away. However, the giant fish would stubbornly ignore them—leading locals to believe they were entirely deaf.

How to Get to Saleh Bay

• By Air: The fastest route is flying into Sultan Muhammad Kaharuddin III Airport (SWQ) in Sumbawa Besar. Direct flights are regularly available from Bali and Lombok.
• By Land & Sea (From Lombok): Take a 2-hour ferry ride from Kayangan Port (East Lombok) to Poto Tano Port (West Sumbawa). From there, it is a scenic 2-hour overland drive to Sumbawa Besar.
• To the Bay: From Sumbawa Besar, you will drive to Labuan Jambu Village, where local boats will take you directly to the floating Bagan before sunrise.