Whale Shark
Rhincodon typus
Sighting evidence at Maumere Bay WWII Wrecks, Flores
Photo: Simon Pierce · CC BY-NC
Whale sharks visit Maumere Bay from November through March, attracted by the same plankton blooms that made the bay a major Japanese naval staging post in WWII. The unusual experience of watching a 10-meter whale shark cruise over a coral-encrusted wartime wreck is unique to Maumere and has slowly attracted more serious divers to this underexplored bay. Encounters are unguided and unregulated compared to Donsol, meaning sightings require luck but also offer a rawer, more unscripted experience.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Whale Shark is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.