Whale Shark
Rhincodon typus
Sighting evidence at Plateau de Mamoudzou, Mayotte
Photo: Simon Pierce · CC BY-NC
Whale sharks enter the lagoon between November and February, possibly drawn by the extraordinary plankton productivity of the double-lagoon system, and are regularly seen from the surface cruising the plateau at depths of 4 to 10 metres. The calm enclosed nature of the lagoon allows prolonged snorkel encounters that can last over an hour with a single animal. Their presence inside an enclosed lagoon rather than open ocean is unusual and makes Mayotte one of very few places where swimmers of all experience levels can access whale shark encounters safely.
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.