Recently we had the chance to dive with not one, not two, but four whale sharks in the Derawan Islands.

The area is not new to divers, but it’s basically unexplored by liveaboards. Aggressor Fleet just started taking guests to the region this summer.

We found these gentle giants swimming below an Indonesian fishing platform commonly called a bagan. Local fishermen use these platforms to catch hundreds and sometimes thousands of fish at a time in nets. The high concentration of fish and fish oil attracts plankton, which in turn attracts these gentle giant filter feeders. The whale sharks can be seen circling underneath the bagans for hours on end. Occasionally they even try to suck whole fish from the nets or feed on leftover small fish and plankton.

Other areas, like Cenderawasih Bay in West Papua, Indonesia, have become very popular for tourists to witness this activity. With Aggressor Fleet's Derawan Islands itinerary scheduled through 2020, this area could quickly become the next whale shark hot spot.