HOW TO SEE THE WHALE SHARKS OF QATAR

A new expedition cruise unlocks the secrets of Qatar’s coastline, offering zodiac rides among a rare congregation of whale sharks. In this interview, we discuss some of the tour’s highlights

Elusive and migratory, whale sharks are mysterious creatures. Catching a glimpse of their dotted fins is no easy task, but Discover Qatar’s first expedition cruise will change this: a unique itinerary will take travellers to a marine zone — usually closed to the public — in the north east of the country to see the world’s largest gathering of these gentle giants. Angus Tandy, head of product at Discover Qatar, answers some questions.

What prompted the launch of this expedition cruise?

Qatar has amazing attractions on land, but the sea experience offers something unique to the region. The major attraction beneath the waves are the whale sharks, and the only way to experience this spectacle properly is via an expedition cruise. But, by bringing an expedition cruise here, we’re also able to take guests into Khor Al Udaid — or the Inland Sea, as it’s commonly referred to — where sand dunes from the desert dissolve into the water. There are also islands along the coast that lend themselves to exploration focused around migratory birds and coral reefs. The north of Qatar was a major coastal trading hub in the 19th century and there are great places around the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Al Zubarah. There are stories from our waters that are not often told.

What can guests expect from the whole experience?

Brigadier General Mohamed Al Jaidah, the lead whale shark research scientist in Qatar for the past 15 years, will host sessions as they’re cruising to the north east coast of Qatar, and we’ll also be hearing from marine biologists. The following morning, guests will head out on Zodiac rigid inflatable boats to explore. We won’t be swimming with the whale sharks; we’re there to protect them and tell their story, not to invade their space. It’s going to be really important we keep a distance and adhere to some of the strictest protocols when working with wildlife in an expedition setting. In this particular environment, you can see up to 500 whale sharks in one location, so you’ll see the fins, you’ll see the tails — they’ll be under the boat, they’ll be swimming next to you; they’ll be in all sorts of different locations.

The whale shark is an endangered species. What do you want people to take away from this experience?

We’d like them to understand more about the whale sharks and what’s important for their habitat. Despite all the research that’s been done in recent years, the body of knowledge concerning whale sharks is still limited compared to that around more ‘mainstream’ animals. We’d like to tell their story and explain why it’s so important and why they aggregate in the hundreds in this particular area. The water temperature is perfect, hovering around 27C for around six months of the year, and that creates a flourishing ecosystem. There’ll be exposure to dolphins, sharks, reef fish — it’s a really varied selection of animals that people will encounter out there due to that richness in the ecosystem.