I always say that one of the best parts of my job is learning new things. While working on the Neon Squid book Secrets of the Ocean: 15 Bedtime Stories Inspired By Nature, I spent a chunk of time researching whale sharks on the Ningaloo Reef off the coast of Western Australia. These magnificent creatures are the world’s biggest fish. While they are most commonly seen in the 13-39 foot (4-12 meter) range, they can reach a whopping 59 feet (18 meters) long! 

When I was researching, I never dreamed that I would get the chance to see these gentle giants in the wild. But when a work opportunity brought my husband to Australia, I decided to piggyback onto the trip and explore the Ningaloo Reef in person. Since I often talk about Australia and marine life during school visits, it was a no brainer to learn more about life on this incredible fringing reef. 

August 14, 2025 was the big day. It was quite windy and the ocean was “swelly” according to our guides. Although I am not a super confident deep ocean swimmer, I followed directions and stuck close to the instructors. It was amazing to get to swim only meters away from the whale sharks. These filter feeders are not interested in (or capable of) eating people. They swim with their wide mouths open, feeding on plankton and small fish. What magnificent creatures! The whale shark I swam near was a female and was about 4-5 meters long. Each whale shark has its own unique pattern of spots and stripes, which scientists can use to identify them when researching.

Thanks to my publisher Neon Squid for giving me such a fascinating assignment. I am so grateful that I had the chance to see a marine animal I had researched and written about in the wild.