Whale Sharks

Not a Whale but a VERY LARGE SHARK

Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are the largest shark, and indeed largest of any fishes alive today. They feed on plankton and travel large distances to find enough food to sustain their huge size, and to reproduce. Whale sharks are found in all the tropical oceans of the world. Their white spotted colouration makes these gentle giants easy to distinguish, and popular with snorkelers and divers at sites where they aggregate off the coast.

The maximum size of whale sharks is not known, but they are know to be as large as 60 feet. Females give birth to live young, but this has never been observed. Where pupping occurs and where the youngest animals situate remains a mystery, as they are very rarely found. Adults are often found feeding at the surface, but may dive to 1000m. Whale sharks are protected from fishing in many countries these days, but are in decline in some areas. (From WWF)

It was amazing.  At one point, I was up against the Zodiac and it swam right to me…we were eye to eye (see the video below).  With it’s HUGE mouth it came up and turned.  They are gentle giants.  What an unforgettable experience.