Whale Sharks

[pointsurfbaja]

I started spear fishing and snorkeling with a friend of mine that is really skilled. I am just beginning. We were out in some deep blue clear warm water and had a chance to swim with some whale sharks. How common is this? They actually stopped and let us hold onto their fins and go for a short ride.

[Doc Ed]

Around December to May, in the bay of Donsol in the Philippines, lots of whale sharks can be seen. Local laws prevent snorkellers from latching onto fins because these activities might eventually scare the fish away - which are a big tourist draw in an otherwise sleepy town. Even scuba is prohibited around them, for the same reason I believe.
The boatmen in the area are adept at finding them and letting you jump alongside them. It is indeed a great sight to see something the size of a bus heading your way. After several encounters with them however, I would caution against getting too close to their tails - they are after all capable of whipping back and forth (they are fish after all...) and if you get hit, well, too bad.
Welcome to the board! :D

[pointsurfbaja]

Hey thanks for the welcome.

I actually had a hold of the tail. Fortunately behemoth wasn't going too fast and we just strolled along for a few seconds just barely below the surface. This was 50 miles into the pacific just off of the coast of Baja California Sur. Have you ever dove those areas.

[Doc Ed]

Hey thanks for the welcome.

... Have you ever dove those areas.

As much as I would've liked to vary my diving locations, I've got to be true to myself: I'm an avowed warm tropical water wuss :D

this is a great board. Take the time to post an introduction in the introductions and greets area, and try checking out the regional forums for other divers from your area, and the activities that they've got planned.

[Venus]

No, no, no :no

I doubt it stopped and 'let us hold onto their fins and go for a short ride'

This is a living breathing creature which is not not not a toy for you to play with

Please don't do it again :m16:



They actually stopped and let us hold onto their fins and go for a short ride.

[sam miller]

Have dove all over Baja--but not 50 miles off shore.

In 1948 the great diver Dr Hans Hass thrilled the world with his B&W movie "Under the red sea." In one portion of the movie he swam the lenght of the whale shark underwater, looked into the eye of the animal and surfaced--That was diverdoms first encounter with a whale shark. Since that time it has become very common, especially in Baja.

Good luck and be careful with your Baja travels.

sdm

[holdingmybreath]

No, no, no :no

I doubt it stopped and 'let us hold onto their fins and go for a short ride'

This is a living breathing creature which is not not not a toy for you to play with

Please don't do it again :m16:

ahh geezz.... go tell that to cat and dog owners too.. gimme a break.

[Rich (UTAH)]

We were out in some deep blue clear warm water and had a chance to swim with some whale sharks. How common is this? They actually stopped and let us hold onto their fins and go for a short ride.


Hey Pointsurfbaja,

What an fantastic experience! I've read about lots of encounters of other divers and whale sharks all over world. So coming across whale sharks isn't that rare, but it is awesome and something divers will never experience unless they dive in areas frequented by whale sharks.

I had my own experiences snorkeling with whale sharks in the open ocean near Utila Island in Honduras. We came across several different sharks that day both large and small.

I will second the advise to be careful of the tails. While snorkeling, one large whale shark (longer than our 35' boat) was gently swimming toward me with a mouth that looked as wide as I am tall. It was an awesome sight. He turned right and down just feet before he reached me and my mind quickly did the math that I needed to move or be hit by tail. I kicked away as quick as I could but didn't get away before that very large tail brushed me. No harm done and a memory to last a lifetime.

It is awesome experiences like you had that keeps divers of all types coming back.
Make sure you jot that one down so you can share it with the family down the road.

[dutchpickle]

Maybe a bigger problem is nicking the shark's fins or tail with the prop.

The ones around Donsol are sometimes found to have damaged dorsal fins and tails.

[dpbishop]

When I did a whale shark trip out of La Paz, They were very explicit in saying not to touch the Whale Sharks, as it might spook them & cause them to absquatulate. Of course, this was a situation where 6 swimmers are surrounding the shark. I must say the WS didn't seem to have the same concern about not touching the divers.

In a situation such as you describe, I doubt that it amounts to serious harassment of the WS. They have the speed to dust you off they don't like your company.

[vel525]

i've snorkled with whales sharks and it was an incredible experience. one of the divemasters told us not to touch them because these animals along with lots of other fish have a membrane that protects them and that we would take it off if we touch them. was that just a story to keep us from touching them?

oops, just realized i bumped an older thread. sorry :D

[visibilityunlimited]

Absquatulate? I rarely have to resort to a dictionary but you made me have to with that one. :)
(It's ok I like learning new words)

[Plantasia]

That's totally awesome - they are magnificent animals, for sure. But I have to echo a couple of the other posters here about not touching them for the same reasons. I snorkeled with them as well in Mexico this past July and we were also specifically told not to go within 2 feet (I think it was 2 feet, can't remember) of them, let alone touch them. It was absolutely amazing just being near them! I plan to do it every summer.

[cstephens13]

I'll be in Belize, and Honduras next week and am hoping to see some, it would totally make my trip.

[Zippsy]

i've snorkled with whales sharks and it was an incredible experience. one of the divemasters told us not to touch them because these animals along with lots of other fish have a membrane that protects them and that we would take it off if we touch them. was that just a story to keep us from touching them?

oops, just realized i bumped an older thread. sorry :D

I'm bumping an older thread just to prove that I did try to search for the answer before asking.

I am trying to find out if the "don't touch them because you'll wipe off the membrane" is just a DM story, as noted a way to stop people from touching them, or if it is based on the truth. I could not find an authorotative answer on the net with my weak searching ability so I am asking marine biologist friends. While waiting for them to reply, I thought I would search too. Anyone know the answer for certain? Is the any marine biologist site that I can refer to that answers the question why we whould not touch them - other than it will scare them away? Thanks.

[carrielsal]

I saw one once a couple of years ago in the Gulf of Mexico. It hung out by the boat while we were diving. I swear it was posing for pictures!

[surfsol]

freedove with whales sharks over the summer and shot some cobia off the back

[daniel1948]

I am trying to find out if the "don't touch them because you'll wipe off the membrane" is just a DM story, as noted a way to stop people from touching them, or if it is based on the truth.
Everywhere I go, trip organizers and guides always ask us please not to try to touch the wildlife. It makes sense to me. Some animals are inherently dangerous to us, some carry diseases and/or might bite if they feel threatened, some are fragile and might be harmed by our touch, some become a nuisance or dangerous if they become habituated to human association.

Domesticated animals are different because they are accustomed to us, and in the case of house pets generally enjoy being touched. Most wild animals do not want human contact.

If you find a definite answer to your question, please post it here, as I'd like to know. But regardless of the answer, I would encourage people to touch nothing but the water when swimming, snorkeling, or diving, simply out of respect for creatures who may be frightened or agitated by our touch.

Daniel

[ickis]

i heard a story from my DM that two of his friends went diving in thailand with a video camera looking for whale sharks.
they didnt find anything for a very long time and the camera man turned to the other guy to tell him they should end the dive. all of a sudden, a whale shark comes behind them (the camera man doesnt see it) and the other guy starts waving his arms like mad and spewing bubbles trying to warn him.
in the last moment he gets the point, ducks and gets a long long recording of a whale shark belly :)

there are 2 kinds of divers in this world: those who got to see a whale shark, and those who didnt :)

its a magnificent animal, dont even take the chance of threatening it, even though researches and many many testimonials decalre them as friendly and playful.