Whaleshark - sounds

[mobula]

Hi,
2007 we have been on two liveaboards to Malpelo in a row, one of it was a rebreather only trip (Inula-diving.de). Arvid, the owner of the Inula, has one special divesite called Bajo Suani. It is a small pinnacle coming out of the blue and starts on 20m and it is very famous for muray eels. You sometimes find 30 on the rocks like a snakepit. We went down and right after the beginning 2 whalesharks appeared. One of them turned and swam towards me and I had put down my head to prevent the collision . When it came close we all heard loud noises not really like Dolphins but same kind of sounds. I have it on video. The whole group heard this sound and we were pretty sure that the whaleshark was the source. The dingi drivers didn't see any dolphins around. Dolphins were absent during the whole time (13 days) around Malpelo.
Did someone ever hear sounds from whalesharks? Is that possible? There wasn't any other solution for us. All divers knew Dolphin sounds. If they are around you here their noises always. Here it was only once.

 

[mobula]

So, under this link you find a clip. It is the original sound at the beginning and then your hear it 2 more times.

What do you think? Doesn't really sound like a Dolphin.

www.marinevideo.eu - Whaleshark - do they make noise

 

[smellzlikefish]

That's really cool, Mobula. I know bony fish will use their swim bladders to make noises and some Chaetodonids produce noises to communicate with each other, but I have never heard of sharks producing noises like that. You are right, it definitely doesn't sound like dolphins.

 

[smellzlikefish]

BTW, amazing video!

 

[LIVES4SHARKS]

That is a beautiful video and amazing if that is the whaleshark making that sound. Contact the SRI and see what they may say about it. They also may be very interested in your video just for that fact. Thank you so much for sharing that!

media@sharks.org

Carolyn:shark2:

 

[mobula]

OK, I will send it. Thank you. I forgot that this happened (2007) but found it within my videoclips again and wondered if one knows something about whaleshark sounds. Let's hear what SRI says.

The video: it is only part of a video which I edited for the liveaboard Inula. For more impressions you can try this link:

http://www.marinevideo.eu/mediadeta...le=Malpelo+-+a+shark+adventure+(high+quality)

Thank you for your feedback

 

[samaka]

Check with this girl. She's a real expert.

WHALESHARK RED SEA

I bet she'd be very interested.

...a...

 

[mobula]

Done, thank you

You are in Hurghada-Egypt? Do know Christian Heylen?

 

[mobula]

This email info@whalesharkredsea.com doesn't work. I used the link on the website. Do you have another one?

 

[samaka]

Yeah... I just checked with Helen and apparently there's something wrong there at the moment. Try this helschambers@hotmail.com

Yes I'm in HUrghada. Where does this Christian Heylen work. If he's been here a while I probably know him. But the name doesn't ring a bell right now.

Cheers
...a...