Divers Riding Whale Shark

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Jack Hammer

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A story on scuba divers riding a whale shark in Indonesia popped into my feed today. I didn't save the link and am unable to find the original story.
Basically the local RAID group reported this to officials and another story said arrests were made, no names listed.

I find it sad to see a group of divers harassing marine life, even worse its an endangered species.

Link to random video on YouTube...

 
People get arrested for riding whale sharks? I am all for keeping the ocean pristine but thats rather ridiculous IMO
 
People get arrested for riding whale sharks? I am all for keeping the ocean pristine but thats rather ridiculous IMO
What is ridiculous is thinking it's OK to harass marine life like this - I'm glad they got arrested and hope they have to pay a large fine as well!
 
If someone rode a tiger shark would you be crying about that too?
 
I think that people should be arrested and should get severe fines for such behavior. I was always taught not to touch any marine life, always watch how you swim in order not to ruin corals. We should think about future generations not extinguish life forms. Whale sharks are endangered species, my blood was boiling when I saw such divers' behavior.
 
Thats your general rule not mine. Interaction is fine is along as you do it in a responsible manner. You probably don't even understand the supposed risks to the shark do you?

There is nothing wrong with interacting with a whale shark, it doesn't harm them. There is worry that you could rub off its protective slime layer but thats with ALL fish, not just a whale shark, and regardless of what your "friend" told you its not easy to rub the slime off of a 2 pound fish, let alone a whale shark.
 
I think that people should be arrested and should get severe fines for such behavior. I was always taught not to touch any marine life, always watch how you swim in order not to ruin corals. We should think about future generations not extinguish life forms. Whale sharks are endangered species, my blood was boiling when I saw such divers' behavior.

Yea thats what you were taught. Some people are taught to beat their kids too. Doesn't mean its correct or right. That whale shark isn't hurt at all, and much like a dog it may have enjoyed the human interaction.

Docile or not, if that shark felt threatened it wouldn't be feeding
 
Yea thats what you were taught. Some people are taught to beat their kids too. Doesn't mean its correct or right. That whale shark isn't hurt at all, and much like a dog it may have enjoyed the human interaction.

Docile or not, if that shark felt threatened it wouldn't be feeding

It seems that we have completely different understanding about nature and human interaction with nature.
 
There is nothing wrong with holding onto that shark like they did. They were not above the water line, so rubbing the slime off would be almost impossible. Also riding the shark above the water line would make it vulnerable to injury, because its bones are used to holding its weight below the water line, not above.

This is basic stuff. Nothing they did is going to destroy marine life for our children.
 
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