Whale Sharks

[AbuK]

Can anyone advise me if there are any scientific institutes studying whaele sharks?

From what I have read they are solitary animals, occasionally spotted in pairs.

Last Friday (30 May) I swum with at least 8 (I counted), the skipper from his vantage point on the bridge counted 10. The group seemed to consist a range of ages from babies to juveniles and adults.

The 3 dives that day paled into insignificance after such a unique experience.

Anyway I'd like to report what we saw that day as either the information I have read on these superb aniumals is inaccurate or such a sighting is rare. And who does one lobby to ensure their protection, they are friendly, docile and majestic animals, I understand they are threatned as are all our fish.

Crazy world we live in.

 

[docmartin]

you mean while i was sitting here staring out the window at the wet november -uh, sorry, june- sky you were snorkeling with 8 whale sharks? no, i am not jealous :banging:

where was this? i just saw my first one in south africa. they said it was only a baby (15-20 ft) but it certainly was the hugest fish i have ever seen.

what did the captain say? had he seen that many before?

they are definitely threatened because people kill them for their fins. i read that at richelieu rock (thailand or burma?) they have not been sighted the last couple of years and apparently this used to be a hot spot. unfortunately, i can't answer your question. hopefully someone else can help.

 

[Zept]

...is an Australia not-for-profit involved in marine conservation. There is some information about whale sharks and a photographic database at http://www.ecocean.org/. I think they would be interested, and they might be able to put you in touch with other research organisations.

Hope that helps,

Zept

 

[cmdasia]

If it was in Thailand then it would be best to report it here:


www.whalesharkthai.com/english.shtml

 

[annie]

Try www.sharkresearch.com. Where did you see them? Where's Jeddah? I did some swimming with whale sharks in Western Australia and I never heard of a big group of them like that - I doubt if it is a common sight.

 

[AbuK]

Thanks for the comments guys!

Saw them in the Red Sea, about an hour north of Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), just south of one of the best dive points near here a place called Abu Madafi.

Apparently Whale Sharks are sighted here at this time of year but they are by no means common and some guys who have been here from 3 - 5 years with over 500 dives logged, have never seen them before, furthermore such a large group is very much unique according to those who have seen them. So I did feel blessed.

I shall most definitely contact both Ecoocean and shark Research so again thanks for the suggestion.

Saudi may have a downside (no lovely ladies and no booze) but the diving here is awesome. There is talk that it will open up, indeed visas are issued for groups of divers. If anyone is interested check out the Middle East forum.

As to whale sharks I was out diving near the same spot today and other than a baby white tip none were to be seen.

 

[kelpmermaid]

are on my list of things I'd like to see. AbuK, take a look here:

http://www.sharks.org/whale_shark/index.htm

 

[AbuK]

thanks kelpermaid, I filled in the sighting form on the page.

As I said earlier they are awesome fish, do hope you manage to dive or just snorkel with them! We did not even bother diving as there was no need snce they were all feeding at the surface, quite dauting when you are swiming towards them with their mouths agape!

 

[SA-Diver]

You were most fortunate.

We dive Mozambique and had the good fortune of being able to snorkle with Whale Sharks on our last two trips.

They were also swimming very close to the surface on both occasions which meant we only needed to snorkle.

A friend of mine has not seen one at the same dive site in three years of diving with about 50 dives a year.

 

[AbuK]

SA Diver you can talk mate!

I only saw them once, but you were with them twice! Still i have my fingers firmly crossed for spotting them tomorrow or Friday...

You should think about reporting them to the orgainsation Kelpermaid suggested, they have a sighting form requesting details, especially tag numbers if yours had been - ours were not.

One of the guys has uploaded the photos to a webiste www.athito.com/boat_dive if anyone wants a look - the underwater ones are quite good.