FACE TO FACE with a Whale Shark

While diving in the Philippines off of the Tubbataha Reefs with a group of friends, the videographer Karl had an incredible experience. Karl was amazed when he saw a huge whale shark approaching him. Not many get the chance to see these amazing animals in the wild.Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park lies in a unique position in the centre of the Sulu Sea,150 kilometres (93 mi) southeast of Puerto Princesa City,and includes the Tubbataha and Jessie Beazley Reefs. It protects an area of almost 100,000 hectares of high quality marine habitats containing three atolls and a large area of deep sea. The property is home to a great diversity of marine life. Whales, dolphins, sharks, turtles and Napoleon wrasse are amongst the key species found here. The reef ecosystems support over 350 species of coral and almost 500 species of fish. The reserve also protects one of the few remaining colonies of breeding seabirds in the region. Whale sharks are a slow-moving, filter-feeding carpet shark and the largest known extantfish species. These beautiful creatures are know to live to approximately 70 years of age.The whale shark is found in open waters of the tropical oceans and is rarely found in water below 21 °C (70 °F).They feed almost exclusively on plankton and are not known to pose a threat to humans . Any injuries sustained from these animals is generally human error. Their immense size does require extreme strength in their tail for mobility. Imagine getting in it’s path on a stroke? Karl mentioned about the experience “while descending in an extremely strong current I came face to face with this magnificent Whale Shark. More than 20 feet long, the whale shark circled us, then came back very close. We came as close as 2 feet from her! She actually came to see me, she then «cuttled» my body (like a Cat !) ! I had the chance to look right into her immense eyes, and follow her body right to the tail !! What a feeling!