i just got off the boat from a trip out to swim with the whale sharks and it was like nothing i had ever done before. it is a not to be missed peak life experience.
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| not my photo |
it was exciting and scary at the same time. they are massive animals [up to 40ft] and swimming along side of them can be intimidating. when you look down and see one of the massive fish surfacing under you its just unnerving. there's no way to get out of its path.
fortunately they are harmless to humans so getting into the water with them is safe. unfortunately, they are harmless to humans and some people treat them more like a domesticated pet than a wild animal.
my first trip out was with a conservation group so i was well briefed on both etiquette and research being done on the species. it's really amazing what they've learned about these fish and how much they don't know. check out wwf profile and nat geo profile
i swam with sharks before but it was more like a petting zoo where the sharks are fed and domesticated or seen sharks while diving [ok.... the sharks on the GBR Australia were a little bit intimidating]. still, the largest shark i've seen while i was in the water was only about 9ft [3 meters]. later, in a social setting, when someone mentioned her experience of diving and touching one of the whale sharks it was awkward. i was thinking, ummmm i don't think you are supposed to touch them.
for those of you who thought me crazy to mingle with the mountain gorrillas and think swiming these guys was just as crazy, let me tell you that i have another crazy wish... one day to dive with whales.
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