Sumbawa, Indonesia - whale shark encounter.
The day dawned beautifully for our whale shark tour. Oh wait! It's 1.00am. It's the middle of the night. It's pitch black as we make our way in our dinghy to the shore to meet the bus that will drive us 2 hours through the night to Jambu in Saleh Bay. Once there, still in pitch blackness, we load into a boat and motor, with no lights on, for another 2 hours. The first light of day shows just as we arrive at the location for our whale shark encounter.
Saleh bay in Sumbawa is known for it's whale sharks and the shrimp fishermen on their spider boats are cashing in on one of the ocean's most spectacular creatures.The spider boats hold back some of their catch to keep the whale sharks hanging around for us tourists. This is becoming standard practice to create a tourism opportunity for the area. Works for me 😁
spider boat
whale shark popping up for a look
Whale sharks are not whales, they are sharks. The biggest sharks in the world. You could be forgiven if the thought of jumping in the water with them causes you some anxiety. They may grow up to 18 metres in length and they may weigh up to 19,000 kgs. They may live from 70 to 130 years. They may have about 300 rows of teeth. But fear not. These beautiful creatures are plankton and shrimp eaters. Totally not interested in humans for lunch. So, bring on the whale sharks.
I donned mask and fins and jumped right in. Right on top of a whale shark. Oh my! Was it big. Humongous is probably more accurate. This creature just cruised on under me as if I was a fly that had landed on it's back.
What magnificent animals they are to watch in the water. They are very curious and gentle giants that seem to find us as interesting as we find them. As long as there were shrimp in the water they were happy to swim around, under and right next to us. For such enormous creatures, they managed to move around us with so much grace, never knocking into us or swatting us with their substantial tails.
It is impressive sight, to see the water sucked in through a metre wide mouth then expelled through the gills. To see the muscles and diaphragm working to suck in up to 6000 litres an hour. It takes alot of plankton, coral spawn and shrimp to feed these babies. Their markings are very distinct with each shark having individual patterns, a bit like a human fingerprint. Their underside is white with the top side being a series of white dots on grey, with darker grey stripes. Very striking.
sucking in thousands of litres an hour
filtering plankton and shrimp
I can't begin to describe the awe I felt at being so close to 2 of these phenomenal creatures. To swim alongside, above and around them was a privilege not many people get to share. Every minute in the water with them was a minute to cherish in my heart. To be mere centimetres from a gaping mouth and a huge eyeball, to watch the water being sucked in then pumped out of the gills, to feel the swish of water as they gently powered their tails to move past me. What an extraordinary and mind blowing experience.
Elephants have long been my favourite animal, but I think the whale sharks are now sharing the top of that list.
Until next time, Watusi Woman - enamoured with whale sharks, out.
Wow.. Sharon.. it's so amazing.. to look at the whale shark up close.. wow.. =) I think in the future u can be doing tours since you know all these great spots.. =)
Haha, maybe I could do tours. It was certainly very special to be in the water with these gorgeous creatures.
Having seen the movie Jaws, I had always assumed that sharks are vicious creatures and can attack humans. Is it safe to be so near these creatures?
These beautiful creatures are so gentle and actually very careful not to bump into us. Quite incredible. There are 3 plankton eating sharks in the world so not interested in having us for breakfast. The whale sharks are the largest of them.
OMG , it a shark . What a superawesome experience you have . Keep on rocking @watusiwoman
Superawesome is a perfect word to describe it. Keep on rocking... pun intended? A yacht never stops moving haha
hoho.. i wish someday i ll dare and have opportunity to do the trip like you . :).
I hope that you get to have the opportunity as it was the most incredible and amazing experience.
wow this is amazing my friend, I really like them, I can only see them on the television screen and of course really want to be able to see directly like that, do you feel a little afraid to be by his side?
I was not afraid to be next to the whale shark, I was too busy being in awe.
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Really this is big fish and looking so different. I love it this fish. And also good effort to click the photos.
Yes indeed, biggest shark in the world. It was great to be in the water with them.
wow, what a fascinating creatur of the sea. I don't know what it feels when I will encounter this, I will freak out maybe
Haha, yes it would be easy to freak out if one of them popped up next to you while you're having a swim.
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It's amazing,only these words can be Out of the ordinary,only these words I can tell you,you seem very brave to be around him.
I have to admit it.
You're a very brave person I tell you,you seem to be very brave to be around him.
I have to admit it.
You're a very brave person
Thanku @furkanmamplam . There were plenty of fishermen and other people with us. It's easy to be brave in a group.
We have whale sharks here in Cebu (Philippines), and they too were drawn in by the fishermen feeding them krill. Your photos of them with their mouths open are fantastic and scary at the same time.
If you have the chance to swim with them then do it. It was incredible to be right next to them. I have to admit, when 1 of them came straight for me with an open mouth I did have slight panic moment haha
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Thanku @mnurhiver . The whale sharks are the biggest in the world, so very impressive.