shark diver magazine - diving with sharks - shark diving
ISSUE # 17 SHARK SPECIES; WHALE SHARK
shark stories - shark diving - pictures of sharks
whale sharks - pictures of whale sharks - diving with whale sharks
Image; Whale Shark
(article on pg. 10)

Image courtesy of Nigel Marsh
For more shark images visit; Nigelmarshphotography.com
COMMON NAMES;
 Whale shark
LATIN NAME(S);
 Rhincodon Typus
FAMILY;
 Rhincodontidae
IDENTIFICATION; Enormous size (worlds largest fish). Body scalloped (with two distinct ridges running from behind head along each flank into caudal fin. Pattern of white spots and indistinct lines on grey dorsum. Ventrum white or pale. First dorsal large. Caudal large. Mouth terminal and often open when observed feeding on plankton.
SIZE; Maximum length 18m (unconfirmed) reliably to 16m.
HABITAT; Maximum length 18m (unconfirmed) reliably to 16m.
DISTRIBUTION; Circumtropical except Mediterranean.
BEHAVIOR; Usually seen swimming with mouth agape in feeding mode. Little is known about the Whale sharks biology or migratory patterns.
REPRODUCTION; Ovoviviparous. Previously thought to be oviparous due to an eggcase containing a Whale shark embryo dredge from the bottom of the sea. This perception changed in 1995 when a Taiwanese fishing boat harpooned an 8m female containing 300 embryos. Whale sharks have been observed at Ningaloo performing figure 8 maneuvers while nose to tail. It has been speculated that this may be some form of courting behavior.
REACTION TO DIVERS; Whale sharks generally move away from the noise creatred by scuba bubbles and from physical contact. Getting too close to a whale shark often causes it to dive and 'riding' the sharks interferes with their natural behavior and should be discoraged even if local rules are very liberal. The best encounters tend to be on scuba.
DIVE OPERATOR; This article was written about the authors encounters with whale sharks while diving Sogod Bay in the Philippines.


For more information visit their website www.sogodbayscubaresort.com

EDITOR'S NOTE: Shark Diving is an extreme sport. It carries a considerable risk of personal injury or death. Do not participate in these activities unless you are an expert, have sought or obtained qualified professional instruction or guidance, are knowledgeable about the risks involved and are willing to assume personal responsibility for all the risks involved with this sport.

When planning any shark trip make sure to do your homework. There is NEVER any guarantees you will see any sharks at these dive sites. Luck and time of year are the most important factors for any shark trip.
SHARK INFO COURTESY OF ELASMODIVER.COM
CONTACT US | BACK ISSUES | SUBSCRIBE | SHARK OPERATOR | ADVERTISE | CONSERVATION | MYSPACE
Official website of Shark Diver Magazine
Copyright Tiburon Publishing Inc, © 2002-2007All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited by law.