Whale Shark In Utila
And after this, I promise not to bore you any more with dive lore. Here’s a brief video clip shot during our trip to Utila last month.
The island is best known for being on the migration path of whale sharks (the largest fish in the ocean). We were told when we arrived that the odds of seeing one were extremely low – wrong time of year, water a bit too cold, and other factors. That was fine – we had good whale shark footage from Belize last spring, and didn’t really need any more.
One day around noon, returning from our second dive, our boat captain suddenly swerved out to sea. He had spotted a “boil” in the distance – a patch of water seething with small fish, rising to the surface in thousands to escape something. As we approached the boil, he told us quietly to have our snorkels and fins ready, and to be prepared to go over the side quickly. He pointed the boat at what seemed to be an open slit in the ocean, cut the motor, and we drifted towards a big grey shape.
Then…well, watch the clip.
Sweet.
I was snorkeling off of Kailua beach in ‘05 and I got within a couple of feet of a sea turtle, but wow!
Very cool!
Farting sharks no less!
The video made me realize that I have been far too critical of SL’s flatulence in the bunker.
Beautiful video. I also recognized your significant other from a workshop I attended a few months ago. Looks like a nice trip!
I was struck at how much the whale shark looks like an oversized tadpole. Very graceful though.
And while I think you are crazy for getting in the water near anything that big, keep the footage coming.
What a beauty! I didn’t think sharks could “hover,” though…unless the current at the top level was especially strong in that area?
Nope, the current was almost imperceptible. While most pelagic sharks have to remain in motion to keep oxygenated water flowing through their gills, the whale shark, as a filter feeder, can pump water over their gills when at rest or when hanging in the water, vertical, to feed. (You see that when we first spot the shark, on the surface).