Massive whale shark swims right over scuba divers

Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are the largest shark, and indeed largest of any fishes alive today. They feed on plankton and travel large distances to find enough food to sustain their huge size, and to reproduce. Whale sharks are found in all the tropical oceans of the world. Their white spotted colouration makes these gentle giants easy to distinguish, and popular with snorkelers and divers at sites where they aggregate off the coast.

The maximum size of whale sharks is not known, but could be as large as 20m. Females give birth to live young but this has never been observed. Where pupping occurs and where the youngest animals situate remains a mystery, as they are very rarely found. Adults are often found feeding at the surface, but may dive to 1000m. Whale sharks are protected from fishing in many countries these days, but are in decline in some areas.

These scuba divers are exploring the Galapagos Islands' seas, which are home to whale sharks every year. They float along with the currents in the waters off the coast of these more remote islands. Divers from all over the world travel to the Galapagos Islands in the hopes of catching a sight of these magnificent creatures. Only a select handful will be able to take a snapshot or video. However, these scuba divers were in the water directly in front of a massive, pregnant female as it swam straight through their group. They move beautifully, but they are not agile, and it appears that they cannot or will not change course. The shark keeps its position despite nearly colliding with one diving diver.