Snorkeling with Whale Shark

Here we leave you 5 curiosities about this incredible animal:

1. It is not a whale, but the largest fish in the world

This enormous creature can grow up to 40 feet (12 m) long. But despite its size, the whale shark is considered a "gentle giant."

2. Eating is a laborious task

The whale shark is a filter feeder and cannot bite or chew. It is capable of processing more than 1,585 gallons (6,000 liters) of water per hour through its gills. Their mouth can be up to four feet (1.2 m) wide but the whale shark's teeth are so small that they can only process small shrimp, fish and plankton using their dermal denticles as a suction filter.

3. It can live for many years

Less than 10% of whale sharks born are thought to survive to adulthood, but those that do can live up to 150 years.

4. Swims slowly but migrates great distances

With the exception of the Mediterranean Sea, the whale shark can be seen in all the temperate and tropical oceans of the world as it migrates thousands of miles to different areas to feed. But it moves slowly, traveling at speeds less than 3 miles per hour (4.8 kph).

5. Like other sharks, it is threatened

Many sharks are accidentally caught in fishing gear or intentionally hunted for their fins, considered a delicacy in Asia. In addition, their ocean home is in danger and they face threats such as climate change that warms the water - which affects both habitats and prey and changes in the shark population - and plastic pollution - which can be ingested or cause the whale shark to become entangled.

Come and discover it with Scuba Alux!