Whale Sharks! What is happening!?
This is the 2nd Whale shark sighting in as many weeks reported by Pattaya divers. The popular dive spot of Samae San, regularly visited on Pattaya Dive Trips, is already known for its crystal clear waters and vast array of aquatic marine life. Samae San is the best dive location when the Pattaya dive season allows, especially when compared to the other Pattaya dive sites in the area. The presence of sharks here shows that the marine ecosystem is healthy.
Just last week a video emerged (see Below) of a baby whale shark approaching a boat near Pattaya waters close to Samae san, the Pattaya Scuba diving community was thrilled to see it and has been scuba diving every day since in the hope of another sighting.
Last Week In Samae San- Whale shark Video
Yesterday was a very special dive trip, as a larger Whale shark emerged and greeted divers and snorkelers to an underwater spectacle most scuba divers only ever dream of.
What is a Whale Shark? Are They Dangerous?
No, don’t worry; although scuba divers love all sharks, even the ones perceived as dangerous, the Whale Shark is not one of them. As the largest fish in the sea, reaching lengths of around 12 meters or more, whale sharks have an enormous menu from which to choose. Fortunately their favorite meal is plankton. They cruise around and filter feed on these tiny plants and animals, along with any small fish that happen to be around.
Feeding
In order to feed, the gentle giant juts out its gaping jaws and passively swims along swallowing and filtering everything in its path.
It’s easy to spot a Whale shark with its flattened head and blunted snout. Its back and sides are light gray to brown with clear white spots among pale vertical and horizontal stripes, and its belly is clearly white. Its two dorsal fins are set rearward on its body, which ends in a large dual-lobed caudal fin (or tail).
Pattaya Whale Shark Population
Over the years Whales sharks have been seen here and there diving in Pattaya. But normally this isn’t a common occurrence by any means. Preferring warm waters, whale sharks populate all tropical seas. They are known to migrate every spring time to the continental shelf of the central west coast of Australia visiting coastal regions of Thailand on the way as they go. The coral spawning of the area’s Ningaloo Reef provides the whale shark with an abundant supply of plankton.
There seems to be more and more Whale shark sightings occurring this year whilst diving near Pattaya in Samae San. Could this be a picture of the future to come? Can we expect more encounters soon or in the future seasons? We will have to wait but the Whale shark Buzz is here for now. so let’s enjoy it.
