A seven-meter whale shark pleased tourists on the beach and in the sea in the eastern part of Thailand: the giant swam for five hours off the coast of the resort province of Rayong. This was reported by The Thaiger publication.
The meeting between a group of vacationers and a predator took place at Hin Pleng, a popular diving spot, about 24 km from the coast. Tourists were brought there by diving instructor Crew Off from Toy Boat Tour. During the dive, thrill-seekers were looking at corals when suddenly a 7-meter whale shark approached them.
The innocent sea dweller swam in circles around the boat and near the divers for about five hours until the tourists got tired. Even as the boat headed back to shore, the whale shark followed it for a while before disappearing, the instructor said. According to him, this type of shark is not dangerous and looks like a tame animal.
The man has brought tourists to the same place many times in past years and believes that divers are met by the same representative of whale sharks. Every year in January and February, she often visits Hin Pleng and has become somewhat of a local legend as divers seek to meet her. For this, they arrive at Ao Ma Kham Pom pier in Kram district (Rayong province).
Earlier last month, a four-meter whale shark visited a group of tourists who were snorkeling in the waters of Koh Chang island in the Gulf of Thailand. Experts considered this case to be very rare, as whale sharks do not normally enter the shallow water. The fish swam for about 10 minutes, and then returned to the depth.
Another meeting of travelers took place three weeks ago in the popular province of Krabi. The divers were met by a 6-meter representative of whale sharks. As the animal swam under the boat, a boat operator noticed a large piece of rope, similar to a fisherman’s trawl net, wrapped tightly around its tail. The ropes cut into the body, leaving a deep wound. According to an eyewitness, the whale shark swam to the boat because it needed urgent help.
Reference: The whale shark, the largest of the existing sharks, as well as the largest of the fish known to science — its maximum size is 12-20 meters. The nature of the fish is inert, and lethargic, it feeds on plankton. It does not pose a threat to humans, it does not attack, which is what divers who often swim close to it willingly use.