Encounters with a whale shark will take your breath away. Their natures are gentle, peaceful, and generally unfazed by humans. Their mammoth bodies move with slow, rhythmic movements, typically in a straight line—a single heading. With a dazzling array of spots and stripes, whale sharks carry artwork unique to them wherever they go. They spend much of their time at the surface, cruising effortlessly just beneath the waves, but are capable of plunging to depths of over 2,000 metres. Encountering a whale shark can be likened to what I imagine encountering a submarine would be like.
Found in tropical and temperate waters around the world, whale sharks can travel great distances and are known to traverse entire oceans. Whilst little is known about the movements of whale sharks, they gather reliably in a select few locations around the world for a chance to feast on local nutrients. One of these locations is on my doorstep—the Ningaloo Marine Park—where a biannual coral spawning event offers a unique feeding opportunity. Ironically, the biggest fish in the sea is only interested in the smallest. As filter feeders, they swim with their mouths wide open, filtering huge amounts of water using their gill rakers to net plankton and other microorganisms.
”With a dazzling array of spots and stripes, whale sharks carry an artwork, unique to them wherever they go”
Generally solitary animals, whale sharks haven’t been observed to intentionally travel in packs, pods, or pairs. However, occasionally—quite by chance—two ocean giants’ paths collide, circling one another for a brief but beautiful moment before parting ways. Whilst whale sharks prefer lone travel, they are rarely truly alone or short of company. At times, entire ecosystems gather around whale sharks—from the golden trevally that ‘pilot’ for protection, to remoras that hold on for a free ride, or schools of baitfish that follow along to bountiful feeding grounds.
Currently working as an underwater photographer onboard whale shark tour operator Ningaloo Discovery, I am privileged to bear witness to the grace, beauty, and mystery of the whale shark on a daily basis. Many of the images featured below were captured on tour and wouldn’t have been possible without the Ningaloo Discovery team.
