Whaleshark, Ovalau Watersports, Fiji Islands

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Whale shark in the Fiji Islands (Rhincodon typus)

The whale shark inhabits all tropical and temperate oceans. It lives pelagic in the open seas, ussually in the upper water coloum where plancton is plenty.
It is a slow moving filter feeding shark and the largest known fish. The largest confirmed individual had a length of 18 meters.

Whale sharks pose no significant danger to humans as they are ussually docile slow moving fish. Younge whale sharks are known to be courious and may be inquistive towards snorklers.

Known feeding and congregation locations include sites at Nigaloo Reef, Maldives, Lakshadweep, Philipines, Yucatan, Mocambique...

Sightings in Fiji are usually random encounters as they are not know to congregate at sites in Fiji.
They are also difficult to spot as the ussually do not break the watersurface.

Encounter with a Whale shark
The whale shark on these photos has been encountered on the return dive trip Wakaya Lailai to Levuka about 4 miles off the Wakaya reef.
We went with the boat right over it bevor we even noticed it. But boat did not touch it as we were afraid of first.
We slowed the boat and turned the engine off.

The whale shark came swimming towards the boat. It was a small Whale shark of only about 5 meter.
We carefully entered the water and the shark swam right towards me, I could see markings and parasites around its mouth and had to think about how small its eyes are compared to its size.
The shark swam right up to us, as of being curious and wanting to check us out. It came so close I touched it on its side. Like sandpaper just as all sharks. It was indifferent to the touch, did not react.
The shark stayed a little, then started to descend and disappear into the blue.