Touch it..absolutely not!! It is forbidden in the Galapagos. If you touch a whale shark here, your diving is over for the rest of the trip. They have a protective layer on the outside of their skin. If you touch that, you can remove the protection and leave them vulnerable to parasites and infections. I think it is so wrong for any diver to touch any marine life outside of dire assistance.
Oh, I didn't know that. :) Thanks for letting me know.
Most of the time whale sharks are spotted in the Red Sea, you see videos of divers swimming with them, even grabbing on to them and "catching a ride" for a few meters. I never knew this was an issue. Are whale sharks especially sensitive or prone to such diseases or parasites?
@advance512 All marine life is vulnerable to parasites which is why cleaning stations are so great. Here, hammerheads and whale sharks 'flock' to Darwin to be cleaned by kingangelfish, etc. which = huge schools of cleaner fish who don't have to fear being dinner and divers get the privilege of seeing that abundance. I've seen turtles erect on their hind legs like a dog to give cleaner fish better access to the parasites. Think of a dog in the wild and fleas or ticks. Same with marine life.
Peter! Awsome video! Thank You Leslie, with Dive The Galapagos, for setting me up with Peter as a guide...too bad I didn't do any diving.
cholmes82000 1 month ago
omg!! beautiful!
excalibur9900 1 year ago
Unbelievable! SO close! did you touch it?
advance512 1 year ago
@advance512
Touch it..absolutely not!! It is forbidden in the Galapagos. If you touch a whale shark here, your diving is over for the rest of the trip. They have a protective layer on the outside of their skin. If you touch that, you can remove the protection and leave them vulnerable to parasites and infections. I think it is so wrong for any diver to touch any marine life outside of dire assistance.
DiveTheGalapagos 1 year ago
@DiveTheGalapagos
Oh, I didn't know that. :) Thanks for letting me know.
Most of the time whale sharks are spotted in the Red Sea, you see videos of divers swimming with them, even grabbing on to them and "catching a ride" for a few meters. I never knew this was an issue. Are whale sharks especially sensitive or prone to such diseases or parasites?
advance512 1 year ago
@advance512 All marine life is vulnerable to parasites which is why cleaning stations are so great. Here, hammerheads and whale sharks 'flock' to Darwin to be cleaned by kingangelfish, etc. which = huge schools of cleaner fish who don't have to fear being dinner and divers get the privilege of seeing that abundance. I've seen turtles erect on their hind legs like a dog to give cleaner fish better access to the parasites. Think of a dog in the wild and fleas or ticks. Same with marine life.
DiveTheGalapagos 1 year ago
This video is too cool. Wow! What an experience!
Juanita Stock
JuanitaKStock 1 year ago