Whale Shark – Richelieu Rock

Most people think – we can not possible have, as good a diving season as we did last year. Well looks like we will, Whale shark at Richelieu Rock for nearly the complete dive. The great thing was that we, where the ONLY boat in the area. The only bubbles we saw, where that, of our own divers. Which, for such a famous dive site was a rare occasion.

Whale sharks are the largest fish in the sea. They can reach a whopping length of 12 meters. With their huge gaping mouths  Whale sharks are a filter feeder and there main diet is plankton and tiny plants, along with other small fish that happen to be around, while swimming close to the water’s surface.

Although massive, whale sharks are docile fish. Sometime they allowing other fish to hitch a ride, like pilot fish but really they don’t mine who joins them. The other fish scavenge the food the whale shark drops. They are currently listed as a vulnerable species; however, they continue to be hunted in parts of Asia.

Why are Whale sharks being hunted?:

A single carcass is worth about $30,000. The Whale shark meat is sold for food, the fins are sold to restaurants for shark fin soup, the skin is sold to manufacturers for bags, and the oil is sold to companies that make fish oil supplements.

It’s very sad situation to think, in years to come. We might never again, see a Whale shark in our waters. As divers we are trying to stop shark fins soup being sold in restaurants. By educating customers and telling them which restaurants are serving Shark fins soup. Hoping that they will boycott the restaurant and in turn the owner will stop the sale of shark fins soup in their restaurant. Maybe money will talk and we will, all make a difference.