Whale Shark: So Good In Sogod
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If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in the water. - Loren Eiseley
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I wish I can take credit for taking this photo. But then if I did, I would not be in it. 
In February 2008, my friends 
and I joined a trip organized by our dive instructors. Destination- Padre Burgos (Sogod Bay), Southern Leyte, Philippines. The area is said to have some of the best and most intact dive sites because it is still not on the main tourist trail. We were told about the occasional sightings of whale sharks (rhincodon typus) in Sogod Bay but there was really no guarantee that we will ever see one on that trip. I didn’t care about the dive sites. I just wanted to see a whale shark. It was the only reason I signed up for that trip. The rest of my friends were probably thinking about the same thing.
We set off early from a resort in Padre Burgos in search for our whale shark on our second diving day. We were told that encounters in that area were not as regular as compared to the previous weeks. But we were all determined and willing to spend the whole day to search for what we were there for. We came to party with the whale sharks. There was nothing that can stop us.
After 
spending almost 3 hours traversing the waters of Sogod Bay, we finally had some good news. We got word from another boat just a click from us that they have spotted a whale shark. We headed to their location immediately. The whole group was suited up, with mask and fins in place and cameras in hand long before we got to the spot. As we reached the site, all of us just jumped right into the water like a bunch of crazy divers! All 17 crazy divers! We scared the poor whale shark away and it descended slowly out of sight. The first encounter was close, but not quite.
Whale sharks are plankton eaters. The water was a bit gloomy and full of plankton and jellyfish on the surface that day so there was still a good chance it will approach the surface again because of the abundance of food. True enough it came back a few minutes later to feed. 
This time we were a bit more organized and we tried as much as we can to keep some distance so as not to scare the gentle giant away. It stayed with us longer this time. It was about 6 meters in length and much less than the size of a full-grown one. I was amazed at the large size of its gills, five pairs that extended across its lateral surface nearly the full width of its body. As I kept swimming with it, it opened its giant mouth, which was lined with small teeth- hundreds of rows of them. Interestingly, these are not used for biting. The whale shark is one of the three living shark species that is a filter feeder. It was swimming close to the surface of the water scooping up mouthfuls of plankton and jellyfish rich water. Upon closing its mouth, the shark simultaneously opened its gill flaps, forcing the water out and trapping jellyfish, small krills and phytoplankton in the process.
Ranging from 40 cm. (smallest ever recorded) to 13.5 meters (largest ever recorded), whale sharks are the largest members of the cartilaginous fishes. Not only is the whale shark the largest shark, it is also the largest fish in the entire ocean. Yes, the whale shark is a fish, not a whale as what its name implies. 
The whale shark has and enormous mouth that can reach a width of 1.5 meters, but it’s not designed to bite off people (Whew!) unlike those of the Great White sharks. Its mouth is at the very front of its head unlike other sharks, which have their mouths on the underside of the head. It’s wide flat head has a rounded snout, small eyes, five large gill slits, two dorsal fins, and two pectoral fins. Its tail has a top fin that is larger than the lower fin. Yellowish markings on very thick dark gray skin best distinguish the whale sharks from other sharks. According to some biologists this skin feature serves as a camouflage for the whale shark when it preys on shoals of fish. The camouflage spots on its skin, especially concentrated on its head, resemble a shoal of fish, thus attracting approaching fishes instead of scaring them away.
A little later we encountered our second and third whale shark. One was a juvenile and the other one was larger than the first one we saw. They were just circling the area as they continued to feed while we were circling around them enjoying the spectacle. I got so close to the biggest one and looked at its small eyes, located on the front of its flattened head. It was looking at me! It was almost as if this magnificent animal acknowledged my presence. It was amazing, wonderful, beyond words – the most spiritual thing i have ever experienced.
After three hours in the water with the gentle giants, we were all beat but stoked. We decided to call it a day. Everyone in the boat was smiling. We came hoping to see at least one whale shark. The stars were all aligned, we saw three. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience; never have I been so close to such a majestic beast. It was simply magical. It was the most beautiful creature I have ever seen. And it dwells only in the water.
nice pic.
thanks for dropping by wallesa.
You are not only a good photographer, you are a good writer as well. For a moment I got excited din just with the thought of seeing this whale shark, and I’m not even a diver…
@jomjom – thank you jom. you should go there one day. you don’t have to be a diver to see them.
hoping for a whaleshark encounter in our sogod bay dive trip next month…
@cbartazo- they should still be there. i hope you see them too.
I can’t believe you spent so long with the whale shark! I’m so jealous. I’ve been lucky enough to dive with them on several occasions but it’s usually only a matter of seconds or minutes, not hours. I agree, it is really spirtual to have the opportunity to dive with whale sharks.