Dubai: Have you ever wanted to take a selfie with a whale shark?
Well, on his official Instagram handle @faz3, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council posted a series of videos and pictures of himself swimming with “giant sharks” and called it a “truly breathtaking experience”.
His one-minute video was watched by more than 50,000 people in less than 30 minutes.
In the video, Shaikh Hamdan is seen swimming beside these enormous creatures, who continue on their way. He is seen swimming near the underbelly as well as near the pectoral fin of the creature.
Whale sharks are harmless sea-creatures that filter-feed plankton and other small fish. They are typically found in warm, shallow waters, making the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman suitable habitats. Find out what other shark species live in the Arabian Gulf.
The produced clip has aerial and underwater shots of the giant fish, found along the Faroe Islands, which are located in between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic, halfway between Norway and Iceland.
Faza received over 2,000 comments on the video. @faz3galaxy said: “I env you because I am not brave like you. I too want to see these amazing things...” Echoing the same, @kyriak888 said: “...They are such amazing creatures! It is a matter of respect and appreciation...we should keep the oceans clean and allow these gorgeous creatures to roam freely...”
Whale sharks can grow to 40 feet or longer and Shaikh Hamdan’s proximity helps showcase their difference in size compared to a human being. In the video post, Shaikh Hamdan added: “The more we swim with these creatures, the more we understand, respect and appreciate them.”
These sharks are found in open oceans, far from shallow shorelines, which is why encountering a whale shark is a rare experience for divers and snorkelers.
Facts about whale sharks:
1. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), whale sharks are an endangered species.
2. They can live to be over a 100-years old.
3. They are marked by a unique checkerboard pattern on their bodies.
4. Whale sharks have about 3,000 tiny teeth, but they don’t use those teeth to eat. They are filter feeders!
