Whale Sharks

Today we're swimming with the sharks. Not the small 'great white shark', the puny hammerheads or the 3 meter lemon shark I saw while snorkelling yesterday, but with the Whale Shark, the biggest fish in the ocean. The biggest reach 18 meters in length; by comparison, an adult humpback whale reaches 16 meters. In Exmouth the population is mainly comprised of young males.

It works like this: a spotter plane finds the behemoths, the boat manoeuvres in front of it. Lots of panic, yells, pushing and shoving and we're all in the water. Our team: team Alan gets the best views of the two Leviathans cruising at a speed one can just follow if swimming flat out. We repeat this until no one can walk anymore.

My wife, being 6 months pregnant, outswam everybody. She must be the fastest whale shark chaser on this side of the planet! A rude awakening for those who couldn't keep up with her.

My sister finds herself right in the path of the colossus who is clearly used to things getting out of his way. Yrjan swims for her life and misses the giant by mere inches. How’s that of an adrenaline shot.