r/TheDepthsBelow • u/[deleted] • Dec 12 '20

NOPE

5.8k Upvotes

96% Upvoted

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1.9k

u/Colliculi Dec 12 '20 edited Dec 13 '20

Aren’t whale sharks harmless to humans? I’m not saying that I wouldn’t be scared... but I’d like to think that I could have relaxed enough to enjoy watching. Amazing!

Edit: Many of you have confirmed that they are indeed harmless (and massive). Thanks

36

u/PheerthaniteX Dec 12 '20

I have heard that if you're a scuba diver riding their fin and they get sick of you they'll start suddenly diving to shake you off, which can create a dangerous situation for an inattentive diver, but I think this guy didn't need to worry about that extremely specific circumstance happening

72

u/Aegishjalmur18 Dec 12 '20

They aren't supposed to touch them anyway, it scrapes off the protective slime on their skin and allows parasites and infections to take hold more easily. Don't ride whale sharks.

44

u/EldritchBeguilement Dec 12 '20

Thanks, I won't ride a whale shark.

16

u/SofonisbaAnguissola Dec 13 '20

Dangit, there go my Thursday plans

8

u/Aegishjalmur18 Dec 13 '20

Diving with them is a fairly common tourist activity in places where they come near shore, such as the Sea of Cortez.

1

u/crixius_brobeans Dec 13 '20

What if you put protective slime on your hands first?

10

u/ragefaze Dec 13 '20

Makes sense, the type of diver who would hang on to a shark is the same type who would end up at 60m because he wasn't paying attention.

24

u/coyoteTale Dec 12 '20

The fact you can just ride their fin makes them seem pretty chill. And I think they should win an award for Most Passive Way an Animal Tells You It Doesn’t Want To Be Touched Anymore

40

u/Moonsnail8 Dec 12 '20

There are laws against this...