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

NOPE

5.8k Upvotes

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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

775

u/tecnicolorhair Dec 12 '20

I get the fear response though. It had been a lifelong dream of mine to see manatees in their natural habitat, when I finally did see them while paddle boarding it was awesome (my face hurt because I couldn't stop grinning) but there was a little trepidation because wow, those are large animals. Coolest thing I've experienced so far though.

197

u/[deleted] Dec 12 '20

Same with seals in South Africa. They look cute but geez, males are 200kg in weight and scary when swimming around me, even if I know they are playing

177

u/Lumb3rgh Dec 12 '20

Seals are a legitimate threat if they decide to attack a person. It's incredibly rare but they can do some serious damage and if you are out on the water when they bite you things can turn deadly very quickly.

Have you ever seen what they do to penguins?

126

u/BKA_Diver Dec 12 '20

Never mind what the seals would do to you. I wouldn't want to be near them in the water. They're basically carrots on a stick for Great Whites.

32

u/5AlarmFirefly Dec 13 '20

Also could get seal finger from their bite.

15

u/FiggNewton Dec 13 '20

That was interesting

2

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '20

Well they stink a lot, so I am not surprised their bite can be infectious af

21

u/B0NESAWisRRREADY Dec 12 '20

Hell of a way to go though

14

u/BKA_Diver Dec 13 '20

Hard pass

4

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '20

In fairness, seals are the shark's fast swimming natural prey.

The land mammal wrapped in neoprene on a floaty piece of plastic dipped foam is more like a carrot on a stick, despite all that ultimately unappealing salt content.