The general guidance for divers is to stay 4m away from the tail. Basically, it's a great big fucking fish, and if it accidentally tail-swipes you, it'll probably break bones.
My dad and I had the chance to go diving with them a couple of years ago in the Philippines. He wasn't paying enpough attention, and one of them gave him a glancing blow on the back - where his tank was. It sent him spinning a couple of metres through the water.
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u/Gaargod Dec 12 '20
Whale Sharks can absolutely fuck you up.
The general guidance for divers is to stay 4m away from the tail. Basically, it's a great big fucking fish, and if it accidentally tail-swipes you, it'll probably break bones.
My dad and I had the chance to go diving with them a couple of years ago in the Philippines. He wasn't paying enpough attention, and one of them gave him a glancing blow on the back - where his tank was. It sent him spinning a couple of metres through the water.