Gigashark Whale Shark Galapagos by Jason Buchheim

Nikon D200

So I decided to take a panoramic shot of the worlds largest fish as we swam together at two knots up current in 100 feet of water. Somehow, while holding a large dual flash camera and kicking, kicking, kicking to keep up, I was able to grab 7 frames of this 'Gigashark' as we swam away from the 'Theater' at Darwin's Arch. Darwin Island, Galapagos. Unfortunately, two of the seven frames did not focus... And you don't get any re-try's of this, so I publish it anyways. I really wish my autofocus had been turned off, it just could not find enough contrast on the whale shark midsection's white underside.

I will have to go back and try again someday. It was a thrill and more trying. You literally have to strap yourself to the rocks to stay put in the high currents and wait for these amazing creatures to come out of the blue. Then you release your reef hook and swim out into the blue to meet your new friend.

Whale sharks are baleen feeders, they eat plankton, filtering it out of the water column. They are the largest of all fishes, up to 50 feet long. I believe this one was surely more than 35 feet. Notice the size of the Galapagos shark by its ventral fins.