Recently, off the coast of Cape Cod, eight locals encountered a 25-to 30-foot whale shark! One hundred miles from the shore of Massachusets, the largest fish in the ocean swam alongside their 63-foot boat several times.
Nick Koeniger tells the Boston Herald, “It was totally surreal. We didn’t know that you could even see a whale shark in this area.” The whale shark is harmless to humans, feeding mainly on plankton. However, its size is undoubtedly intimidating. I have personally swum with whale sharks before, and recommend giving it a try.
Also, a recording of the event is online; watch it for yourself here.
You may believe whale sharks only inhabit warm waters. However, it is because that is where most people go specifically to see these sharks. Whale sharks are occasional frequenters in the Atlantic Ocean, as far north as the Bay of Fundy. In April 1828, South Africa was host to the first whale shark sighting, where the water temperature averages 64.4°F/18°C.