Open wide: The diver who nearly got swallowed by a whale shark

By Daily Mail Reporter


Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water...

This diver almost got sucked into the mouth of a massive whale shark while it fed on thousands of plankton.

The shark, the sea's largest fish, is actually incredibly docile. The relieved diver escaped from the encounter unscathed and continued to enjoy the presence of the extraordinary animals.

Jaws: This diver almost got sucked into the mouth of a massive whale shark as it fed on plankton


The photograph was taken during a feeding frenzy where more than 600 of the 40ft animals gathered to feed on tuna spawn.

Other amazing pictures from the session taken by photographer Mauricio Handler show 'shark suckers' - other fish attached to the animals as they swam through the sea.

Mr Handler travelled to Isla Mujeres, in Mexico, and used high-tech equipment to capture the incredible moments underwater.

Whale sharks have mouths up to 1.5 metres wide that contain up to 350 rows of teeth. Despite their size, they do not pose a risk to divers.

Each year they converge in water off Mexico where they filter feed by sieving plankton from the water. They swim with their huge mouth open sucking masses of water filled with spawn into its jaws.

BFGs: Whalesharks, the sea's largest fish, are actually very docile

Mr Handler, a 49 year old father of two, said: 'The picture of the diver staring into the gaping jaws of the shark was an incredible adrenaline rush.

'I led an expedition of photographers and when you're down there with the fish it is like another world.

'On our last day I was taking a photograph of a whale and it ended up swimming at my photographer friend.

'They don't have very good eyesight but the diver managed to get out of the way.

'If he had have been sucked into the massive mouth the shark would have just spat him out.

'The sharks return here each year to feed on the tuna who spawn billions of eggs. This year there were about 600 and it was amazing to see.

'They are beautiful animals and are incredibly docile. Once I was accidentally hit by a whale shark when I failed to get out of the way in time while it was feeding.

'It gave me a good whack as it went by and I certainly felt it. I also got some great shots of shark suckers which hitchhike on to the fish.

'It's quite disgusting, but they attach themselves on to the sharks with large suction discs and feed off the creature's excrement.

'As long as they remain hooked on a ride they will have a constant source of food and can remain attached even at high speeds.'

Mr Handler, from Maine, in the U.S., added: 'We use very hi-tech equipment to capture a very raw moment on camera.

'I feel as if it is my job to show people what they have never seen before. I'm there trying to get a unique angle so I put myself on the edge, right in the action.

'I want people to realise these animals are here but one day they will not be. We are treating the ocean like a supermarket and not allowing it to heal itself.'

Open wide: Whale sharks have mouths up to 1.5 metres wide that contain up to 350 rows of teeth

Majestic: These photographs were taken during a feeding frenzy where more than 600 of the 40ft animals gathered to feed on tuna spawn


source:dailymail