A superb and unique photograph featuring a gigantic whale shark just under a yacht created a lot of buzz on the internet, especially on Facebook (see photo above).
Many folks expressed their doubts regarding the originality of the image because not much details about it had been given at first.
But now, Shawn Heinrichs, the guy who snapped the photo, stepped forward to shed light on this aspect. Heinrichs claims that the “yacht-above-shark” picture is authentic and was taken several days ago at Isla Mujeres in Mexico.
Shawn Heinrichs photo of a whale shark passing beneath a yacht at Isla Mujeres, turned viral
Moreover Shawn – a diver and photographer – gave further details on his close encounter with the magnificent whale shark. “This is the place of the world’s largest whale shark aggregations,” he revealed in Facebook message. “Hundreds have been spotted in this particular location.”
How was the image taken? Heinrichs explains:
“The water was still that day and the whale shark encounters were off the charts. I saw the sharks passing close to our boat so I swam back and waited. To get a shot like this requires a lot of technical know-how and experience because focusing on an object above and below the water at the same time is challenging.
“Also, getting the horizon line level and water off the lens is an exercise in patience and determination. Go for it and see what comes up.”
Sources and more information:
• WATCH: Whale Shark Chows Down On Easy Dinner
Talk about making the most of an opportunity. A whale shark in the waters off Indonesia capitalized on the chance for an easy dinner by sucking fish straight out of a hole in a fishing net. The close encounter was caught on video by Conservation International, a nonprofit environmental organization headquartered in Arlington, Va.
• Whale Shark Learns to Suck Fish Out of Holes in Fishing Nets
Conservation International’s Mark Erdmann discovered that a whale shark has learned a clever way to get fish. The whale shark was recorded sucking the small silverside baitfish right out of holes in the large nets at fishing platforms. The video was shot at a fishing platform in Indonesia’s Cendrawasih Bay.
• Lazy Whale Shark Uses Fishing Net Like “Gogurt” Tube
• Amazing photo of whale shark navigating under yacht is real