International Lifestyle Magazine Issue 54 | Page 20

CALL OF THE
DEEP BLUE
Wo r d s : L y n n N i c h o l s o n

The animals which live within the ocean never cease to astound me,
from those who live on the surface to those that live in depths we cannot
even reach but one of the most amazing things for me is the sheer size
of some of these animals. With no restrictions, no tanks or aquariums,
they are free to grow to their full, stunning, potential and the whale shark
is just one of these.
The whale shark, Rhincodon typus, is a filter feeding shark that is the
largest living fish species known to man. It can grow to over 12 metres
(40 ft) in length and, to put that into perspective, a fully grown male killer
whale can reach 5.8 to 6.7 m (19–22 ft.) so you are looking at nearly
twice the size!
Each one has it own, unique, markings, making them easy to identify
and spot to those who carry out research on these animals and although
an exact lifespan is unknown, it is estimated that they live between 70
and 100 years.
There is only one way to see these beautiful animals, within their own
habitat, and you need to be sure that if you decide to take this route
that you travel with a company who have the animals interests at the
forefront of everything which is the case with Deep Blue Utila.
Deep Blue are conducting one of the largest scientific research projects
ever undertaken in the Caribbean to find out more about the whale
sharks of Utila. Scientists, and marine biologists are brought in from
around the world to oversee this project. They are digitally tagging
the whale sharks to put together one of the most extensive video and
photographic libraries for all to view. Over the next 5 years they will be
obtaining new information to help in the conservation and recognition of
the whale sharks of Utila. While the project is being undertaken they will
be allowing their guests to assist by taking video footage, photographs
and by logging individual whale sharks.
You can see their research website at www.UtilaWhaleSharkResearch.
com. The project scientists and staff will brief the guests on what to look
for and will then assist with the matching of previous sightings.
You can actually tag, through photography, and be a part of this research
project, which, I think you will agree, is a wonderful opportunity for
anyone.
It was actually swimming with a whale shark that the owner had a
moment of clarity, an epiphany of the future, here is his story.

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