Passengers on a wildlife boat from New York City got to experience something very special. They saw two whale sharks, with one surfacing just a few inches from the boat, giving everyone a clear look at its spotted back.
The sightings happened Monday, Aug. 31, during a 24-hour trip to Hudson Canyon aboard the American Princess. The boat left from Pier 8 in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, and traveled roughly 100 miles into the Atlantic.
Chris St. Lawrence, a naturalist on the trip, was able to record the first shark as it came to the surface. Passengers can be heard cheering and clapping in the video before someone says, “That was nuts.”
Seeing one whale shark would have been exciting enough, but the group ended up spotting two. American Princess Cruises shared the video and noted that the trip happened one day after International Whale Shark Day.
One Whale Shark Swam Right Next to the Boat
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At first, the shark’s spotted back can be seen moving through the clear water next to the boat. It comes close enough for everyone to get a good look before swimming down and disappearing.
A second whale shark appeared later in the trip. American Princess Cruises did not say how large either shark was, although the first one looks massive next to the boat.
Whale sharks do occasionally visit the waters around Hudson Canyon. Still, the company said seeing one was very rare for its trips, especially since the sharks spend much of their time too far below the surface to spot from a boat.
Whale Sharks Eat Plankton, Not People
The name whale shark can be a little confusing. They are sharks rather than whales, and they are also the largest fish in the world.
According to NOAA Fisheries, they can grow up to 46 feet long. Thankfully, they do not eat people. Whale sharks are filter feeders that survive mostly on plankton, krill, fish eggs and small fish.
The sharks appeared near Hudson Canyon, the largest underwater canyon along the Atlantic coast of the United States. The New York Aquarium says the canyon is home to whales, sharks, sea turtles, fish and deep-sea coral.
The group saw plenty of other wildlife during the 24-hour trip. They also spotted a leatherback sea turtle, yellowfin tuna and a humpback whale with her calf.
Tickets for the Aug. 31 trip cost $375 per person. Of course, wildlife sightings were not promised, so these passengers got especially lucky on this trip.