Gigantic whale shark floats among scuba divers at Darwin's Arch

Scuba divers at Darwin's Arch reported seeing more than 20 whale sharks across seven dives, and one large whale shark swam slowly through a group allowing close photos and video.

Scuba divers visiting the base of Darwin's Arch in the Galapagos encountered multiple whale sharks during a series of dives. The article reports that over seven dives the group sighted more than 20 whale sharks, and that one very large individual swam slowly through a group of divers, allowing close photos and video. The Galapagos area around Darwin Island is fed by three colliding ocean currents that bring upwelling and nutrients, which the article says supports abundant marine life. The account describes local cleaning stations where smaller fishes and other sharks remove parasites and remoras from whale sharks. Observed details: - Divers entered the water at the base of Darwin's Arch and reported more than 20 whale shark sightings across seven dives. - One large whale shark swam slowly through a group of divers, turned toward them, and allowed photographers to swim alongside and record video. - The article describes whale sharks as the largest species of fish, noting the largest recorded individual measured 18.8 m (almost 62 feet). - Feeding behavior is described as filter-feeding: they swim with open mouths and trap fish eggs, krill, and small fish in baleen plates (comb-like structures) as whales do. - The report notes that whale sharks visit Galapagos cleaning stations where wrasses and other species remove parasites and that remoras attach and detach while hitching rides. Summary: The reported encounters highlight that the waters near Darwin Island can host large numbers of whale sharks, aided by nutrient-rich upwelling from colliding currents. Undetermined at this time.