REPORTED STORY

During the first dive there were no observations of odd behavior by any of the whale sharks. On the second dive, at around 11:00 am, the diver made a backwards roll entry and, upon entering the sea, hit one of the whale sharks. The group of 10 divers, (2 guides and 8 recreational divers), were spread out in the area, at a depth of 10 meters (33 ft), allowing the whale sharks to swim between them. During the dive the largest whale shark in the area began to act differently. It appeared to be swimming directly at divers with its mouth wide open. As it would get close the shark would open its mouth but multiple divers were able to swim out of its path. After being in the water for 40 minutes the diver was attempting to photograph this interaction of the whale shark and the other divers when the whale shark turned suddenly towards her. The diver recalls being hit hard by the whale shark. Then the diver was sucked into the mouth of the whale shark, head first, and half-swallowed up to her thighs. The diver struggled to escape the whale shark's mouth for a brief moment before the shark spat the diver out, forcefully spinning her about in the water. She then swam over to one of the dive guides. Upon assessment this diver had a minor abrasion to the back of her hand.