A magnificent whale shark—the largest fish on Earth—was recently observed off the coast of Eilat. Freediving instructor Sagi David Kabra encountered the impressive creature while diving at the Eilat Coral Beach Nature Reserve. Kabra, who was excited to document this rare sighting, described the encounter as both thrilling and memorable.
“This is a very exciting encounter for me,” Kabra remarked. “Over the past five years, I’ve had numerous sightings in the Gulf of Eilat, but this is the first one in six months. The whale shark, estimated to be about six meters or twenty feet long, came close to the shore in search of food. It’s crucial during such encounters to allow the shark its freedom of movement and to avoid any contact.”
Whale sharks, named for their enormous size, can grow up to 60 feet in length. Despite their massive proportions, these gentle giants are filter feeders that consume small prey such as zooplankton and phytoplankton. They are not dangerous to humans, making sightings like this a special and safe experience for marine enthusiasts.
* Arutz 7 contributed to this report