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The Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus or
"rasp tooth" after their over 300 rows of small rasplike teeth) is the
largest fish species living today. One was caught in the Gulf of Thailand in
1925 with an estimated length of 18 meters.
In recent times, these creatures have been measured at a documented length of
twelve meters and they still remain somewhat of a mystery as they are so
elusive. Up until 1986, there were only 320 reported sightings, world-wide.
Nowadays, numerous liveaboards operators on Phuket offer whale shark tours
with a high probability to actually see those great fish in their natural
habitat.
Whale Sharks are easy to identify by the
pale dash and dot pattern on their dark upper surfaces and sides and their
nearly white undersides. This dual-shaded pattern is part of natures way
of camouflaging the animal so it cannot be identified easily from above or
below, as it tends to blend into the natural surrounding environment.
 Even
though they have a great number of teeth, these are not used for feeding. Whale
Sharks feed on planktonic animals, shrimp and small fish by filtering them
through their huge mouth much like the Blue Whale or the Manta Ray. This
necessitates their typical action of gliding slowly forward through warm,
plankton-rich tropical waters, where there is an abundance of this food source.
Unlike in most other areas of the world, in Thai waters the Whale Sharks tends
to swim in a horizontal plane. They open their mouths to form a perfect
"O", thereby enabling to filter the largest volume of water possible.
Like other filter feeders, whale sharks
must scoop up many thousands of liters of water a day and then filter it through
their giant set of gill slits, just to get enough plankton to maintain their
body weight. Until today, nobody knows how many years it takes for a baby shark,
born alive with a length of 60 centimeters, to become an adult, full-grown
specimen. It is currently believed that sexual maturity is achieved in about 20
to 30 years and that life spans reach one hundred years or more.
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Reef Preservation
Phuket, a main destination for tourists traveling to
Southeast Asia, attracts more than two million visitors each year. This volume
of tourist arrivals, together with the busy deep-sea port in Phuket Town and the
presence of a major international airport have had a significant influence on
the natural environment.
In global terms, pollution has become a major problem over
the past two decades with conditions deteriorating globally. The United Nations
Environment Program (UNEP) points out that spreading of algal blooms (red tides,
that appear in various forms and deplete the water of oxygen, producing
lifeless zones), coral bleaching, and a decline in the quantity and quality of
marine foods are all symptoms of coastal degradation.
With a long coastline and a tropical climate, Thailand is
blessed with coral reefs that serve as habitat and breeding grounds for an
immense variety of sea life. From the air, the reefs appear around the islands
in the form of beautiful, turquoise rings fading into the deep sea.
These rings, the coral reefs, provide ideal sites for scuba
diving and snorkeling, not only on Phuket itself, but also in the surrounding
regions from the border areas of Burma down to Malaysia. Within this area there
are many famous dive spots and destinations for day-trips and liveaboards.
Many of these reefs remain in good condition and continue
to display a great variety of marine life. With the growing influence of the
tourist industry and increasing numbers of visitors however, many of these reefs
are at risk for degradation.
Scuba diving and snorkeling by an increasing number of
participants have brought about a growing awareness of the importance on
conserving the coastal resources. Divers both foreign and Thai, keen to preserve
the beauty of the underwater world, are working to increase this awareness in
the hope that this unique and beautiful environment can be kept in its current
pristine shape. Eco-awareness is now a part of the Thai school curricula and the
district of Phuket is making efforts to improve the situation.
On Phuket, as in many other places in Southern Thailand,
the first step toward an organized preservation effort directed at the coral
reefs has already been taken. Environmentally oriented divers have now set up
mooring lines offshore, so that visiting vessels do not damage the reefs with
their ankers but instead can secure themselves to the already existing lines.
The reefs are also being maintained by visiting divers who clear refuse and pick
up abandoned fishing nets and plastic from the reef areas.
If you are going on a dive trip with an organized tour, ask
them about their policy regarding nature conservation in the waters of Phuket -
and if you pay attention to the normal rules of behavior for diving in a reef
environment (see everything, touch nothing), you can return home with a clear
conscience after having visited the natural treasures of the Andaman Sea.
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