It’s Shark Week! And for the 30th anniversary of the week-long TV programming block created by the Discovery Channel, Dubai’s Crown Prince, Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum (more commonly known as Fazza to his 6.5 million Instagram followers), has decided to go swimming with actual sharks. The thrill-seeking royal, who has made his love for wild animals evident (remember when he went diving with an elephant?), shared a video to his Instagram page last night as he got up close and personal with a school of whale sharks.
In the one-minute clip, Sheikh Hamdan is seen swimming alongside three of the enormous filter-feeding fish. “Swimming with these giant sharks is truly a breathtaking experience, one that is difficult to put into words. The more we swim with these creatures, the more we understand, respect and appreciate them. #SharkWeek,” he captioned the now-viral video, which has already accumulated 290,000 views since its upload. While many took to the royal’s comment section to express their concern, it is important to note that despite its size, the whale shark does not pose a serious threat to humans as it feeds almost exclusively on plankton. So if the traditional beach vacation begins to feel a bit drab…
Here, in honor of Shark Week, we list the top places to swim with the big fish.
Oman
The Gulf country is considered one of the planet’s premiere diving locations, with the whale shark season (running through September and November) being a top highlight. Dive centers like SeaOman offer to take thrill-seekers out to see and swim with the filter-feeding fish, who migrate to the Gulf in search of warmer waters.
Belize
During late spring, particularly around the full moon, the whale shark frequently visits Belize’s UNESCO-protected barrier reef, which is one of the longest in the world, to feed on the eggs of the Black or Cubera snappers.
Philippines
Don’t forget your GoPro or selfie stick when you get up close and personal with the largest fish in the sea, which generally arrive to Donsol Bay between November and June to feed and breed.
The Dominican Republic
The Caribbean nation is widely known to be a haven for snorkelers seeking impressive marine life. Samana Bay offers several snorkeling excursions to not only see the majestic whale sharks, but the opportunity to come eye-to-eye with dolphins and humpback whales too.
Now Read: What HH Sheikh Hamdan Got Up To on These Remote Islands
