Whale sharks sightings in the Red Sea :)
Found a forum talking about the subject and apparently it has occurred quite a few times and they're starting to log the encounters, here's one of the members' response:
"Since the Whale Shark Awareness RED SEA Project got underway in June reports have been coming in from El Gouna, Hurghada, Sudan and North as far as Sharm and Tiran.
Dive centres are getting involved by distributing leaflets and contact cards to encourage divers and snorkelers to report their sightings and take photos for the ID Library. The dive centres are also selling T shirts to promote the project.
The latest sightings were in the navigation channel around the area of the Thistlegorm, the whale shark swam alongside a liveaboard - the same group of divers had encountered another whale shark the day before at Shark Reef in Ras Mohammed Marine Park so were ecstatic, the photos suggest it was a different one to that seen on the surface. The guide on board was particularly thrilled as he has seen three this year - two of which only made a brief appearance.
Whale Shark sightings have been reported in the Red Sea every month since Sept 2006 with the exception of Dec ( bit cold out! ) and the increase of reports for July suggest that the project is working well as more people learn about the photo Id Library.
Archive video footage and previous photos are being sought as well as photos from the recent sightings... at the moment the Awareness Team are playing catch up but all the progress so far seems to suggest that there will be some positive photos very soon - we are on the way to find R-008!
Dive centers who are involved receive sms sighting reports whenever there is a positive sighting to increase the possibility of getting photos.
If any readers are based in the Red Sea and are able to help by becoming an "Official Spotter" or you would like to get your dive center involved please contact
info@whalesharkredsea.com
"Since the Whale Shark Awareness RED SEA Project got underway in June reports have been coming in from El Gouna, Hurghada, Sudan and North as far as Sharm and Tiran.
Dive centres are getting involved by distributing leaflets and contact cards to encourage divers and snorkelers to report their sightings and take photos for the ID Library. The dive centres are also selling T shirts to promote the project.
The latest sightings were in the navigation channel around the area of the Thistlegorm, the whale shark swam alongside a liveaboard - the same group of divers had encountered another whale shark the day before at Shark Reef in Ras Mohammed Marine Park so were ecstatic, the photos suggest it was a different one to that seen on the surface. The guide on board was particularly thrilled as he has seen three this year - two of which only made a brief appearance.
Whale Shark sightings have been reported in the Red Sea every month since Sept 2006 with the exception of Dec ( bit cold out! ) and the increase of reports for July suggest that the project is working well as more people learn about the photo Id Library.
Archive video footage and previous photos are being sought as well as photos from the recent sightings... at the moment the Awareness Team are playing catch up but all the progress so far seems to suggest that there will be some positive photos very soon - we are on the way to find R-008!
Dive centers who are involved receive sms sighting reports whenever there is a positive sighting to increase the possibility of getting photos.
If any readers are based in the Red Sea and are able to help by becoming an "Official Spotter" or you would like to get your dive center involved please contact
info@whalesharkredsea.com
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