Whale shark are filter feeders, which can be unusual for sharks. Together using the Basking Shark as well as the Megamouth Shark, these are the only filter feeding sharks in existence. As a filter feeds, the whaleshark feeds primarily on algae, plankton, larvae and tiny fish. The whale shark doesn’t use its teeth to feed, but rather its food merely glides by way of the huge fish’s gills.

The whale shark is usually a non-aggressive creature that poses no threat to swimmers, snorkelers or scuba divers. Whale sharks are actually fairly playful towards scuba divers and snorkelers. Not surprisingly, divers must stay clear of swimming in to the Shark’s mouth or finding hit by the fish’s tail, which could indeed result in some harm for the individual.