GENTLE GIANTS OF THAILAND (2021)
Director - Editor - Underwater Cameraman
Thailand is home to an incredible array of marine life, but perhaps few are as famous as the Whale Shark. These giant behemoths can grow up to 18 meters long, making them the largest fish on planet earth. Despite their size they feed on the smallest of crustations and plankton, making them harmless for divers that know how to keep their distance.
This particular whale shark encounter is simply the best one I've ever experienced. This was captured during covid, when a bunch of bored dive professionals decided to jump on a dive boat, ride through a thunder storm just to arrive at the dive site and having the whole thing all to ourselves.
The whale shark was just waiting for us, as the first divers jumped in and immediately started shouting for everyone else to get in. Whale sharks may seem slow and docile, but believe you me if they want to speed up or get out of your way, it takes them just a couple flicks with that powerful tail!
It was particularly curious and comfortable around us, most likely owing to the fact that nobody was chasing it or causing it any distress at all. It kept coming up to us again and again, perhaps curious to find out what these weird creatures are that exert bubbles.
After enjoying two full 60+ minute dives with it, we decided to pack it up and head back to land with everyone excitingly flickering through their cameras to see what they had captured along the way.
I got some of my very best whale shark footage ever this day, with perfect blue visibility and no pesky divers in the background. And while I do love this edit, there are many shots that didn't make it including one of my favorite ever long takes where me and the whale shark managed to pull of a perfectly choreographed 60 second shot.