Five Whale Sharks appeared just offshore from Grayton Beach, Florida in the first week of August in 2009. They remained in the local waters for two days. Many of the people chartering Grayton Beach fishing boats and one group of divers photographed and swam with the whales during the two-day event. A Whale Shark is not a whale (mammal) but is a gentle, non-dangerous, filter-feeding shark that is the largest living fish species.
James Griffith, a local firefighter/diver in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida captured the beautiful underwater video. The large school of bigger fish swimming with the whale shark are cobia.
That is one beautiful video! Many thanks, Edmond and James! The water is so incredibly clear!
My bro-in-law actually swam with this group of whale sharks yesterday!! I am going fishing with him on Thursday and am keeping my fingers crossed that they will still be out there and that we might see them!
Amazing. The cobia must feel some protection from the whale shark. Also interesting to notice towards the end of the video the view of the beach. She was so close to shore. Thanks Kurt.
That is so cool, and goes to show there's so much beneath the surface that we're missing when we sit on the beach and just look at the waves coming in from the Gulf.
I was in its mouth! No really. Somebody hook a brother up. I've been seeing some neat stuff and sure, I found around 15 golf balls in the Gulf today, but a Whale shark? That's exclusive.
If anyone has any idea or dibs on where I can maybe get out to them in a kayak or other means, let me know 985-860-2377. I'm crossing my fingers for a camera soon and would love that kind of adrenailne footage.
Five Whale Sharks appeared just offshore from Grayton Beach, Florida in the first week of August in 2009. They remained in the local waters for two days. Many of the people chartering Grayton Beach fishing boats and one group of divers photographed and swam with the whales during the two-day event. A Whale Shark is not a whale (mammal) but is a gentle, non-dangerous, filter-feeding shark that is the largest living fish species.
James Griffith, a local firefighter/diver in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida captured the beautiful underwater video. The large school of bigger fish swimming with the whale shark are cobia.
Thanks Kurt for sending this! That is amazing footage and so cool! Clever way to get me out of my slump and force me to post!! I miss all of you guys and think of you often. I guess its time for me to stop in more often!
The Following User Says Thank You to CastlesOfSand For This Useful Post:
I can't thank SoWal.com enough. To get a notification about such a great event, sharing with all of us. I feel like I am part of SoWal all the time..... Thanks to all that post.
Well, I know if anybody wanted to get a WHALE of a Deal on Real Estate, call me!
:clap:
Quote:
Originally Posted by kurt
Five Whale Sharks appeared just offshore from Grayton Beach, Florida in the first week of August in 2009. They remained in the local waters for two days. Many of the people chartering Grayton Beach fishing boats and one group of divers photographed and swam with the whales during the two-day event. A Whale Shark is not a whale (mammal) but is a gentle, non-dangerous, filter-feeding shark that is the largest living fish species.
James Griffith, a local firefighter/diver in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida captured the beautiful underwater video. The large school of bigger fish swimming with the whale shark are cobia.
Five Whale Sharks appeared just offshore from Grayton Beach, Florida in the first week of August in 2009. They remained in the local waters for two days. Many of the people chartering Grayton Beach fishing boats and one group of divers photographed and swam with the whales during the two-day event. A Whale Shark is not a whale (mammal) but is a gentle, non-dangerous, filter-feeding shark that is the largest living fish species.
James Griffith, a local firefighter/diver in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida captured the beautiful underwater video. The large school of bigger fish swimming with the whale shark are cobia.
Thanks Kurt for the post, and to Edmond Alexander and James Griffith for capturing the moment for us all... the music and videography were very well done!
The first sign of whale sharks started back in may in PC, some divers I know got the first glimpse of them. Then I have heard of some off Gulf Shores also. Very rare for them to be in these waters.
I bet that was just to awesome for them to swim an to see how beautiful an amazing those animals are & to be so close to shore!!! All I can say is ..WOW...!!!! I would have loved to be there~!
Five Whale Sharks appeared just offshore from Grayton Beach, Florida in the first week of August in 2009. They remained in the local waters for two days. Many of the people chartering Grayton Beach fishing boats and one group of divers photographed and swam with the whales during the two-day event. A Whale Shark is not a whale (mammal) but is a gentle, non-dangerous, filter-feeding shark that is the largest living fish species.
James Griffith, a local firefighter/diver in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida captured the beautiful underwater video. The large school of bigger fish swimming with the whale shark are cobia.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! I'm making my first visit to Grayton Beach in September and I was already excited but this is beyond all my dreams! I'm an ocean lover that's been landlocked for way too long! Your video reminded me to breathe and dream! Thanks again! LaRita
What a spectacular event to have witnessed. Thank you so much for the incredible video. I had been a resident down in Seagrove since 2001 and stuck here in Dallas this summer. I can't wait to get back. Wish I hadn't missed that but that awesome video sure helps.
Five Whale Sharks appeared just offshore from Grayton Beach, Florida in the first week of August in 2009. They remained in the local waters for two days. Many of the people chartering Grayton Beach fishing boats and one group of divers photographed and swam with the whales during the two-day event. A Whale Shark is not a whale (mammal) but is a gentle, non-dangerous, filter-feeding shark that is the largest living fish species.
James Griffith, a local firefighter/diver in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida captured the beautiful underwater video. The large school of bigger fish swimming with the whale shark are cobia.
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The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to MiMi n MiRaMaR For This Useful Post:
Five Whale Sharks appeared just offshore from Grayton Beach, Florida in the first week of August in 2009. They remained in the local waters for two days. Many of the people chartering Grayton Beach fishing boats and one group of divers photographed and swam with the whales during the two-day event. A Whale Shark is not a whale (mammal) but is a gentle, non-dangerous, filter-feeding shark that is the largest living fish species.
James Griffith, a local firefighter/diver in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida captured the beautiful underwater video. The large school of bigger fish swimming with the whale shark are cobia.
Thank you KURT, and to all the others! On a day when I am fending off the woes of a family emergency, I get and e-mail from Kurt, by way of GOD. Life in the sea, and viewing such wonders gives me hope like no other. Thank you, Diane
Thanks for the notification regarding the sharks swimming off Grayton Beach...what an amazing video. Must have been quite an experience for the divers involved!
I was out in a one person kayak on the morning of August 7th. I was in the second sandbar off Watersound Beaches and I came upon one of the whale sharks. I had no idea what it was but thought it looked like a whale or a huge ray. It came right over to the kayak and I could see all of the fish swimming with it. It was rather unsettling being out so far by myself with such a huge creature but it was also fascinating!!!
I paddled back in and insisted that my husband go out and see it because I knew that no one would believe me without validation. When he got back to shore told me that it was definately a shark but he didn't get close enough to see what kind. We had a great time telling our great shark story all day. I am so glad to know that it was a whale shark. I wish that I had know what it was that day and I would have spent a lot more time following it.
Yesterday, Aug. 11th we followed a manatee swimming east from Watersound.
I had a fantastic week there!!!
The Following User Says Thank You to Babs O For This Useful Post:
I am so happy to see the responses to the YouTube movie I created with the underwater footage from James Griffith and still photos from Captain Larry of the Dead Fish (I love movie making). Sorry I did not mention my good friend Captain Mike Valintino in the video. I just credited the main characters.
I missed the first couple of days of Whale Shark action off of Grayton Beach and then spent 3 Days in a row looking for them in my boat. Yesterday was a payday. The charter boat Dead Fish first spotted the Whale Sharks off of the Wheel House in Seagrove beach yesterday and most of the Grayton beach launchers gathered for a photo opportunity.
Yesterday I saw the Whale Sharks live, I photographed them (poorly) and I got to touch the dorsal fin of one of the beautiful creatures when it surfaced right next to my boat. I was an amazing experience. Today is ladies day as I will take Leslie Provow, Celeste Cobina and Cynthia (my wife) out to look for them again.
Yesterday the Whale sharks were spotted around 9:30 am about a mile to a mile and a half off the beach. I think there were five whales and they ranged in size from just over twenty feet to just under forty feet long. The water depth in the area is about 60 feet.
After the YouTube post I got a call from USM's Gulf Coast Ocean Research Laboratory in Springs, MS seeking information about the sighting. I was told that the Whale Sharks have been appearing between PC and Orange Beach for a while now. Scientist there are seeking lateral left side head photos of the Whale Sharks for identification purposes. It seems that the spots pattern in the gills/pectoral fin area are all unique to an individual and can be used as "finger prints" to identify them.
Send photos to:
Eric Hoffmayer, Ph.D.
MSAFS President
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
703 East Beach Dr.
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
Ph: 228-872-4257
Kindest regards to all,
Edmond
EDMOND ALEXANDER | MEDICAL ILLUSTRATOR
Alexander and Turner Inc. Medical Illustration Studio
56 Old Miller Place
Grayton Beach, Fl 32459 USA
t 850.231.4112
f 850.231.4142
e edmondalexander@earthlink.net
Thank you for such an outstanding video. I've watched your other videos and one that stands out to me as well is Mr. Buzz.
However, the whale shark video I have watched the past 3 nights before falling off to sleep, and as iwishiwasthere said it's more calming than any drug. Again, thank you, I can't get enough of this incredible piece of work.
totally amazing, fantastic job of filming. god bless to all envolved!
Quote:
Originally Posted by kurt
Five Whale Sharks appeared just offshore from Grayton Beach, Florida in the first week of August in 2009. They remained in the local waters for two days. Many of the people chartering Grayton Beach fishing boats and one group of divers photographed and swam with the whales during the two-day event. A Whale Shark is not a whale (mammal) but is a gentle, non-dangerous, filter-feeding shark that is the largest living fish species.
James Griffith, a local firefighter/diver in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida captured the beautiful underwater video. The large school of bigger fish swimming with the whale shark are cobia.
The Northwest Florida beach communities of South Walton County on the Emerald Coast - from east to west: Inlet Beach, Rosemary Beach, Alys Beach, Seacrest, Camp Creek, WaterSound Beach, Seagrove Beach, Seaside, WaterColor, Grayton Beach, Blue Mountain Beach, Santa Rosa Beach, Dune Allen, Sandestin, Miramar Beach - When you've said SoWal, you've said it all! Directly east is Panama City Beach, and directly west is Destin. Point Washington and Freeport on the bay round out SoWal.
Looking for free SoWal stickers?If you’re not lucky enough to be at the beach, send us the number of stickers you want and a self-addressed stamped envelope to SoWal.com, 174 WaterColor Way #114, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459.
. Has anyone noticed Whale Sharks in the area before?
...I'm with ya aggieb!
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