Diver almost gets swallowed by whale shark
A diver has almost been swallowed by a whale shark during a feeding frenzy.
The whale shark is actually the world's largest fish and have mouths up to 1.5 metres wide that contains 350 rows of teeth. Despite this, they're very docile creatures and feed on plankton.
They eat by sucking vast amounts of water into their mouths where they filter feed plankton.
This photograph was taken in Isla Mujeres, Mexico, where more than 600 of the 12 metre animals converged to feed on tuna spawn.
The photographer Mauricio Handler said taking the photo of the diver staring into the jaws of the shark was "an incredible adrenaline rush."
"I led an expedition of photographers and when you're down there with the fish it is like another world.
"On our last day I was taking a photograph of a whale and it ended up swimming at my photographer friend.
"They don't have very good eyesight but the diver managed to get out of the way.
"If he had have been sucked into the massive mouth the shark would have just spat him out.
"The sharks return here each year to feed on the tuna who spawn billions of eggs. This year there were about 600 and it was amazing to see.
"They are beautiful animals and are incredibly docile. Once I was accidentally hit by a whale shark when I failed to get out of the way in time while it was feeding.
"It gave me a good whack as it went by and I certainly felt it. I also got some great shots of shark suckers which hitchhike on to the fish.
"It's quite disgusting, but they attach themselves on to the sharks with large suction discs and feed off the creature's excrement.
"As long as they remain hooked on a ride they will have a constant source of food and can remain attached even at high speeds."
The American photographer said he feels it's his job to show people things they've never seen before.
"I'm there trying to get a unique angle so I put myself on the edge, right in the action.
"I want people to realise these animals are here but one day they will not be. We are treating the ocean like a supermarket and not allowing it to heal itself."
