Whale shark spotted by fishermen off Phuket's southwest coast
Eakkapop Thongtub



PHUKET: -- A Video clip posted on Facebook this morning captures the relatively rare sighting of a whale shark in Phuket's waters.

The video clip, which has a length of about one minute, 50 seconds, was posted by Facebook user "Nai Lay Chao Lay Patong" (ในเล ชาวเล ป่าตอง‎) who claimed that the clip was taken on June 9, 2016, near Laem Phrom Thep cape, off the islan'ds southwest coast.

Full story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/whale-shark-spotted-by-fishermen-off-phuket-southwest-coast-57840.php

-- Phuket News 2016-06-13

Cue the Minister of Tourism.

So, why is this news?

Ah I forgot, facebook.

They shouldnt advertise the sightings. Now pesky tour operators will exploit the poor thing.

Whale sharks are not common to the SW of Phuket but see them quite often to the northeast, around Richelieu Rock. Even more popular with manta rays, and well know re such by the tour boats.

They shouldnt advertise the sightings. Now pesky tour operators will exploit the poor thing.

Not a problem, I expect the whale shark will have moved on by now.

Whale sharks are not common to the SW of Phuket but see them quite often to the northeast, around Richelieu Rock. Even more popular with manta rays, and well know re such by the tour boats.

Especially Koh Bon is popular with manta rays. But yes, we also see manta rays and whalesharks at Richelieu Rock, although the last few years Hin Daeng and Hin Muang have been better for those. And sometimes we see manta rays and whalesharks at other sites as well, a few times a year in the Shark Point area and at Phi Phi, and Racha Noi (at the right sites) still offers a fair chance of a manta ray encounter.

Whale sharks are not common to the SW of Phuket but see them quite often to the northeast, around Richelieu Rock. Even more popular with manta rays, and well know re such by the tour boats.

Especially Koh Bon is popular with manta rays. But yes, we also see manta rays and whalesharks at Richelieu Rock, although the last few years Hin Daeng and Hin Muang have been better for those. And sometimes we see manta rays and whalesharks at other sites as well, a few times a year in the Shark Point area and at Phi Phi, and Racha Noi (at the right sites) still offers a fair chance of a manta ray encounter.

By fair, you mean a tiny chance.

Whale sharks are not common to the SW of Phuket but see them quite often to the northeast, around Richelieu Rock. Even more popular with manta rays, and well know re such by the tour boats.

Especially Koh Bon is popular with manta rays. But yes, we also see manta rays and whalesharks at Richelieu Rock, although the last few years Hin Daeng and Hin Muang have been better for those. And sometimes we see manta rays and whalesharks at other sites as well, a few times a year in the Shark Point area and at Phi Phi, and Racha Noi (at the right sites) still offers a fair chance of a manta ray encounter.

By fair, you mean a tiny chance.

At the moment a real tiny chance, but at the right time of year a fair chance.

They shouldnt advertise the sightings. Now pesky tour operators will exploit the poor thing.

didnt you mean to say "pesky chinese will be EATING the poor thing"?