Massive Whale Shark Creeps Up Behind a Swimmer and It's Intense
I am scared of the ocean. Bodies of water in general aren't for me, but I love marine life. I love to admire them from afar, on video, or in aquariums. You just never know what's going to happen to you in the ocean!
Like, what if a whale shark creeps up on you while you're swimming? That's exactly what happened to one swimmer recently, and even though it was definitely a little scary, it was also pretty awesome:
@foxnews A woman in the Philippines got an unexpected surprise when a massive whale shark approached unnoticed and nudged her arm while she posed for underwater photos.
original sound - Fox News
Fox News shared this clip of a woman in the Philippines. She didn't see the whale shark when she started swimming, which is a feat: these creatures are absolutely massive!
Related: ‘Basking Shark' Spotted off the Coast of San Diego Looks Like It Belongs in a Museum
She was minding her business, posing for a photo underwater, when the whale shark swam up on her like it was no big deal. It even nudged her arm, which is the coolest part: I wish I knew what a whale shark feels like!
After it nudged her, it went back to doing its own thing, swimming away like it didn't just give her the biggest fright of her life! It didn't even seem to mind bumping into her; I wonder if this happens a lot. It seems like a pretty touristy area.
Are Whale Sharks Dangerous? What to Know About These Gentle Giants
This is really cool, but it's also really dangerous. Ultimately, she's lucky she wasn't hurt! It wouldn't have been her fault; she didn't provoke the whale shark in any way, but things still could have ended badly.
Whale sharks are not dangerous or aggressive toward humans under normal circumstances. If you provoke them or try to mess with their calves, they will get defensive, but it's highly unlikely that a whale shark would go after you otherwise. However, that doesn't mean they're not dangerous. You could get hurt if:
- It hits you with its tail.
- It pushes you too hard.
- It breaches the surface, creating dangerous waves.
Though whale sharks are gentle giants, it's best to avoid getting too close if you see them in the water. They don't know their own strength, and you just never know what might happen. Thank goodness all this whale shark wanted was a photo bomb!
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This story was originally published April 22, 2026 at 8:00 AM.