Marine Critters: Sharks Whale Shark Encounter, Darwin I, Galapagos On a late morning dive off Darwin's Arch, we spread out along a wall watching schooling hammerheads swim by in regular flight patterns. Alerted by the animated and quick acceleration of our guide, it seemed as if I could sense a pressure wave caused by something very large approaching. A whale shark materialized moving at speed towards me and I squeezed off three frames before realizing that I was in its path. My fourth shot was side-on after which I hastily swam backwards to avoid the side swipe of its tale. Encountering one of these graceful, filter feeding sharks leaves a long lasting impression which is enhanced by their enormity and stealth. Their camouflage allows them to blend into the surrounding water until they are very close. A life defining moment! Copyright (c) Colin Gans. All rights reserved. Reproducing any image  (in whole or  part) or text without expressed written consent violates copyright. If you have any queries regarding the use of, or the licensing of images, please email me.