March 5, 2026Updated March 6, 2026, 7:54 a.m. ET
A Costa Rica tour group this week skilled a mesmerizing encounter with a whale shark measuring 15-plus ft within the emerald shallows off Guanacaste.
The accompanying footage was captured Monday by information Jesus Rueda, whose translated video message reads, “I am so lucky, seriously!”
Whale sharks, the world’s largest fish, are filter feeders generally known as mild giants, which may measure 60-plus ft.
So the whale shark in Rueda’s footage, possible a juvenile, is small by whale shark requirements however nonetheless huge in comparison with different kinds of sharks.
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Whale shark sightings happen seasonally in Costa Rica, particularly within the southwest past the Osa Peninsula. But sightings are unusual.
Guanacaste is in northwest Costa Rica. Most whale shark sightings on this area happen at islands widespread amongst scuba divers.
Rueda’s footage was shared by NTG Costa Rica, which boasted: “A truly spectacular moment was experienced at Nacascolo Beach, where none other than a majestic whale shark, the largest fish in the world, was captured [on video].”
Teletica reported that Rueda was getting back from a tour with 18 passengers when the group encountered the whale shark and spent 10 minutes observing its conduct. Some of their reactions might be heard within the video.
