Be Gentle To Giants

16/03/2024

03/03/2024

Happy World Wildlife Day! Today’s theme is digital innovation within wildlife conservation.

Just like our fingerprints, every whale shark has unique individual markings. By taking photos of each whale shark’s unique spot pattern, scientists can distinguish individuals and track their movements, overall health, and distribution. 🦈

You can help crucial research by submitting your photos to the Remember, if you are joining this important research, make sure you are following the Code of Conduct.

We can wherever we encounter them, especially knowing every individual is unique.

Be Gentle To Giants

19/04/2023

https://travelution.media/2023/02/12/support-grows-for-a-code-of-conduct-to-safeguard-the-gentle-giants-of-the-south-ari-marine-protected-area/

In order to protect the magnificent marine life of the Maldives, a campaign urging tourists to select tour operators who have endorsed a new whale shark code of conduct was launched this week. The campaign, which was started by […]

19/04/2023

https://www.muchbetteradventures.com/magazine/community-tourism-adventure-maldives-leakage/

Pinky Productions Chris Scarffe Film & Photography
Richard Rees-Khan Blue Marine Foundation Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme

There's a reason White Lotus name-dropped the Maldives at the end of season two...

27/02/2023

The whale shark code of conduct can be distilled down to four main principles:

🚤 Speed

Vessels should keep their speed low (less than 10kts) and should never join an ongoing encounter

🔊 Sound

Whale sharks are disturbed by noise. Engines should be off or idle and tourists should enter the water smoothly and calmly.

🤚 Space

Give the shark space. Keep at least 3m from the shark, do not obstruct the shark or cause it to change direction. Most importantly, do not touch!

🔬 Support

Take lots of photos! You can submit your photos to the local research group, or enter them into the global whale shark database. This information can provide researchers with valuable data that can help to protect the sharks.

Find a tour operator following this code of conduct and flying the flag here:

https://www.begentletogiants.org/maldives

22/02/2023

The code of conduct for swimming with whale sharks program was launched in the Maldives by the Blue Marine Foundation last week. The code of conduct film for the Maldives was produced by a collaboration between Chris Scarffe Film & Photography, Pinky Productions, the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme and Blue Marine Foundation

These videos are part of a larger initiative that we have created together called Be Gentle To Giants, which aims to educate tourists and tour operators in best practices when interacting with marine megafauna in hotspots around the globe.

To learn more visit our website: https://www.begentletogiants.org

11/11/2022

The code of conduct is based around 4 main principles.

SPEED, SOUND, SPACE, SUPPORT.

Things to consider during your encounter..

SPEED
How fast are you going?
Keep the encounter to one boat per shark.

SOUND
Keep your noise to a minimum. Turn engines off, don’t jump in where possible and don’t startle the shark.

SPACE
Never touch the shark. Don’t chase or overstay your welcome.

SUPPORT
Share your findings online to help scientists ID the sharks.
Really important !

https://maldiveswhalesharkresearch.org/our-app/

11/11/2022

SUPPORT SCIENCE.

Take lots of photos and share with researchers!

Every whale shark is an individual and can be identified by its spot pattern.

You can submit your photos to the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme

https://maldiveswhalesharkresearch.org/our-app/

or enter them into the global whale shark database.

The code of conduct is based around 4 main principles.

SPEED, SOUND, SPACE, SUPPORT.

🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈



The code of conduct is based around 4 main principles.

SPEED, SOUND, SPACE, SUPPORT.

Things to consider during your encounter..

SPEED
How fast are you going?
Keep the encounter to one boat per shark.

SOUND
Keep your noise to a minimum. Turn engines off, don’t jump in where possible and don’t startle the shark.

SPACE
Never touch the shark. Don’t chase or overstay your welcome.

SUPPORT
Share your findings online to help scientists ID the sharks.
Really important !

https://maldiveswhalesharkresearch.org/our-app/

11/11/2022

DO NOT TOUCH

This will always cause an immediate response from the shark, ending the encounter.

It’s dangerous too, the shark may react forcefully, putting yourself and the shark in danger.

Do not chase the shark. Come back to the boat when the shark has swum away.

Whale Sharks swim away when they want to be alone, so respect this boundary and be grateful for the experience.

The code of conduct is based around 4 main principles.

SPEED, SOUND, SPACE, SUPPORT.

🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈

11/11/2022

SPACE

Give the shark space. Keep at least 3 metres from the shark and increase this distance when nearing its swinging tail.

Position yourself midway along the shark, stay calm and keep your movements slow and splash-free.

If you are lucky enough to witness a shark feeding in a vertical position, do not swim within 5 meters of the shark. Allow it to continue feeding undisturbed.

Don't obstruct the shark or cause it to change direction. Never swim directly above, below, or in front of the shark.

The code of conduct is based around 4 main principles.

SPEED, SOUND, SPACE, SUPPORT.

🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈

11/11/2022

SOUND

Whale sharks are disturbed by noise. Engines should be off or idle for your safety and the sharks.

The code of conduct is based around 4 main principles.

SPEED, SOUND, SPACE, SUPPORT.

🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈

10/11/2022

DO NOT STARTLE

When your guide tells you it’s safe to do so, make a smooth, splash-free entry. Sudden movements and splashing can startle a whale shark and end an encounter before it has even begun.

The code of conduct is based around 4 main principles.

SPEED, SOUND, SPACE, SUPPORT.

🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈

10/11/2022

RULE OF 1

Do not join an ongoing encounter. Follow the one shark to one vessel rule. The more vessels that approach, the less safe it will be for both people and sharks.

The code of conduct is based around 4 main principles.

SPEED, SOUND, SPACE, SUPPORT.

🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈

10/11/2022

SPEED
Vessels should keep their speed low (less than 10 knots) and always have someone on watch when passing through a whale shark site.

🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈

The code of conduct is based around 4 main principles.

SPEED, SOUND, SPACE, SUPPORT.


🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈

19/01/2022

Here is our producer and editor Pinky from taking some time out underwater in these amazing whale shark leggings from .

have supported our project from the beginning - their whale shark range of clothing is incredible! We want to say a big thank you for their continued support.

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

30/08/2021

Happy international Whale Shark day ! We are pleased to share our introduction to the global code of conduct for swimming with whale sharks.
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Swimming with whale sharks is a ever popular eco tourism activity in special sites around the world.
When managed correctly it can be a truly magical experience, but all too often this is not the case and the sharks suffer injury and disturbance from overcrowded encounters.
We have created code of conducts for the Maldives, Madagascar and St. Helena.
These individuals films will be released in each area over the coming months.
We hope you enjoy this introduction and if your planning a whale shark encounter, make sure you follow the Be Gentle to Giants - Code of Conduct. Ensuring a beautiful experience with this amazing shark.
🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈🐋🦈
Thanks to our partners and sponsors -
Pinky Productions
Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme
Blue Marine Foundation The Madagascar Whale Shark Project Saint Helena National Trust
Diamonds Resorts Diamonds Thudufushi Beach and Water Villas GoPro Waterlust Sandcloud
PADI WWF-Mexico WWF-Philippines

13/04/2021