Sharks ‘basking’ in Dingle’s sunny waters
FUNGIE the Dolphin had some very special visitors this past week as a number of Basking Sharks were spotted in Dingle Bay.
These peaceful gentle giants, who feed on plankton and pose no threat to humans, are the second largest species of fish and are found in temperate waters.
Their large mouth allows them to filter-feed plankton and a typical adult Basking Shark grows up to about 25 feet in length (eight metres or so).
Last Thursday Fungie’s friends, Jeannine Masset and Rudi Schamart, had a close encounter with the Basking sharks, who had already made Fungie’s acquaintance. The intrepid wildlife photographers and videographers were also able to capture some underwater video footage of the gentle giants.
“The Basking Shark was feeding right beside us and Fungie sprinted right at him; we were able to get underwater footage of them and Fungie,” Jeannine Masset told The Kerryman, “I just love the Basking Sharks and look out for them every year.”
Jeannine and Rudi were busy sprucing up their dinghy this week but as soon as they heard the sharks were back they raced back out to Dingle Bay.
“We saw the first one just around the corner to the west, quite a large one. He was slowly swimming under the surface and we approached him slowly, so as not to disturb him. I stuck my camera in the water and was filming him but at that moment a fast boat speeded by and he dove deep.
Jeannine and Rudi then returned to where Fungie was, near his cave. Soon enough, another visitor joined the party!
“We were playing with Fungie near the cave when all of a sudden we saw another Basking Shark surface right beside the rocks and close to our dinghy. Fungie got all excited and started to splash water and blow his blowhole loud and play a bit around,” she said.
“He sprinted towards the shark; I had the camera in the water and was filming the shark. Fungie swam round to have a look at the shark.”
Unfortunately at this point a jet-ski sped by and the waves unsettled the dinghy. Fungie and the Basking Shark were not best pleased either with the latter diving deep to seek out calmer surroundings.
Indeed, there seems to be a considerable amount of whale activity in and around the Dingle Peninsula at the moment.
“There are quite a few Basking Sharks around, between Dingle Bay and the Blaskets; Minke Whales have also been spotted several times in the area,” Jeannine explained.