Whale shark swims up close to boat in extraordinary encounter off Florida coast

A whale shark made a surprise appearance next to a group of Florida boaters off the coast of Destin on Sunday (16 July).

The group got a close encounter with the world’s largest fish species, which can reach up to 46 feet in length and weigh almost 24,000lb (10,886kg).

Whale sharks are considered endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

They are known to frequent northern Gulf of Mexico waters during summer and autumn months.

“That’s a hammerhead shark,” one boater exclaims before the group realise the huge fish has approached them.