Earthwatch staff member Philip Johansson went on the Whale Sharks of
Ningaloo Reef expedition. Together with fellow staff members Alison
Whelan and Kathy Santos, we held a teleconference for people interested
in the project. The following is a transcript of that session.
Whale Sharks of Ningaloo Reef
Other teleconference Q&A's
Q: How do I get to the rendezvous site in Exmouth?
Remember that you clear customs in Australia on your first flight into the country, usually in Perth; to make connecting flights, leave a lot of time between them when booking. There is a domestic flight from Perth to Exmouth that takes about 4 hours, and there's a bus from Perth to Exmouth that takes a lot longer (it's not a straight-forward drive). The shuttle to the hotel in Exmouth takes about 15 minutes from the airport. >From the rendezvous point to the departure time, your transportation will be taken care of. You can book the airport shuttle bus to pick you up at the hotel on the departure day, based on the time of your flight out. There's usually only one flight from Exmouth to Perth each day.
Q: What kinds of activities or orientation do you have on the first day of the expedition?
Well, we unpacked and relaxed. It was kind of a grueling trip to get there. We took a tour of the area; it's very casual the first day.
Q: Will the whale sharks still be there for my expedition in June?
Yes, the expeditions are specifically scheduled for the times the whale sharks are there.
Q: How strong a swimmer do I have to be?
There were about 20 people jumping into the water from the boat, and there was a wide range of skills. You have to jump in with the rest of the group and swim together to follow the whale sharks. If you're a stronger swimmer, you can keep up with the whale sharks longer, and they're not very fast. You MUST be comfortable in deep, open water. The water was so deep, you get jazzed up, and you get to swim with these really big fish! Keeping up won't be a problem, it's getting in and out of the water that's a challenge. You get 10-15 minutes to swim with the sharks, and the boat keeps track of people who are straggling. To get back on the boat, you crawl onto a platform one at a time, and nobody is graceful doing it. It's funny, like a little ballet. And you don't need Herculean strength: there are people there to help!
Q: Did you spend extra time in Australia?
I wish that I had flown into Perth 2 or 3 days prior, because it's a really great city, with parks and beaches. It's worth at least an extra day there. I didn't go anywhere else, and I sorely regret it. I would have liked to spend at least another week there. Off the coast north of Perth there are islands with great beaches, and where dolphins swim close to shore. At the cape and the gorge, there are a lot of endemic animals only found there, and there's a lot to do in the area.
Q: Would a 3mm wetsuit be sufficient?
The PI, Brad Norman, works with several different dive companies, but each one is different. The one he used when I was there provided us with wet suits, which I wore the whole time. Some people didn't wear one, but you're swimming pretty vigorously and that can keep you warm. Also, jumping in the water can be disorienting, because other people are jumping in around you, and everyone is looking for the sharks, and the wetsuit gave well-appreciated, extra buoyancy.
Q: Should I bring my own wetsuit?
Some dive companies provide them, and others don't. If you have a wetsuit that you like, bring it! You must bring a well-fitting mask, snorkel, and fins. It's good to wear neoprene socks under the fins to prevent blisters. Right now, we're looking into whether the teams will be provided with wetsuits, and it should be in the briefing.
Q: Did you encounter any dangerous animals in the water, like jellyfish?
I did not encounter box jellyfish, but there were other kinds of jellyfish that weren't dangerous. That's one reason for required wetsuits! There were really no dangerous organisms. It seems daunting and dangerous, but the whale sharks are the biggest things around, and they're as gentle as kittens.
Q: What kinds of animals did you see on this expedition?
Kangaroos, wallabies, coral reef fish, green turtles, manta rays. I didn't see any other sharks, but I heard that some people did.
Q: Do I have to be PADI certified?
No, you just have to be comfortable in open water. If you are certified, you can plan time before or after the expedition to go diving on your own. It's very accessible. The snorkeling was so spectacular I felt that diving is unnecessary.
Q: What are the ages of people who go on this expedition?
I'm in my 40's, and there was a woman there in her 30's. Ages range from 18 to sometimes people in their 70's or even 80's. It depends on the project and the person's comfort and fitness level.
Q: Where can I find cheap flights to the expedition site?
You should look as far in advance as possible. Virgin is sometimes cheaper, and it can be worth checking with a travel agent. Otherwise, you can play on the internet. You don't want to wait last minute to buy your tickets, because you have to plan for the flight from Perth to Exmouth.
Q: Where there a lot of insects to deal with?
I don't really recall. It's pretty breezy, and you're on the cape. It may be different in the winter, though. On the coast, there are fewer flying, biting bugs, because mosquitoes can't hold up to the wind. In fact, I don't even recall any sand fleas, either.
Q: How are the whale sharks identified?
They're trying to figure out if the sharks are coming back to the same spot. We saw a few young sharks. We use a special analysis system to compare the spots of a whale shark in a database. We found out that on our expedition, the sharks we saw had been there before! Then the sharks are named. We could tell day-to-day that the whales came back. We were out in the water three times, and the other people on the boat were only out for that one time. We got to know the sharks better, even in those three days.
Q: Are whale sharks found in any other areas?
Yes, whale sharks can be found off the coast of Honduras, Belize, and in the Caribbean, in addition to many different places.
Q: What can you tell us about the team of scientists?
The PI, Brad Norman, is active in all whale shark territories. He won the Rolex award for his work so far. On the Earthwatch website, there is new information about him and his studies, including pictures. He uses astronomy to recognize whale sharks! He's not on every team, but there are three other staff members who are well-informed and took us on walks around the area and snorkeling. They were really good company, a real asset to the project. You're on the boat for three days, but it's a relaxing thing to sleep in a little when you're not. We also took plankton samples, which whale sharks eat, and identified them under a microscope. We also did some computer work: scanning in images and photos, and data management.
Q: How can you compare this to other expeditions you've been on?
It's difficult to compare expeditions, because they're all incredible in their own way. I can tell you that the whale shark expedition is magical; you're actually in the water with the animals. It's definitely a winner.