The Whale Shark

Swimming with a whale shark is just one amazing adventure 

that can be had at the Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia.
We did this as a family on our recent trip to Exmouth, far north WA,
and it's an experience that my kids will always remember!

Deep out in the ocean

in waters clear and warm

swims a gentle giant

large and grey in form

Bigger than a bus

w i d e r  than a whale

three ridges on his side

lead to a pointed tail

Moving oh so smoothly

mouth open wide to feed

he swims about the water

gathering plankton that he needs

Rows and rows of tiny teeth

fill up his gaping smile

but they’re not used for eating-

just elements of style

Filter feeding on small things-

krill and red crab larvae

tummy full, he turns and winks

Would you like to play now?

I’ll lead you through the water

Swim with me in the sea

The vast blue of the ocean

is where I love to be!

I smile because I’m happy

I swim because I’m free

People come a long, long way

to snorkel next to me

And so I swim beside him

admiring all his spots

arranged in special patterns-

a giant dot-to-dot

His size makes me feel tiny

His girth makes me feel small

This friendly gentle giant

The most magnificent fish of all!

PS. While on our whale shark dive, we were lucky enough to meet Jana, 
one of the founders of the Hearts for Sharks foundation 
that aims to raise awareness of the true nature of sharks and their conservation. 
Click here to read all about this awesome cause.

Sharks

My son loves dinosaurs, dragons and sharks.

They adorn his clothes, pillow cases, school labels and library bag.

They burst from his stories, imagined play and drawings.

We live in Western Australia, where there is currently a huge shark-related controversy.

For my son, these creatures are filled with beauty and mystique.

And I hope they always will be.

This poem is for him.

There’s a creature in the ocean

who swims with grace and ease

supple streamlined body

moving forward through the seas.

Its tail like a propeller-

swinging back and forth and so

pushing water past its fins

lifting upwards as he goes.

Paired fins move up or down-

water pressure ‘round them changes-

rising his body up

or down, away from dangers.

Sometimes I can imagine

him zooming at high speed-

racing through the coolness

with a smile, and a “wheeeeeeeeeeee!”

Or maybe when it’s late

he just  c r u i s e s  at his leisure

soaking in the rainbow sights-

toothy grin showing his pleasure.

A rumble in his tummy

means it’s almost dinner time-

an amazing sense of smell

makes food very easy to find!

Once full, he doesn’t eat again

for up to several days-

in the meantime, he just travels

and mingles with the rays.

Because this creature lives

deep down beneath the sea

there’s still so much that we don’t know-

their population a mystery!

When I grow big, I’m going to try

and learn some brand new things-

more facts about my favourite fish-

the ones with pointy fins.

A shark collage we made last year from newspaper scraps and coloured paper.