Whale sharks are the largest fish in the sea, but despite being in the shark family, are harmless to humans. This video shows several of the curious creatures swimming alongside an outrigger in the waters of Tan-Awan in the Phillipines. The man in the boat dangles his legs in the water inches from the shark?s mouth, knowing he is in no danger at all. These sharks are attracted to the fishing boats and come close to feed on the small shrimp the fishermen use as bait.

What makes a whale shark a shark and not a whale? Along with their immense ?whale-like? size, whale sharks also filter feed, straining shrimp and plankton into their mouths much like many species of whales. But, physiologically, there are several easy-to-spot differences between the two species. Whale shark skeletons are made up of cartilage rather than bone, and they breathe through gills. Their tails have an upright caudal fin rather than a flat fluke like a whale. Size alone does not a whale make!