This is the amazing moment a group of national park staff encountered a whale shark swimming around their boat in southern Thailand.

The environment workers sailed out to survey the underwater area near the island of Koh Lanta in Krabi last Sunday (February 16th) morning.

While they were sailing around the famous scuba driving island, there was a 12ft long whale shark swimming in their boat.

The whale shark had been around the boat for around 10 minutes before descending to its deeper habitat in the ocean.

The chief of staff said finding the sea creature is a good sign of the area's ecology. 

He said: "We sailed out to the islets to survey the underwater around the tourist most scuba diving spots.

"We had an encounter a friendly whale shark there and it satisfied us because it means that the ecology there was good that it draws the whale shark."

The chief also warned the tour company to inform their tourists not to disturb the whale shark for the good of both parties.

He said: "The tourists who will find the whale shark are allowed to take a picture but they should not use flash because it would startle the whale shark.

"Normally, the whale shark will not attack humans but flash could startle and scare them that they might react to protect themselves."

This is the amazing moment a group of national park staff encountered a whale shark swimming around their boat.

The environment workers sailed out to survey the underwater area near the island of Koh Lanta in Krabi, southern Thailand last Sunday (16/02) morning.

While they were sailing around the famous scuba driving island, there was a 12ft long whale shark swimming in their boat.

The whale shark had been around the sboat for around 10 minutes before descending to its deeper habitat in the ocean.

The chief iof staff said finding the sea creature shows a good sign of the area's ecology. 
He said: "We sailed out to the islets to survey the underwater around the tourist most scuba diving spots.

"We had encounter a friendly whale shark there and it satisfied us because it mean that the ecology there was good that it draw the whale shark."

The chief also warned the tour company to inform their tourists not to disturb the whale shark for the good of both parties.

He said: "The tourists who will find the whale shark are allowed to take a picture but they should not use flash because it would startle the whale shark.

"Normally, the whale shark will not attack humans but flash could startle and scare them that they might react to protect themselves."