Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 62
Bumphead parrotfi sh tend to be shy, so I was lucky to grab this close-up on a
reef off peninsular Malaysia's eastern coast. The remarkable fused teeth of this largest of all
parrotfi sh, embossed in a crisscross pattern like a coarse fi le, can crunch easily through the
most massive hard corals.
When I entered the clear blue water I found an immense whale shark
swimming straight towards me. These gentle wide-mouthed giants are
harmless plankton feeders, but their size makes them awe-inspiring. They
are the largest living fi sh, and can be as much as fi fteen meters long. This one
veered slightly as it approached, and slid past me only a meter away. A large
calm eye gave me the once-over. With a mighty sweep of its tail the shark
disappeared into the blue.
Sharks, rays, and moderately diverse reefs are the norm in Thailand, but
as you sail north into Myanmar waters the mix of organisms changes.
