(WHALE SHARKS/PHOTO GALLERY) MEXICO — How many people meet a shark and live to tell about it? Well, a diver off Islas Mujeres, Mexico sure got a scare when he thought a whale shark wanted him for lunch. Luckily, these magnificent creatures have no desire to feast on people and instead search for fish eggs near the water’s surface. Check out the diver’s breathtaking interactions with the whale shark below! — Global Animal

Luckily, this shark whale wants to feed on fish and plankton rather than on the diver. Photo Credit: Mauricio Handler/ Handlerphoto.com/solent

Whale sharks are friendly and sometimes play with divers. Photo Credit: Mauricio Handler/ Handlerphoto.com/solent

After initial uncertainty, the diver befriends the whale shark. Photo Credit: Mauricio Handler/ Handlerphoto.com/solent

After swimming alongside the whale shark, the diver swims up to the surface to reunite with his fellow divers. Photo Credit: Mauricio Handler/ Handlerphoto.com/solent

Shark whales captivate this group of divers. Photo Credit: Mauricio Handler/ Handlerphoto.com/solent

The whale shark says farewell to his new diver friend. Photo Credit: Mauricio Handler/ Handlerphoto.com/solent

More Yahoo News: http://news.yahoo.com/photos/whale-shark-swim-1311371866-slideshow/

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  1. These are excellent photos, there is no doubt about it. What bothers me is that so many untrue stories have been told recently that describe a whale shark in a photo is trying to eat a diver. We learned when we took a tour with http://www.swimwithwhalesharks.com that whale sharks cannot eat a human. This is because they are filter feeder fish, which means they dine on krill, shrimp and tiny fish. Unlike other sharks, the whale sharks don’t have teeth that can tear flesh, so there isn’t anything to fear, but perhaps getting too close and being swatted by their tail.