Basking Shark

Two Fins And Sitting Still
If you spot a dark fin sitting rather still on the surface, your first thought is Ocean Sunfish. If you watch for a minute and see a second smaller fin, two you probably have a Basking Shark. Up to 19 feet long and with shark in their name, you may jump to the conclusion this is a frightning animal. Actually it is a big shark that feeds on plankton and is pretty harmless.

Basking Sharks do breach.

In this photograph you can see that the shark has a dorsal fin which is larger and remains above the water most of the time. The second and smaller fin is part of the tail and usually appears and disappears as the harmless animals floats on the surface.