Here's Where You Can Swim With The World's Largest Shark [PHOTOS]
It was not always this way.
Giant whale sharks typically swim through warm, tropical waters alone. Within the past couple of years, the gentle sea giants have been drawn to Tan-awan's coastlines in large numbers by fishermen who hand-feed the sharks with krill.
The practice has created a lucrative business opportunity for local fishing boats that have started whale shark watching tours, but sparked outrage among environmentalists who say the feeding technique is unnatural and could change the animals' migratory and eating behavior.
Meanwhile, as many as 300 tourists a day visit the town in hopes of getting an up-close experience with the marine beasts.