Keen kayaker Craig Whalley enjoyed a close encounter with some of the sea’s largest creatures at the weekend.

Craig, from Onchan, managed to capture these pictures of as he explored the waters near Fleshwick on Sunday.

He also captured the experience on video.

There were three sharks, one at three metres and two at four metres,’ said Craig, aged 46.

’All three were feeding on plankton very close to the coast.’

He added: ’I spend most of my time in and around the sea from windsurfing, snorkelling, sailing, angling, motor boating and sea kayaking.

’Even my job as harbour keeper within Douglas harbour keeps me close to the sea! I’ve been very fortunate - or lucky - to get close to sharks, whales, seals and sunfish.

’The kayak doesn’t seem to disturb the marine wildlife, in fact they are very inquisitive.’

But, he said, it was important to remember the environment you are in and to respect the creatures whose home is the sea.

’When filming, the worst thing is to rush over to the marine wildlife.

’You get better results waiting for them to come to you.’

The Isle of Man is a hotspot for basking sharks every summer, according to Manx Basking Shark Watch.

It says: ’Most basking shark sightings are reported within 1km of land along a 40km stretch of easily accessible coastline on the south and south-western shores of the island.’

It adds: ’When the seas are calm and the weather is settled and sunny, the plankton concentrates at the surface of the sea and the basking sharks feed on this plankton close inshore.’

The basking shark is the second largest living fish, after the whale shark.

Along with the megamouth shark, they are the three plankton-eating sharks.

Adult basking sharks can, typically, reach six to eight metres in length.